What Is A Spurtle?
A spurtle is a wooden kitchen tool from Scotland. It dates back to the fifteenth, yes the fifteenth century. It was used to stir porridge and originally had was shaped like a dowel. This design helped keep the porridge lump free.
I was first introduced to the spurtle by Mad Hungry's Lucinda Scala Quinn who has her own line of spurtles with todays' version. The current spurtle design has a longer flat area.
I consider the spurtle a hybrid; a cross between a wooden spoon and spatula. When you think of the multitude of ways wooden spoons and spatulas are used in cooking and baking then you can see how many different ways a spurtle can be used. The difference is the spurtle does it better than my wooden spoons and spatulas.
Mashed potatoes, soups, any kind of dough, creamy salads, oatmeal, egg dishes and stuffing are just a few ways I use the spurtle.
Of course making cookies is a definite favorite and the spurtle excels at not only mixing the dough, but scraping the edges of the bowl. No waste with the spurtle!
The 27th Golden Spurtle Championship
Every kitchen tool needs a championship and the spurtle is no exception. The 27th Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship is held in Scotland annually to celebrate the heritage of the spurtle and its' porridge origin. Adapting to the theme of 2020, this years' competition was virtual with competitors submitting videos and their favorite spurtle porridge recipe.
Spurtles now come included in wooden kitchen tool sets or sold by themselves. Try it you will like it is my motto with the spurtle. Your mashed potatoes will thank you!
I must admit, this is the first time I have ever heard of a spurtle and I really have been cooking for nearly 50 years. Of course, I have had wooden spoons over the years, but I've never owned a spurtle. Now I feel my kitchen is lacking! Like you, I love gadgets and discovering new gadgets to test in my kitchen. I think I need a spurtle! (that sounds oddly funny to me!)
ReplyDeleteHaving never ever heard of a spurtle, you have now convinced me I need one. LOL. Being able to easily scrap the inside of the cookie dough bowl for instance, would be terrific. And just recently I realized my kitchen no longer has a wooden spoon. A spurtle would fulfill both needs. Thank you, Tracey.
ReplyDeleteI was introduced to the spurtle decades ago by my then mother-in-law, who worked in a kitchen supplies store (which, to us, was more like a toy store, lol!) and used to do product demos. It's one of those tools that has clearly stood the test of time!
ReplyDeleteSpurtle? This is the first I have ever heard of it. Like our team of reviewers, I have been cooking for a long time, but did not know about this tool. I think I will ask Santa to put one or two in my stocking this year. Looks like it would be really useful. Thanks Tracey!
ReplyDeleteWell, I have many kitchen gadgets and a spurtle is not one of them. I thought that I had everything that I ever needed, but I guess I was wrong. The Spurtle is now on my list as a must have. Thanks Tracey!
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of a spurtle and can now see how very useful it is! Adding it to my list of kitchen must haves! Thank you for a great review.
ReplyDeleteProduct is good. But customer service needs great improvement.
ReplyDelete