A fish spatula is among the few kitchen utensils that you can use for almost anything, despite what its name indicates. For one, it definitely does a terrific job at flipping fish fillets off of the grill or pan! And you can also use it to cradle whole fishes, such as in this easy grilled whitefish recipe.
But what is a fish spatula and how is it different from the rest? Compared to regular turners, it tends to have a short handle and a wide (and often slotted) blade that’s usually made of a thin sheet of metal or plastic. As its function denotes, you can use it to easily and carefully lift and/or flip fish and other delicate items on a cooktop.
So, continue reading to discover our top 15 picks for this kitchen utensil, as well as some key factors that you can consider before buying one!
Our Favorite Fish Spatulas at a Glance
-
Best Overall: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Fish Turner
A best-selling slotted turner with a beveled head and an ergonomic handle.READ MORE -
Best Slotted Offset Spatula: New Star Wood Handle Fish Spatula
The best offset spatula tool with a wooden handle and an angled blade.READ MORE -
Best Stainless Steel: KitchenAid Classic Flex Turner
A tempered stainless steel spatula with an ergonomic handle.READ MORE -
Best Silicone: Boao Flexible Stainless Steel Spatula with Silicone Top
A metal fish turner lined with heat-resistant silicone.READ MORE -
Best Plastic: Rachael Ray Nylon Fish Turners
A pair of food-grade nylon fish spatulas.READ MORE -
Best for Nonstick: KSENDALO Nonstick Spatula Turner
A nonstick nylon fish flipper for Teflon-coated pans.READ MORE -
Best Wood: Winco Stainless Steel Fish Spatula With Wood Handle
A durable wood handle spatula with a blade that doubles as a knife.READ MORE -
Best Left-Handed: Mercer Culinary Hell's Handle Fish Turner
A slotted steel spatula with a cool-touch handle.READ MORE -
Best Flexible: New DI ORO Designer Series Fish Turner Spatula
A heat-resistant flexible spatula with holes and a long handle.READ MORE -
Best Thin: Matfer Bourgeat Slotted Spatula
A single-piece nonstick fish spatula.READ MORE -
Best Wide: JXWING Fish Spatula With Non-Slip Ergonomic Handle
A sturdy yet thin steel spatula with a wide blade and an ergonomic handle.READ MORE -
Best Durable: Sabatier Black Flex Turner
A triple-riveted metal fish spatula.READ MORE -
Best Multi-Purpose: YK GDYorKitchen Stainless Steel Slotted Turner
A slotted spatula that you can use for frying or cooking different types of food.READ MORE -
Best Luxury: Victorinox BBQ Accessories Slotted Fish Turner
An expensive fish turner from an established brand.READ MORE -
Best Budget-Friendly: Mercer Culinary Hell's Tools Hi-Heat Slotted Spatula
A functional yet affordable fish spatula made of glass-reinforced nylon.READ MORE
15 Fish Spatulas for Your Kitchen
To pick each fish turner, we took into careful consideration a few key facets including brand reputation, product specifications, as well as overall customer reviews. Browse through this section for a more in-depth discussion of the spatula types featured in this article.
Best Overall: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Fish Turner
What We Love
- Soft handle
- Oversized and beveled head
- Dishwasher safe
What We Don't Love
- Slightly pricy
This product under the OXO Good Grips line is the best fish spatula on Amazon that you can get for your kitchen this year. To start, it has a standard metal slotted spatula head that’s convenient for draining excess grease and liquids from food. Aside from that, the said part is oversized so it would be easier to flip or carry whole pieces of spicy tuna steak with wasabi and other delicate types of food from the pan without breaking them. The stainless steel head is also beveled or slightly sloped, for a more seamless food release.
Lastly, this OXO fish spatula is equipped with the brand’s signature ergonomic handle that is designed to be soft and non-slip for comfort.
Best Slotted Offset Spatula: New Star Wood Handle Fish Spatula
What We Love
- Inexpensive
- Durable
- Secure handle
- Multifunctional blade
What We Don't Love
- Not dishwasher safe
Whip up the star of this fresh and filling fish sandwich using this slotted offset spatula by the New Star Foodservice brand. But what is an offset spatula, exactly? Technically, it’s a long and narrow baking tool with a metal blade and a wooden or plastic handle. It’s mainly made for spreading frosting onto a cake. Compared to the regular type, this tool is slotted with a wider and angled spatula head for nestling large pieces of fish. This brushed stainless steel angled blade measures 6.5 inches overall, and it’s designed to have an edged end so you can cut food right on the hot pan itself.
You can also safely and comfortably hold its wooden handle for flipping food, as it’s secured with three stainless steel rivets. All in all, this product is durable and it’s a good workhorse to get for commercial establishments and long hours of cooking.
Best Stainless Steel: KitchenAid Classic Flex Turner
What We Love
- Inexpensive
- Dishwasher safe
- Sturdy
- Lifetime Limited warranty
What We Don't Love
- One size only
The KitchenAid Flex Turner is a good stainless steel spatula to get for your kitchen. The oversized blade of this flipper is made of the most widely used durable and rust-resistant 18/8 stainless steel (which stands for 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel). More than that, its form is slightly angled so you can easily lift your grilled tuna with fresh tomato salsa with the tool, and it’s tempered so it has just the right balance of flexibility and sturdiness.
The ergonomically designed handle of this steel fish spatula also feels firm without sacrificing comfort. This part is made of ABS plastic featuring a debossed logo, as well as a satin chrome-plated bolster and endcap.
Best Silicone: Boao Flexible Stainless Steel Spatula with Silicone Top
What We Love
- Sturdy
- Inexpensive
- Ergonomic handle
- Safe for nonstick cookware
What We Don't Love
- Handle isn’t very durable
You can safely make this citrus-glazed orange salmon dish without damaging your nonstick pan as long as you use this Boao silicone fish spatula. The blade of this turner has a classic stainless steel core that is durable and rust-resistant. Its angled edge on one side is covered with a soft and flexible strip of silicone that can withstand high temperatures. Hence, it’s sturdy and it won’t damage the Teflon coating on your cookware at the same time.
Aside from that, it has an ergonomic handle that you can hold comfortably while you cook. When you’re done for the day, cleaning this nonstick spatula would be a breeze, and you can simply hang it on a hook for storage.
Best Plastic: Rachael Ray Nylon Fish Turners
What We Love
- Heat-safe
- Value for money
- Available in three colors (blue, marine blue, and orange)
What We Don't Love
- Not very sturdy
Easily flip a batch of creamy halibut fillet with a plastic fish spatula by the Rachel Ray Kitchen Tools brand. Compared to the product above it, this is made of one material from the handle to the head. To be specific, it’s made of heat-safe nylon that you can safely use in temperatures of up to 400 degrees F. Because it isn’t made of metal, it also won’t scratch the nonstick coating on your pans.
This product is sold in pairs of large (12-inch) and medium (10-inch) sizes, so you can use either one for different cooking and baking purposes. Also, each plastic spatula would be easy to clean afterward since you can just simply plop them in your dishwasher if you wish.
Best for Nonstick: KSENDALO Nonstick Spatula Turner
What We Love
- Wide and thin blade
- Lightweight
- Dishwasher safe
- Quality guarantee
What We Don't Love
- Not suitable for iron and steel cookware
This nonstick fish spatula by the KSENDALO brand is an ideal utensil for your Teflon-coated cookware. It’s sturdy despite being gentle and lightweight, with an approximate weight of 0.16 ounces. This flipper spatula is primarily made of nylon, with a wide and thin blade for holding delicate food. It’s good to use for delicate surfaces, although the material has a limited heat capacity so it’s not advisable to use on cast iron and steel cookware that often surpasses 410 degrees F. Still, it doesn’t fall behind in terms of appearance as its matte black slotted head complements the sleek look of its brushed stainless steel handle.
Best Wood: Winco Stainless Steel Fish Spatula With Wood Handle
What We Love
- Inexpensive
- Sturdy
- Heavy-duty
- Multifunctional
What We Don't Love
- Polish on handle may come off
Nothing beats the rustic feel that wood offers to kitchen tools. If you agree, you might want to check out this fish spatula with a wood handle sold by the Winco brand. It’s a high-functioning kitchen workhorse with a slotted and slightly curved six-and-a-half-inch blade made of good quality, brushed stainless steel. This part doubles as a knife too, thanks to its edged end. Use this wooden handle spatula to roughly chop your fish for these mahi mahi fish tacos.
Even the four-and-a-half-inch handle of this commercial-grade slotted wood spatula looks and feels sturdy and secure. It’s very smooth and comfortable to hold even for hours on end! You can also spruce it up even further with food-safe varnish and polishes.
Best Left-Handed: Mercer Culinary Hell's Handle Fish Turner
What We Love
- Heat-resistant handle
- Good balance between flexibility and stiffness
- Available in different sizes
- Limited lifetime warranty
What We Don't Love
- Not suitable for nonstick surfaces
You can try to recreate the tastiest fish dishes regardless of your dominant hand with this left-handed spatula by the Mercer Culinary brand. The blade on this six-inch tool is made with high-quality Japanese stainless steel, which has more chromium content than regular steel. This material gives it just the right amount of flexibility and stiffness for cradling whole fishes and other types of food.
Since this fish-turner spatula is part of the company’s “Hell’s Handle” line, it’s equipped with a heat-resistant handle that can withstand temperatures of up to 450 degrees F. Also, it stays cool to the touch as it absorbs 50 percent less heat than regular polypropylene ones and it’s non-slip because of its dual-textured finish!
Best Flexible: New DI ORO Designer Series Fish Turner Spatula
What We Love
- BPA-free
- Safe for nonstick cookware
- Dishwasher safe
- Warranty
What We Don't Love
- May be too flexible for some
If you lean more towards getting a flexible spatula, then this product by the New Di Oro brand is a good choice. This kitchen tool is forged with professional-grade and food-safe silicone, which offers a better stretch compared to metal spatulas. You’ll be able to use this tool for most cooking applications (not restricted to low-heat fish recipes) since its material is heat resistant up to 600 degrees F.
Also, it’s equipped with a nonstick finish for more seamless cleanups. Its handle is comfortable to hold as well. And unlike most products on this list, this is a long-handled spatula that is roughly 13 inches in length overall, with a six-inch slotted blade.
Best Thin: Matfer Bourgeat Slotted Spatula
What We Love
- Nonstick
- Safe for nonstick cookware
- Flexible
- Dishwasher safe
What We Don't Love
- Quite pricey
Make your best rendition of this spicy grilled catfish recipe using the Matfer utensil. It boasts of a durable single-piece Exoglass construction specially developed by the French brand itself, so you can expect that the feel of this turner is uniform — from its heat-resistant handle to its angled and slotted blade. This proprietary material makes it more flexible than a regular thin metal spatula. It’s also non-porous, nonstick, and safe for nonstick cookware, too! You can safely use it for recipes that require temperatures of up to 430 degrees F.
Best Wide: JXWING Fish Spatula With Non-Slip Ergonomic Handle
What We Love
- Inexpensive
- Flexible
- Non-slip handle
- Dishwasher safe
What We Don't Love
- Not very sturdy
This is the best metal spatula to get for carrying large pieces of food. On the whole, the width of this big spatula measures 2.95 inches and has a length of 12.8 inches. Its blade is made of durable and rust-resistant 304 stainless steel. This part is also slotted and slightly curved for better drainage.
It’s sturdy yet thin and flexible with tapered edges, so you can use it to easily pick up delicate food, like the main ingredient for this grilled swordfish recipe. You can safely pick up this wide fish spatula on its soft and non-slip ergonomic handle. When you’re done, you can put it in the dishwasher and hang it for storage.
Best Durable: Sabatier Black Flex Turner
What We Love
- Triple-riveted
- Dishwasher safe
- Limited lifetime warranty
What We Don't Love
- Handle isn’t heat-safe
The Sabatier Black Flex Turner is a durable professional spatula that you can get for your kitchen. Right away, you’ll notice that it has a thin and flexible stainless steel angled blade perfect for picking up delicate pieces of food from underneath. It’s connected to a durable black plastic handle that’s supported and held together by three stainless steel rivets. All things considered, this product is a capable home or restaurant spatula because it can carry heavier items, like a big homemade burger patty, without a problem. It’s also dishwasher safe and each purchase is covered by a limited lifetime warranty.
Multi-Purpose: YK GDYorKitchen Stainless Steel Slotted Turner
What We Love
- Durable
- Ergonomic handle
- Comes with a silicone brush and oven mitt
What We Don't Love
- Handwash only
This slotted spatula is a good multifunctional model. Aside from fish, it’s also marketed as a utensil for cooking eggs, dumplings, and other meat recipes. You can also use it for different cooking methods like frying and baking. This product is among the most durable stainless steel turners on Amazon, too.
This slotted fish turner is equipped with a thin yet sturdy slotted steel blade that measures approximately 0.005 inches and a non-slip ergonomic handle made of the same material. Its smooth surface gives it a sleek and polished look and makes it easy to clean. It also has a metal loop, so you can just hang it on a hook when it’s not in use.
Best Luxury: Victorinox BBQ Accessories Slotted Fish Turner
What We Love
- Sustainable material
- Durable
- Good flexibility
What We Don't Love
- Hand wash only
This Victorinox fish spatula is the best model to get if you want to treat yourself to a premium kitchen tool. The price you’ll be paying for this product is a splurge compared to regular ones, but it’s arguably worth it as you’ll be getting a gourmet fish spatula in exchange. This tool may be primarily marketed as a barbecuing arsenal, although it has all the trappings of a good fish utensil.
Off the bat, it has a wide and sturdy stainless steel blade, stamped with the label of RH Forschner which is the North American distributor of the Victorinox brand. As usual, the blade of this stainless steel turner is slotted so that you can better drain your fish or fried food once you pick them up from the pan. More than that, its sustainably sourced wooden handle adds to the premium look and feel of the tool.
Best Budget-Friendly: Mercer Culinary Hell's Tools Hi-Heat Slotted Spatula
What We Love
- Flexible
- Heat resistant
- Available in nine colors (black, blue, brown, gray, green, purple, red, white, yellow)
What We Don't Love
- Narrow head
It’s completely understandable if you would rather opt for an inexpensive fish spatula. If you’re sticking to a budget, this product by the Mercer Culinary brand is tough to beat. It comes at a lower price compared to all of the tools on this list, but it doesn’t fall behind in terms of quality.
This fish spatula is made with glass-reinforced nylon that’s stain, odor, and heat resistant up to 430 degrees F, so you can definitely use it even when your pan plate is piping hot. Because its beveled head isn’t metal, it won’t scratch the surface of your pan so it’s good to use on nonstick cookware. It also comes in different colors, so you can choose one that best fits your kitchen aesthetic.
READ ALSO: Pellet Grill Guide: What It Is, And The Best Pellet Grills To Choose From [2022 Edition]
How to Choose the Best Fish Spatula
There are lots of different types of spatulas on online platforms such as Amazon, let alone in physical stores. Hence, it’s a valid question to ask: how do I choose a fish spatula, and what’s the best kind to get? Find out the answer to your dilemma by considering these factors:
Flexibility
A good spatula should have a good amount of flexibility so you can safely and easily move food around the pan. Typically, you can tell flexible spatulas apart from those that are not by looking at the size of the slot on the tool’s blade. A fish flipper spatula with wider holes tends to be more flexible.
READ ALSO: The Debate Between Fish And Meat – Is Fish Meat?
Strength
It’s also worth mentioning that you wouldn’t want your fish turner or spatula to be too flexible. In fact, it has to be quite sturdy as well, so that your food doesn’t slide off of the tool by accident. A good indicator of the right amount of strength is if it can carry half-pound burgers. Also, if you plan on getting a commercial spatula, it’s best to consider ones that are built for long and heavy-duty use.
Shape
Compared to a basic offset baking spatula, its blade should have a slightly curved or beveled shape towards the end. Otherwise, you run the risk of not being able to cradle or pick up food with more command. Thin fish turners and angled spatulas are ideal because they can slide seamlessly underneath the food you’re cooking. Furthermore, the one you choose should be slotted so that you can drain the fats and oils from your food without a problem. Lastly, we highly recommend going for a curved spatula with a lightweight handle that’s close to the flipper for better control over your tool.
Material
Stainless steel spatulas tend to be sturdier, have higher heat resistance, and are made much thinner than other types. Although, metal spatulas might be too rough on nonstick cookware. If this is your concern, you might be better off with plastic spatulas made of either food-grade nylon or silicone. Their only downside is that they tend to be bulkier than their steel counterparts. Meanwhile, wood handle spatulas are often strictly hand wash only, as dishwashing them may rub the polish off of the wood handles.