Slotted Turner Vs Solid Turner – What’s the Difference?

While you can use a slotted turner in place of a solid turner and vice versa, they both have a particular purpose.

You can purchase turners in long and slender styles, short and stubby, and offset.

Often the term turner is used interchangeably with the title, spatula, and in some instances, that is so.

However, slotted and solid turners have particular purposes.

You use both to flip items in a skillet or a pan. However, a slotted turner allows liquid and grease to drain away.

Continue reading to learn how a slotted turner vs a solid turner is used in the kitchen.

Slotted turner vs solid turner

Slotted and solid turners are used to slide under food to lift it or turn it over. Both types are used for this task; however, only the slotted turner can drain grease and liquid from the foods you lift. Slotted and solid turners are made in many sizes, various shapes, and made from rubber, silicone, and metal.

Who thought of making different types of turners?

The first turners were probably sticks, and then later the blade of a knife, and the word spatula in Greek is “spathe,” which refers to long and perhaps broad swords.

So it would make sense that turners evolved and became tools for turning food from there.

Like most tools we use when cooking, turners have evolved.

Today you can find turners that are solid, slotted, long, stubby, and offset, making some tasks much more manageable.

These styles are slotted and solid.

Slotted turners may not have slots, but holes do the same as slots, drain the juices from the food you are lifting.

Another feature of turners is that some are slightly flexible, while others are thick and stiff.

Whether you call them turners, spatulas, or flippers, they all serve a purpose in your kitchen.

For example, having different turners to perform various tasks makes preparing your favorite recipes easier.

Where do slotted turners come from?

Related to spatulas and also called flippers, the history of turners is vague.

However, there is some evidence they arrived in kitchens sometime in the 1700s.

The history of the slotted fish turner is well documented, though, and the earliest of these unique tools began as the “fish slice.”

The original fish slice is shaped like a fish and was used to serve them whole.

The slots allowed the fish’s juices to flow away and made for an interesting serving piece, as well.

From there, the shape of slotted turners has evolved, and you can find them in various shapes and lengths and make them from various materials.

Should you use rubber or metal slotted and solid turners?

For non-stick pots and pans, you will need slotted and solid turners made of rubber or silicone.

Metal turners will scratch non-stick cookware.

However, you can use metal turns in cast iron and carbon steel pans.

Turners come in many sizes, made from rubber and synthetics of various colors.

Metal turners may be thin and springy or thicker and stiff.

These types of turners work well in metal skillets without a non-stick coating.

Solid turners that are thicker work well on barbeque grills and flat grills.

Their stiffness enables you to use them to scrape grill grates, as well as for turning your burgers and steaks.

What foods are slotted and solid turners used for

Each type of turner has its own use.

A turner is an essential kitchen utensil, from the smallest to those large enough to flip three burgers.

A well-equipped kitchen is a pleasure, and slotted and solid turners need to be part of that equipment.

You can use solid turners to flip pancakes, burgers, chicken filets, and other foods.

You can also use one to remove baked products from a cookie sheet or sheet cake slices if you don’t have a cake server.

Slotted turners work well for lifting foods from hot oil, as they will drain from the turner.

The long thin shape of the fish turner is perfect for frying, and offset turners help you get into tight spaces.

The slotted or solid turners can be used for flipping foods. However, only slotted turners enable you to drain liquids from your food.

They both have a purpose in your kitchen and having one of each will help you make your favorite creations more easily.

Frequently Asked Questions About Slotted Turner Vs Solid Turner

Slotted and solid turners each have their uses.

The right tool for the correct application at the right time can make the difference between resounding success and something less than edible.

For example, slotted and solid turners are two utensils that make cooking easier and are not very expensive additions to your collection of kitchen tools.

Finding the utensils you want can take time unless you look them up and order them online.

However, when searching for solid turners and slotted turners, one can also search for spatulas as they are sometimes listed as such.

So, don’t miss an opportunity by not using another name for these versatile tools when searching for items that will help you better equip your kitchen.