17 Types Of Spoons, Explained

While the origin of the spoon is not truly known, we do know that spoons have been around for centuries, and the first spoon-like utensils were used by the Egyptian pharaohs (via Eating Utensils). Since then, spoons have undergone many transformations and become an important instrument worldwide for various uses. The spoons you are probably accustomed to eating with may seem generic and perhaps even underwhelming, but the spoons' history is creamy and rich. 

Made from bones, brass, stone, wood, or various other metals, spoons have always been a way for artists to express their craft and as a vehicle for displaying wealth and status. Today, spoons are useful for measuring, stirring, serving, and so much more. Their design, shape, and length can indicate a specific use they were designed for and teach users about the complex world of spoons. You may even have a favorite spoon chosen for its long, elegant handle or maybe because of its deep, generous bowl. No matter the reason, spoons bring us pleasure and can be a magnificent way to elevate any eating experience.

Deciding which types of spoon to add to your collection of kitchen utensils will depend on the foods you tend to eat and your cooking style. From caviar and demitasse spoons to the very common tablespoon, there's a great variety of spoons to explore.

The demitasse spoon is one you have probably seen many times and thus taken for granted. In the world of table settings and fine dining, it plays a very important role. Inspired by Chinese teaspoons and developed in France in the mid-19th century, demitasse spoons are small, ornately decorated spoons no longer than four inches.

According to The Coffee Brewers, before the espresso was invented, the word demitasse referred to a small cup of strong coffee regularly consumed after dinner. Demitasse spoons were then used to stir in sugar or cream.

Today, demitasse spoons are still used in formal dining settings to scoop sugar for espresso. At antique stores, you may find demitasse spoons created for specific events, families, and celebrations, as well as those with matching dishes or other cutlery. Like other metal utensils, these spoons became a way for metal workers to show off their craft and celebrate elaborate decorations. Next time you have a strong espresso or scoop sugar into your tea, think about the long history and care that went into creating the demitasse spoon.

Grapefruit spoons are funny-looking things! With teeth around the edges that are not conducive to soup slurping, you might wonder why you want one of these. Well, the answer is actually fairly straightforward — for your grapefruit.

As its name suggests, grapefruit spoons are designed specifically to scoop out grapefruit segments. If you have ever tried to eat half a grapefruit with a standard spoon, you know that it can be a messy experience. Whether you like eating grapefruit with some sugar or prefer another preparation, such as broiled grapefruit, grapefruit spoons enable you to scoop out individual sections of fruit without having to peel, slice, or gouge it out.

While grapefruit spoons are not exactly necessary, these mini spoon-knife hybrids certainly are very fun. As per Delighted Cooking, grapefruit spoons are versatile and can be used to eat other citrus fruits like oranges or pomelos and scoop squash and other fruits like melon.

Ice tea spoons are not only practical, but they are also undeniably fun to use. Ice tea spoons are whimsical and delightful, with a very long handle that can reach clear to the bottom of a glass without drowning the handle. Usually ranging in length from seven to 10 inches, ice tea spoons are used for precisely what their name implies. They are a great way to stir lemon, sugar, or other flavorings into a glass of your favorite iced tea. Ice tea spoons are also a great option to use with ice cream sundaes and other desserts and make any treat more enjoyable.

Ice tea spoons are most commonly used in casual settings, and as per Restaurant Supply, they are not usually included in fine dining table sets. That doesn't mean they don't have a place at your table! Ice tea spoons are a summertime staple, and their long handles and small scoop make eating anything that much more enjoyable, whether it is ice tea, a soda float, or a sundae.

Have you ever had a dish with a sauce so delicious that all you want to do is to eat it by the spoonful? Well, if you haven't experienced this, you should go and make some sauce because a great sauce can make any dish better. The French have always had a deep devotion to sauces, so much so that they created a whole new type of spoon just to celebrate scooping up the sauce.

A sauce spoon, or saucier spoon, is a delicate spoon that, to a common observer, may look just like a regular dessert spoon. Do not be deceived. As per Bauscher Hepp, a sauce spoon has a slightly flat basin and a distinctive notch on one side. This notch is not a defect and is, in fact, a very intentional design feature. The little indent serves as an escape route for any excess fat, enabling it to drain off before indulging in a spoonful of deliciousness.

Created in the Parisian restaurant Lasserre in the 1950s, sauce spoons are now a table setting stable, finding a place in between the dinner plate and knife. It is most frequently used with fish or meat courses and can be found at high-end French restaurants.

The first rule of using a shamoji is to rinse it with water before you use it. This way, the natural starch of the rice will not stick to the shamoji and will keep it clean and smooth throughout your meal.

But what exactly is a shamoji, and how is it different from other rice scoops? A shamoji is a Japanese rice paddle used in all stages of the rice-making process. According to Oishii, shamoji are made of plastic or wood, with intentionally soft edges to minimize the amount of mashed rice. This also ensures that your rice cooker pot will remain unscathed if you choose that vessel to cook your rice.

Shamojis have a long history directly tied to Japanese culture and rice. Rice, the staple grain in Japanese cuisine, must be treated with the utmost respect. This means that cooking rice in a way that celebrates its flavors and qualities is essential, and one way to do this is with a shamoji. It is believed that lightly fluffing rice once it is done cooking allows each grain to release excess steam and obtain the desired shine and bite. Shamojis are also used for serving rice and clearing the pot once a meal is finished.

A quenelle is an ovular, pointed dollop of cream, mousse, or other soft food that often delicately decorates fine dining plates (via Foodsguy). The perfect quenelle is a piece of art, and it can take chefs years to achieve this immaculate, seamless shape. Quenelle spoons often come in pairs because a classic quenelle is made by scooping two spoons against each other lengthwise. This method achieves the signature quenelle look that is so appealing and beautiful.

The Foodsguy explains that a quenelle spoon is pointed at the end to help achieve the signature point of a quenelle. They also have deep basins to ensure that the quenelle has enough body and holds its signature round shape. While they do not look extraordinary, quenelle spoons are essential fine-dining instruments and help make any dish look more extravagant and refined.

The first step to eating ramen is sipping the broth, according to Ramen Hero. This is achieved by using a ramen spoon, or chirirenge. Once you taste your broth, sense the temperature, and become sufficiently hungry, it is time to dive into your bowl of noodles.

Ramen Hero also explains that chirirenge translates to "fallen lotus petal" in Japanese, referring to the spoon's flat, deep bowl-like shape and thick, grooved handle. The handle has a small crook at its end, which can let the spoon rest in your ramen bowl without disappearing into the broth. Throughout your meal, you can use the spoon as a small bowl, lifting your noodles into the spoon and filling the basin with a bit of broth to create a delicious mouthful. You can also use the spoon to scoop up some of the delicious ramen toppings or as a place to let your noodles cool before you dig in.

To enable maximum ramen-eating mobility, hold your chopsticks in your right hand and the ramen spoon in the left. This method allows you to sip on broth intermittently while eating and catch any falling noodles or toppings that tumble out of your chopstick's grasp. Ramen is meant to be eaten quickly, so hurry up and embrace your ramen spoon to consume ramen at peak efficiency.

A spoonful of sugar helps just about everything, and what better to scoop sugar than with a sugar spoon? Usually found in formal tea or coffee settings, sugar spoons are specifically designed to hold a generous scoop of sugar. They often come paired with a matching sugar pot that holds white crystal sugar, and according to Delighted Cooking, they are weighted specifically to ease in the sprinkling of sugar.

The most common shape of a sugar spoon resembles a sea shell, so they are often referred to as sugar shell spoons. Sugar shell spoons have fluted edges that help break apart the sugar in the pot, separating the granules and ensuring that it sprinkles evenly. This also gives you more control over the amount of sugar you are adding to your drink because each additional grain will add another drop of sweetness.