One underappreciated kitchen tool that is useful but not well known is the bench scraper, also known as a dough scraper or pastry scraper. This versatile tool is a flat piece of metal or plastic with a handle and can be incredibly handy in the kitchen for various tasks. Here's why it's worth considering:
Dough Handling: A bench scraper is excellent for working with dough. Whether you're kneading bread dough, cutting pastry dough, or shaping sticky cookie dough, the bench scraper helps lift and turn the dough without sticking to your hands or the countertop.
Chopping and Scooping: The straight edge of a bench scraper makes it a useful tool for chopping ingredients like nuts, herbs, or chocolate. You can also use it to scoop up chopped ingredients and transfer them to a bowl or pan effortlessly.
Cleaning Countertops: When you're done with food prep, the bench scraper makes cleaning up a breeze. It can quickly scrape away leftover dough, flour, or other debris from your countertop, saving you time and effort.
Portioning and Dividing: If you need to divide dough into equal portions or cut bars or brownies into precise sizes, a bench scraper can help you achieve consistent results.
Transferring Chopped Food: When you've finished chopping ingredients, you can use the bench scraper to gather and transfer them from the cutting board to a bowl or pan. It's especially helpful when working with sticky or delicate items.
Smoothing Icing or Cream: For cake decorators, a bench scraper is a fantastic tool for achieving smooth and even finishes on the sides and tops of cakes. It helps create clean edges and professional-looking designs.
Despite its simplicity, a bench scraper is a versatile and practical tool that can make your cooking and baking tasks easier and more efficient. It's often an affordable tool that takes up minimal space in your kitchen, so it's worth adding to your collection of kitchen utensils.