Kitchen Tool School: Ever-Scrappy Bench Scraper
You cannot have a bench scraper. In fact, you may not even know what it is. But, hopefully, by the time you hear us, you’ll be convinced that you need it.
A table scraper (also called a dough scraper or bench knife) is a blunt-edged, rectangular metal blade, about the size of a small pad, that is a classic pastry tool. But even if you don’t bake regularly, it can still be a worthwhile investment for your general cooking preparation. Plus, it’s compact, easy to stow away in your cooking drawer, and it’s insanely easy to clean and dishwasher safe to use for decades.
You can add a quality scraper to your kitchen for less than a fancy sandwich. I bought the Sur La Table version for $ 6 a few years ago, but the undisputed bestseller is the OXO Good Grips version ( $ 10 on Amazon ). It has a relatively sharp edge (albeit duller than a knife – you can still run your fingers over the blade without cutting yourself), feel to the touch, and comes with a comfortable rubber grip as well as half-inch steps on the blade. side of the blade providing easy measurement. Unlike other models, they are engraved on the metal so that the dimensions will never be erased.
Confectionery, traditional and other
Bench scrapers are designed to facilitate dough handling, lifting, turning and portioning. For example, it’s a useful way to pick up the pieces when you’re working on any baked goods and re-incorporate it back into the mass of dough. Turn the scraper on its side to pry off cookies that have stuck to the surface or to remove large tender clippings from them. If you are trying to pry the thin pie crust off the board, this is much better than, say, a spatula, since the tool is wide enough and the blade thin enough to get underneath even the thinnest pie dough.
While they’re not as sharp as a knife, scrapers are good for slicing too: dividing a bun into triangles, slicing fresh ravioli, shaping muesli bars, slicing cookies from the refrigerator, slicing sticks … you get the idea. They’re especially great for slicing cakes, fudge or other bars into perfect squares without scratching the nonstick trays, and thanks to their side dimensions, you can use them to portion everything from pizza dough to tortillas and naan. , too much.
Another important point is to chop those sticky, annoying pieces of dough off the table after you finish baking. There is no easier way to clean a floured surface (or any dirty rack, for that matter). It’s also great for cleaning cookie trays – just don’t use them on nonstick ones.
The tilting angle of the tool makes it useful for other non-classical baking purposes. We like to use the workbench as a spatula for smoothing batter in a large skillet when making a jelly roll or sheet cake. A wide, straight edge is the easiest way to achieve a uniform dough level. If you freeze a lot of desserts, it’s also perfect for creating clean edges on the side of the frozen cake .
Preparing for cooking and cleaning
For those of you outside of your regular baking business, a workbench scraper is still functional enough to buy. This greatly simplifies preparation and cleaning and can practically replace a chef’s knife for a number of kitchen functions.
A bench scraper is the best scoop a kitchen has to offer. Use it to transfer chopped vegetables and herbs from the cutting board to the stove. (If you repeat this several times with your chef’s knife, you may end up with a dull knife, which is not a problem with an already dull bench scraper.) Use a scraper to force the sliced strawberries into the salad bowl so you can simply throw the trimmings into the trash. …
Like a chef’s knife, the scraper is also handy for chopping up spices and garlic. If you’ve ever worried about cutting or warping your knife while knocking on garlic, a bench scraper is the perfect replacement. Its large surface area makes it ideal for grinding large quantities of anything, be it Sichuan peppercorns or a large handful of garlic cloves. (He can also coarsely chop the garlic in a pinch.)
If you’ve cooked meatloaf, lasagne, meatballs, pie, or anything else that tends to stick after being in the oven, use a table knife to gently pry the edges of the glass pan. Use it to measure meatballs or toppings for dumplings, or, as my favorite technique, to chop minced meat while it is browning in a skillet.
Non kitchen functions
Like a good set of kitchen tongs , the dough scraper can be used in more than just the kitchen. This is the best way to clean your countertop when you “feel” left behind but can’t see it. I even used it to remove spilled candle wax. Some people even use it to solve solved puzzles . And if you wanted, you could probably even use it to fight ninja warriors.
So if you don’t have it, take it. Trust us: you will regret not purchasing it sooner.
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