The 6 Best Fish Spatulas in 2023, Tested and Reviewed

The name makes it sound like an obscure specialty implement, but a fish spatula is an essential tool in any kitchen. Don’t worry, it works for way more than just seafood!

The fish spatula’s thin blade is made to slip easily under delicate items, with an angled end to help maneuver over the lip of a pan. The slats cut out of the blade help not only make it lighter and easier to control, but also allow liquid to drain off whatever you’re picking up, whether that’s removing battered and deep-fried foods from the oil or separating grease from a burger patty.

Despite their thin profile and slight flexibility, fish spatulas are generally strong enough to perform all the flipping duties of a standard spatula. And it is that versatility that makes them indispensable. To figure out which fish spatula is best, we sent top-rated options to our experienced product tester who used them on an array of foods in her kitchen. Here’s what we discovered.

Best Overall: MIU France Large Stainless Steel Slotted Turner

This tool is kind of the archetypal version of a fish spatula, with a thin, slotted blade that has a distinct angle at the edge to help it slide underneath delicate items in a skillet. It was able to deftly flip a piece of flaky fish without damage in Lab testing, though the blade was a little too short to loosen the entire thing in a single swipe. Despite its thin profile, the MIU was easily strong enough to smash down and flip burger patties, and it also did a solid job turning pancakes, although heavier ones tended to slip off the small blade.

The smooth plastic handle on this spatula is comfy to grip with no slippage. (We were honestly a bit surprised to find that we preferred plastic to rough wood in general in testing.) It’s also dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup, though nothing stuck to it when we hand-washed it after the fish test.

Best Silicone: Sur La Table Silicone Edge Slotted Fish Spatula

If you have nonstick cookware, you generally can’t use metal utensils without scratching the coating. This spatula is a unique solution to that problem, with a strip of heatproof silicone along just the front and one side and the standard thin, flexible metal construction of a traditional fish spatula. In testing, it flipped everything cleanly and easily; the silicone actually helped “grip” the pancake and move it around without slipping.

However, we don’t love the round metal handle on this spatula, which is smooth and slippery, especially when wet. The silicone strip is only on one side, so it’s also “backwards” when wielded with the left hand. Because of the beveled blade edge, lefties can’t just flip the spatula upside down, and there doesn’t seem to be a reversed version available. When hand-washing, we found it tough to get grease off the silicone part, though it is dishwasher-safe so this isn’t the biggest problem.

The silicone is heat-safe up to 425 degrees, which makes it fine for most stovetop use, but you should keep this spatula away from the high-temp grill.

Best Budget: Winco Fish Spatula

When you see professional chefs working in restaurant kitchens, they’re not often using fancy high-end tools. You’re more likely to find a brand like Winco, which makes low-cost kitchenware designed for heavy daily use. The brand’s fish spatula feels lightweight, but the blade held up to all the tasks we threw at it, flipping fish, pancakes, and burgers nimbly and with ease.

Our major issue with this tool is the handle: The wooden piece is rough and looks cheaply made, with chips and sharp edges where the blade attaches. We worry that the blade could loosen or fall out entirely as the handle begins to wear. (But if it does, the price means you can just buy another one and not feel too bad.) The spatula is dishwasher-safe, but if you do hand-wash it, be careful with the slots in the blade—their edges are sharp.

Best Large: Mercer Culinary Hell’s Handle Large Fish Turner/Spatula

For grilling a whole side of salmon or manning the griddle for dozens of pancakes, this extra-large spatula is perfect. It features a nylon handle with a “grippy” texture that we found very secure and comfy to hold. The “Hell’s Handle” material on this and many other Mercer Culinary tools absorbs less heat and stays cool to the touch.

Its 9-inch blade is by far the longest of the tools we tested, and it offers a great combination of strength and flexibility. Problem is, that blade may be too long. It doesn’t fit in small pans at all and can be awkward to operate even in bigger ones. If you do a lot of flipping on a large surface—or just have really big hands—this might be a good choice, though.