Spoons are as old as knives and have existed as early as the prehistoric times. People in ancient civilizations made spoons out of wood, bone, rock, gold, silver, and ivory.
In the past societies of Egypt and the UK, people used spoons as a status symbol. The modern appearance of spoons emerged only in the 1700s.
Today, we have spoons made of different sizes and materials such as metal, wood, plastic, ceramic or a combination of two or more materials.
The most popular material is the stainless steel. The Lambert Castle Museum in Paterson, New Jersey houses the world’s largest spoon collection with 5400 spoons.
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Different Types of Spoons and Their Uses
Below you will find
Spoon sizes and names
Different types of spoons for cooking, serving and eating
Different spoon sizes and names
Spoon uses and functions
Tablespoon
Larger than a teaspoon, a tablespoon is both a unit of measurement and a utensil that is used regularly during meals.
Tablespoon Uses
While you can buy tablespoons that are shaped and designed specifically for measuring ingredients, tablespoons are also utensils that are used for eating. They are ideal for adults to use due to their larger size and make it very easy to eat your meal.
While some people think that they are perfect for eating soup, there is actually a dedicated soup spoon available that has many benefits over this shape of a spoon.
Teaspoon
Similar in size to the teaspoon that we use to measure out ingredients when cooking or baking, teaspoons do, however, have a different shape and appear to be sized down-tablespoons.
They are a great choice if you’re going to be stirring sugar or cream into a cup of coffee or tea and are also wonderful when feeding children.
Once a child has outgrown baby spoons, this spoon allows them to use silverware that is identical in appearance to adults’, but simply a little smaller so that they can more easily eat without making a mess.
Sugar Spoon
Sugar spoons are utensils that are primarily used to serve granulated sugar at the table. While they look similar to teaspoons, they do have deeper bowls and often have fluted edges along the bowl. It is very easy to find sugar spoons that have been molded into the shape of shells.
Sugar Spoon Uses
While any type of spoon can technically be used to serve sugar, if you are setting a very formal table then it is advisable to have this type of spoon available for your sugar dish. They are also commonly known as “sugar shells” or even “sugar shovels” depending on their shape.
Soup Spoon
Spoons that have been designed specifically for eating soup have larger bowls that are generally a little bit deeper to make it easy for the person using them to scoop up their soup without it spilling.
There are many different sizes and styles of a level when you are looking for a soup spoon. The two main types are British soup spoons and Chinese soup spoons.
British soup spoons are rather small and the bowl is very circular. Chinese the soup spoons, on the other hand, can vary in size from small to incredibly large, and they have a handle that is thick and extends from a flat and deep bowl.
While most are made from ceramic, it is possible to find some made from other materials.
Dessert Spoon
A Dessert spoon is generally a medium spoon for sweets. They have a bowl that is significantly more pointed rather than rounded. While they can be used to eat almost anything, they are generally used for dessert.
The size of this spoon can vary widely between a teaspoon and tablespoon size. While not used every day by all people, they are very commonly included in formal table settings.
When setting a formal table, it is common for the desert spoon to either be brought in with dessert or to be placed above the plate, completely separate from any other utensils on the table.
Beverage Spoon
What are long-handled spoons called?
Beverage spoons are easily identifiable because they have incredibly long handles that are significantly longer than any other type of spoon.
The bowl at the end of the handle can sometimes look out of place because it is so much smaller than what you might expect on such a long handle. However, the handle has been designed for a specific purpose.
These spoons are perfect for stirring tall glasses of tea and adding in sugar. Due to their length, even when stirring a very full and tall glass of tea, the user will not get his or her fingers wet.
Beyond stirring tall drinks, these spoons do not have a lot of applications due to their long handle, but they are ideal to have on hand for this use.
Grapefruit Spoon
While very similar in size and shape to teaspoons, grapefruit spoons have been designed specifically to help people eat this citrus. The edge of the spoon is serrated, which helps the person using it to easily separate the fruit from the rind.
It is important if you are going to be using this type of spoon or allowing a small child to use it, that you are careful, as the serration is sharp enough to accidentally cut you if you are not paying attention or are not careful.
Absinthe Spoon
People who drink absinthe will love having this type of spoon available to assist them with their ritual. These spoons generally have a flat bowl instead of one that is curved, and they have designs cut into them to allow the absinthe to flow through.
There is generally a notch in the handle of the spoon that will allow the spoon to rest on the rim of the glass. These spoons are used to mix a sugar cube into the absent to help remove some of the bitterness of this drink.
Caviar Spoon
Traditionally, caviar spoons are made from materials such as wood, mother of pearl, animal horn, and gold. There is a belief that caviar should not ever be served out of or with a metal spoon as this material may cause the caviar to not taste the best that it can.
These spoons tend to vary in size from three to five inches and have a small and shallow bowl that is ideal for scooping out and serving smaller amounts of caviar.
Their bowls are generally shaped like either a paddle or an oval. Due to the small size and shape of these spoons, it is very rare to ever use them for anything other than serving caviar.
Ladle
This is a larger type of spoon that is used primarily for serving foods that contain a lot of liquid, such as a stew or a soup so that there is not a huge mess when the food is served.
While they can vary in size, style, and type, they generally have a long handle that attaches to a very large and deep bowl.
While it is common to find ladles that have the handle attached straight onto the bowl, others tend to have the bowl attached at an angle to make it easier to lift food out of the pot.
There are some ladles that have a spout or a point to make it even easier to pour liquids without spilling them.
Slotted Spoon
This is a large spoon for cooking. These spoons can be either very intricate and ornate or rather plain, but their purpose is the same no matter the style of a slotted spoon that you buy.
They have holes, slots, or other types of openings cut into the bowl of the spoon to allow liquid to pass through when serving. The larger pieces of food will remain on top of the bowl so that they can be served.
Larger slotted spoons are ideal for removing items from a cooking liquid in a pot, while smaller ones are perfect for people who are going to be eating foods that are packed in juice.
An absinthe spoon is a type of slotted spoon that has a very specific use, while others can be used for a wider variety of foods and purposes.
Baby Spoon
When parents begin feeding their children solid foods, then they will want to make sure that they use a spoon that is small enough for the baby to easily use without choking or having too much food put into his or her mouth at once.
Baby spoons are very small and are often coated with a silicone or rubber to ensure that the baby is not accidentally injured while eating.
Although these spoons come in a variety of materials, it is common for families to have heirloom spoons that are made of silver that they pass down through generations.
Some baby spoons have rubber tips that will change color if the food being served to the baby is too hot. This will prevent a parent or caregiver from accidentally burning the child.
Risotto Spoon
This is another big spoon for cooking. This type of spoon is used to stir risotto, as well as sauces and creams. They have a large hole in the middle of the spoon that will create a vortex in the pot to ensure that everything in the pot is agitated correctly and thoroughly mixed together.
Unlike traditional wooden spoons which will tend to deflate a batter or foam as you stir in additional ingredients, this type of spoon is ideal for incorporating new ingredients into your batter without causing it to deflate.
Since this spoon will not compress your batter, it will be much lighter when you are done stirring it.
Coffee Measuring Spoon
People who drink a lot of coffee and prefer to make it on their own at home will benefit from having this type of measuring spoon in their kitchen as it makes it very easy to consistently make great cups of coffee.
They have deep and round bowls that are designed for measuring out coffee grounds. Due to their shape, they are not ideal for serving or for eating, but they do a great job of helping people make the perfect cup of coffee.
Demitasse Spoon
Also commonly known as an “espresso spoon”, this type of spoon is significantly smaller than regular spoons. This is so that they can be used with an espresso cup, which is around half the size of a regular coffee cup.
With an average length of three to four total inches, this small spoon can have very ornate or simple handles, depending on the preference of the user. They are generally made out of gold, polished silver, or stainless steel and are incredibly durable, even though they tend to be rather delicate.
Serving Spoon
If you are going to be serving food at the table, then it is important that you have serving spoons to make this process as easy as possible.
Unlike regular spoons that are used for eating, serving spoons are significantly larger, have long handles, and they have larger bowls to ensure that you can easily serve out generous portions.
When buying serving spoons, it is important to consider what type you will need, as they come in many styles, with scalloped edges, slots, or bowls without holes to make it easy to serve.
Spoon Materials
Plastic
Plastic spoons are generally used in a situation where you can throw them away, but they can be washed and reused, especially if you opt for heavier duty plastic.
One problem that many people have with plastic spoons is that they are very lightweight and can easily shatter or break if you’re not careful.
This is something to take into consideration if you’re going to be giving a child a plastic spoon as biting down too hard on the spoon can cause it to shatter and may cut the child’s mouth. Additionally, plastic spoons are not great for the environment.
Copper
Copper spoons look great in most any kitchen, especially if you have pots and pans that are also made of this material. Although copper tends to be very durable, it is important to make sure that you do not use highly acidic foods with this type of spoon as it can damage the copper itself.
It’s also a good idea to consider hand washing your copper spoons so that they will not become damaged in the dishwasher.
Wood
Wood spoons have a number of advantages that make them very popular in almost every kitchen. They are generally very comfortable to hold and have a long handle to keep your hand away from high heat when you are stirring something that is on the stove.
Additionally, because wood is not connected, you will not have to worry about ever burning your hand because this spoon will not heat up.
They are great for use on nonstick pots and pans because they will not scratch the surface. While some metal spoons will react with acidic foods, wood will not, making this type of spoon ideal for cooking things like tomato sauce and lemon curd.
It is important that you do not put your wooden spoons in the dishwasher, especially if you use the drying cycle. Oiling your wooden spoons on a regular basis will keep them from cracking or becoming damaged.
Stainless Steel
It is very common to have stainless steel spoons in your kitchen both for eating and for cooking. They generally have a nice way to them, making them ideal for eating, and they are very beneficial for cooking as well.
One thing to be careful of when using stainless steel spoons for cooking is that they will heat up and can burn your hand if you’re not careful. Additionally, these spoons have a hard surface and edge that can accidentally scratch the nonstick coating on your pots and pans.
Silicone
Spoons that are made out of food-grade silicone can stand up to incredibly high heat without ever being damaged. This is ideal if you tend to forget your spoon in your pot or pan while cooking. It will not be damaged, even when you leave it for extended periods of time.
These spoons are stain resistant and can stand up to odors and colors without becoming stained. They are great for scraping every last bit of a sauce out of the pan without accidentally scratching the surface, and they can be easily put into the dishwasher when it’s time to clean them.
Bamboo
Bamboo spoons are growing in popularity, and for good reason. They do a wonderful job of resisting stains and odors, which means that you won’t ever have to worry about them losing their attractive appearance or smelling funny.
Additionally, bamboo tends to be very durable and strong, even though it is incredibly flexible and light.
These spoons will last for a significantly longer time than plastic and wooden spoons tend to do. They won’t scratch your non-stick finish and are affordable enough that you can purchase a number of different spoons for your kitchen without going over budget.
Porcelain
Ceramic or porcelain spoons are incredibly delicate and attractive, which means that they are not ideal for everyday use but are perfect for special occasions.
They are generally used for serving or as a sugar spoon, and they are not used as an everyday utensil that is used at each meal. This is due to how fragile the material is and the fact that they can easily be broken.
Feature
Engraved
If you want to give somebody a very special gift that will stand out from anything else that they have been given, then a personalized spoon is a wonderful way to do this.
Not only is an engraved spoon ideal as a wedding gift to commemorate a couple’s new last name, but it also makes a very fun gift for somebody who tends to enjoy certain meals or desserts, such as ice cream.
Set
To ensure that all of your spoons look the same, it’s a good idea to buy a set of spoons. This means that you won’t ever have to worry about whether or not the spoons that you choose for your meal will match, and it will make it significantly easier to set a formal table.
Side Notch
Large spoons that have a side notch in the handle make it very easy to balance the spoon on the pot or pan when you are not actively using it to stir.
This prevents you from accidentally dripping food from the spoon, as the spoon’s bowl will stay directly over the cooking food. These notches will be located so that the spoon should balance evenly over the pot.
Hanging
Spoons that are going to be used with sticky substances, such as honey, often come with a crooked handle so that they can hang on the honey pot.
This makes it easy to contain the honey so that you do not end up with a sticky mess on your table. It also allows everyone to get as much honey as they want without any problems.
Flat End
This type of spoon is often seen used with gelato in restaurants and cafes, but it can be purchased for home use, as well. It has a flat end instead of rounded or pointed, which is perfect for scraping out the bottom of a dessert bowl.
Due to its interesting shape, it is not well-suited for other foods, such as soup, but it is ideal for making sure that you are able to enjoy all of your ice cream or gelato with ease.
Shaped
It is possible to buy spoons that have bowls in interesting shapes instead of ones that are rounded. Buying these spoons is a fun way to express your personality or to make your meal more interesting, and it is a great way to show others how you feel about them.
If you are interested in giving someone a gift to show them that you care, then spoons with bowls in the shape of hearts are wonderful presents that will make your recipient think of you every time he or she uses them.
