It used to be that I was singularly devoted to my wooden spoons and spatulas for just about every kitchen task. I stirred soup with well-worn spoons and had a wooden spatula that was permanently dyed purple from all the batches of blueberry jam it had known.
But then, my allegiances started to shift. I don’t know exactly when it started, but somewhere along the way I became a silicone utensil girl. I love my fully encased silicone spatulas for stirring jam, and have a favorite silicone turner that I use nearly every day for scrambling eggs.
I love these tools because they are one-piece (instead of being silicone or rubber heads perched on wooden or plastic handles), won’t melt in a hot pan, and can go right into the dish washer.
Recently, I got an email from Core Kitchen, asking me if I’d be interested in trying some of their tools. I took a quick look at their website, spotted their line of Essential Silicone Utensils and immediately said yes. They sent me a package that included four silicone tools and their set of funnels.
I’ve spent some time with these tools in my kitchen and I really enjoy using them. I particularly appreciate them when it comes to scraping out every last drop of jam from the pan. They are super flexible and bend nicely with the shape of the pan.
The funnels have also proven to be invaluable, particularly the small wide mouth funnel. When I’m filling jars with relatively small mouths (like the lug lidded jars I wrote about here), I put the silicone funnel in the jar first and then perch a regular wide mouth funnel in on top of it. That way, I get all the surface area of my standard funnel, but I’m able to fill the narrower jars without spilling.
The generous folks at Core Kitchen have offered to give away one Food in Jars reader the very same set of utensils and funnels that they sent me. The set includes an All Purpose Spatula, a Pointed Spatula, a Spreader, a Dual-Ended Spatula, and a 3-Piece Funnel Set.
Here’s how to enter.
- Leave a comment on this post and tell me what your favorite material is for kitchen utensils. Wood, silicone, plastic, metal, or something else?
- Comments will close at 11:59 pm on Saturday, June 14, 2014. Winners will be chosen at random and will be posted to the blog on Sunday, June 15, 2014
- Giveaway open to United States residents only.
- One comment per person, please. Entries must be left via the comment form on the blog at the bottom of this post.
Disclosure: Core Kitchen gave me the tools you see pictured above and are also giving the same set of tools to one blog reader, all at no cost to me. However, all opinions expressed remain entirely my own.
Depends on what the tool is for. I love silicone spatulas because they are so versatile & I use them almost exclusively. For portioning, cookie dough/ice cream/etc, I have a set of various sized stainless steel scoops.
If I’m using cast iron, and I usually am, it’s metal. For everything else there’s a wild assortment.
I prefer silicone.
I use what works in the particular situation, though I am partial to silicone. No melt, no stain, cleans easily.
I still use wood spoons but I think I would like to try silicon ones.
I have a cracked wooden spatula that I love dearly and that I use for most things, and a tiny metal spatula that works wonders for flipping eggs stuck in the cast iron skillet and moving fresh baked cookies when they’re still too soft to handle. Those two have traveled the country with me.
We only use all-silicone tools these days! I love them for all the reasons you listed, plus one more: I am gluten intolerant and my husband is not, so we have a mixed kitchen. Silicone doesn’t absorb foods and hang onto gluten particles the way plastic or wood can, so since we switched to all-silicone I never have to worry whether he’s used a given utensil on a gluten-containing food and if preparing a shared meal with it will make me ill.
I absolutely adore silicone utensils! All my pans are nonstick so they are pretty much the only kind I use in my kitchen.
Silicone, actually. I have a bunch of spatulas that I use for everything. But the heads come off of the bamboo handles–these look like they’d be perfect!
Wood for almost everything… Silicone for everything else
Typically wood but I love silicone for so many things too
Right now I have a mix of wood, plastic, and silicone. I love stirring my soups with my wooden spoons, but nothing beats a good silicone spatula for getting everything out of the pot/bowl.
Silicone by far!
I love my one silicon spatula but like others, the head comes off the “stick.” If I don’t win, I’m going out to buy several of these cool spatulas.
stainless steel
I like silicon for baking, and wood or bamboo for stirfries.
High heat silicone then wood. At all costs, utensils that are one piece or encased–NO SEAMS!!
silicone for sure.
I am a silicone gal too, although I love my metal spatula handed down from my mom for use on my cast iron skillet…those things last a lot longer, you just can’t use them on everything!
I do love silicon for just ease of use and cleaning. But there is something magical about using my grandma’s wooden spoon, I use that when I’m making something special or just need a little dose of inspiration!
I like bamboo utensils and cutting boards, though they don’t last very long!
I have been converted to the silicone spatulas you mentioned during your book tour stop in Charlottesville, VA. They are wonderful- thank you!
I always reach for silicone first, it works for every thing!
Just yesterday I was telling my spouse about my love for the silicon spatula. I am going to get a second one because the one we have gets used all the time.
I love, love, love silicone in the kitchen. I particularly enjoy the fact that the tools can be one piece and would love to try these. I refuse to use my old plastic canning funnel any longer, and I won’t use my old spatulas that have that bacteria-catching join right near the head. When I can’t get what I want with silicone, I search for stainless steel.
I love silicon 🙂
I’m very much a wooden spoon/spatula kind of gal. I don’t even think I own any silicone cookware/utensils.
I love love love my wooden spoons.
i prefer silicone.
I’m a wooden spoon kind of gal. But I’m always open to something new and wonderful.
I have a collection of wooden spoons, but recently I got my first silicone spoon and I love it. As the wooden ones reach the end of their lifecycle I will be switching over to silicone.
On bare metal, I like SS utensils. Anything coated, silicone is nice.
Depends on the use, but nothing beats the feel of wood.
Love silicone! It just feels so nice in my hands.
I love using silicone utensils… doesn’t scratch and easy to clean!
I have recently been replacing all the plastic in my kitchen (goodbye leaching chemicals!) as the items wear out. I am going with either metal or silicone for their durability, ease of use and cleaning, but I am considering wood for earth friendly reasons too. My main decider on everything is whether something is American made or not. USA made products are not easy to find, sadly.
I too thought wood utensil were the best but recently I was bitten by the silicone bug and now I’m slowly replacing my utensil with new silicone ones.
Thank you for the chance to win!
I love the way silicone can get the last bits of food out of pans…jam, ice cream, etc.
Gosh I guess I use all of them. Would love to have one of those spreaders. Thanks for the chance.
It’s a split, depending on what I’m doing. Mostly silicon, but my wooden utensils still get regular use.
I’m very old school. I love my wooden spoons!
It’s a toss up between my wooden spoons and my silicone spatulas….(which still have the wooden handle). I love that these are all silicone and that spreader is cool!
I like different materials for different tasks–metal spatulas for cast iron, silicone for flexible spatulas, and wooden spoons and utensils for stir-fries and soups.
Wood still predominates but silicone is gaining traction in my kitchen.
Silicone is king in my kitchen. Resistant to heat and easy to clean – it’s a no-brainier for me!
It depends what I’m doing — some silicon, some bamboo.
You know, I don’t have a strong preference, but I do like silicone for things like spatulas. When possible, I use glass for dishes, that’s a stronger preference (mason jars, anyone?).
I love silicone. I also like stainless steel.
I like to use silicone for scrapers/spatulas. But wood for cooking spoons 🙂
I like to use silicone for baking and bamboo for cooking.
I am also shifting allegiance toward silicone. I have a great silicone coated spoon that’s my “go-to” now for everything!
Agreed — I have one silicone spatula that I looove!
The new silicone tools are great, and I’m a big fan. I still have my lovely wooden spoons, but I find myself reaching for silicone spatulas more and more these days.
I go for variety – wooden spoons & spatulas, along with silicone scrapers and a few select stainless spatulas as well.
I love silicone the best! thanks for the chance to win!
Joey
wooden spoons, silicone spatulas
My kitchen tongs– when my toddler doesn’t run off with them.
I use metal for most things. Since having to go gluten free, I don’t trust wood or plastic. I love these one-piece silicone items (no wood handles to get glutened!) 🙂
Wood mostly, silicone spatulas
I like to cook with metal utensils,but I would like to try cooking with silicone.
I had a set of plastic, which I very quickly hated. The slanted spatula cracked, all pieces eventually stained (they were white), and there was no “play”. I rarely use any metal utensils, relying now on a combination of wooden spoons (and a very old wooden spatula my mom gave me that will never go away) and silicon/wood and silicon/metal utensils, depending on need. Metal is left for spoons and ladles. So, the right tool for the right job!
I like wood but silicone is great too.
I generally reach for metal, for easy clean up, but could use something for surfaces where metal isn’t advised. I love wood for some things, but don’t always trust that I can properly get it clean.
Love my wooden spoons for most things. I have an assortment of spatulas and non of them are just “right”. I would be thrilled to try these out!
Thanks
I love my wooden spoons because they remind me of my Italian grandmothers 🙂 But I also love silicone because, as you said, you can scrape every last bit out of the pan or bowl. Thanks for the giveaway!
Mostly metal or plastic but still love a good wooden spoon. I am constantly loosing pieces of spatulas so I hope these tools are tough!
I am a huge fan of silicone! But I have the kind where just the head is silicone and they get a lil funky if ur not vigilant.
I find myself using silicone more and more often. But, when I’m cooking sausage or hamburger and I want to break it up, nothing beats my wooden spatula.
Depends on the tool—bamboo mixing spoons and spatulas are my standby as I can use them in any of my pots or pans (stainless, cast iron, non-stick or enameled it doesn’t matter), they feel good in my hand and they are inexpensive should I stain them beyond acceptability, which happens from time to time when I space while using tumeric or beets. Silicone for my scrapers, tongs and my new favorite Le Creuset pastry brush (picked one up for my mom too).
I use wood and stainless steel but the silicone looks great. I’d love the funnels and the spatulas…I’d love it all, looks great!
I have a set of mini silicone spatulas that I use for EVERYTHING. I would love to test out some of these!
I usually use metal or wood, but would love to try these silicone utensils!
I like my wooden spoons, and my silicone spatulas!
With canning I always use wooden spoons… I only have a few silicone utensils, but I’d love to try more! Thanks for the giveaway!
I almost always used wood utensils, but I’m starting to warm to silicone.
I’m a traditionalist & love the feel and sound of wood on my bowls and pots. I still even have some of my mother’s wood utensils!
Wood wins for cooking…I don’t scratch my pots and it doesn’t get too hot in my hands. But I bought a silicon spoon a few years ago and love it for baking. Especially since it’s fully silicon which means it’s a breeze to clean!
i prefer silicone
I just got 20 pounds of Blenheim apricots! I could use some new tools!
My favorites now are wooden spoons.
Silicon
I think my favorite utensil to use must be my bamboo spoons.
I have also been switching over to silicone. I have been trying to get them with a metal handle, but they are hard to find. These will be great.
Silicone are soooo useful!
I have way too many utensils of varying materials, but the one spoon for general cooking that I reach for every time is the red Betty Crocker spoon I’ve had for years. It’s really just a pos plastic, but it feels like an heirloom in my hands. I appreciate the longevity of the brand.
silicone, I have the all purpose spatula and it’s great!
I love silicone. Helps me get every drop!
I love my old wooden spoons, but have recently become fond of a couple of silicone spatulas.
The utensil I tend to reach for the most is a metal spoon but it is frustrating that I can’t get everything out of the pan.
I love my wooden utensils.
My favorite utensils are my bamboo spoons and spatulas, but I would love to try the silicone ones.
my favorite utensil is my wooden spoon. recently I purchased a silicone basting brush and I must say that I love it.
I use wood and nylon tools to protect my non-stick cookware.
I would love to try silicone tools because I love that they don’t melt and are bendable. Two important properties that my current tools do not have.
Definitely silicone
Love silicon utensils. These look great
Silicone or wood. I have a great iSi spatula that is perfect for getting everything out of a Vitamix.
I love silicone and wood utensils. I have a favorite silicone spatula with a bamboo handle that I use for almost everything.