The Underrated Kitchen Tool You Should Use To Flip Eggs

Flipping eggs in a pan might seem simple enough, but for the novice cook, there are few things more terrifying. So many things could go wrong — the eggs could get stuck to the pan, they could end up on the stove or the floor if your flick-of-the-wrist goes awry, and, of course, there is the dreaded breaking of the yolk. Needless to say, it takes some practice to get it just right. 

However, there are certainly things you can do to increase your chances of successful flippage, like making sure you have plenty of butter or oil in the skillet to prevent sticking, and simple hacks like using a pan lid to prevent broken yolks. The type of spatula you use could also make a huge difference, and one that is pretty foolproof is the fish spatula.

While they may be intended for fish, the design that makes them so great for handling delicate filets is exactly what makes them perfect for fragile eggs. So, even though the name implies that it is intended for a single purpose (which may cause some home cooks to avoid it altogether), the fish spatula could quite possibly become your favorite to use for a number of tasks. Even better, they are sturdy, yet flexible, and are made by many brands that will accommodate any budget.

With its angled and super-thin edge, a fish spatula can easily glide under the most breakable of foods, like a tender filet or the flat whites of a fried egg. Whereas a larger, thicker metal or silicone spatula might gouge and push the egg into a deformed shape, a metal fish spatula should cause minimal disturbance, letting you lift the full egg up and over for a flawless flip. While you can use this tool to scramble eggs too, it's best used for fried eggs, as there are large, elongated holes in the spatula that scrambled eggs could slip right through.

There are some fish spatulas that have silicone edges, but for the most part, they come with metal edges so this is a tool that is best used on stainless steel or cast iron skillets (using them on your non-stick cookware could damage the coating). Make sure your pan is well seasoned or well coated with fat to avoid your eggs sticking, but even if they do adhere a bit to the pan, the spatula can easily scrape through with its thin edge, releasing the eggs with ease.

Fish and eggs are just two uses for this trusty cooking tool. In truth, you could find yourself reaching for your fish spatula regularly. Nearly anything you need to flip over while cooking can be achieved with this kitchen item, like grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, pancakes, shredded hash browns, bacon, burger patties, and chicken. In addition, it's a fantastic tool for removing foods from hot oil or water, like french fries, donuts, and poached eggs, since the cooking liquid will quickly drain right off the spatula.

Another great use for this fish flipper is removing fond from a saute pan. Fond is the browned, caramelized bits of food that are left stuck in a pan when you've seared or cooked something, like smash burgers, filet mignons, and seared chicken. It's bursting with flavor and something you don't want to waste, but it can adhere like cement. To release it, add a little liquid (anything from broth to wine, depending on your recipe) and scrape it off with a fish spatula.

On a similar note, this type of spatula could be very handy for making trendy feta cheese fried eggs if you make them in a stainless steel skillet; scraping up that delicious caramelized cheese will be easy as pie.