At some point in time I ended up with a long handled ice tea spoon in my kitchen. How this came to be is still a mystery as I equate sweetened tea with the evils of the earth, but this isn't the time or place for the sweet tea vs. unsweetened tea debate. No matter how it came to my kitchen, I've been putting it to use ever since — here's how!
1. Digging In Jars: It doesn't matter if it's the bottom of the peanut butter jar, the jelly, or mayo that might be in your fridge, regular spoons just don't cut it. They're perfect for picking little things out of jars as well like olive or capers.
2. Turning Things In The Oven: Although we have a set of long handled tongs to do most of this, when you need to flip something in the oven, say a piece of chicken, this long spoon can come in quite handy as it's skinny enough to weasel in without hitting any heating elements and getting at exactly what you need. It works even better in a toaster oven as there's less clearance in there for regular kitchen tools.
3. Ice Cream Sundaes: Our local diner makes these "Skyscraper Ice Cream Sundaes and Floats." They're awesome and usually prepared in a large vase and eaten by a small gathering of people. This long spoon often makes appearances when we recreate this at home as it's perfect for getting everything out of the bottom.
4. Comedic Cereal Eating: Cereal can be a late night snack staple in our house and there's nothing more enjoyable than watching my husband eat an oversized bowl of his favorite treat with an extra long spoon. Oddly enough it works really well to get sunken pieces up from the bottom or for feeding your dog without getting licked... not that we feed our dogs with the same thing we feed ourselves... let's move along.
5. Mixed Drinks Of All Sorts: It doesn't matter if you're boozing it up or keeping things clean, mixed drinks are always a hit. Add-ins such as syrups, fruit or bits of herbs are always better incorporated with a good stir. It's easier than having to clean a cocktail shaker and it will help you fish out the tasty bits when the beverage is all gone.
Related: Thirst Quenching Iced Tea Recipe Roundup
(Image: Sarah Rae Trover)
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Really? I eat everything with these things! I have no idea if it's an aesthetic or ergonomic preference, but I'm always digging to find them underneath all the ginormous soup spoons.
All the evils of the world, you blame on sweet tea? :-(
In the South that's blasphemy... but, I'll forgive you... this time.
Honestly we don't have any of these in the house, or have I ever owned one. Generally you add the sugar while the tea is hot so it disolves and then cool it from there. I can see good use for condiments and certain table service (that last freaking olive that just decided to sink).
1 - i am a total yankee from nyc but i love sweet tea!
2 - i have 1 random ice tea spoon and i love it too! i wish i had more - they are great for mixing honey into hot tea in travel mugs too! (among the other uses you list)
Please....keep your sweet tea phobia under wraps!! It causes us suthuners to have severe WTF cramps!
I also have one ice tea spoon that mysteriously appeared! I much prefer it for ice cream.
I eat yogurt with my ice tea spoons. Perfect for avoiding the sticky spoon handle from digging into some of the tall, skinny containers.
I have one, (just one), too. I like it for ice cream. It seems fancier and makes me savor it more.
I wish one would mysteriously appear in my kitchen. I can never remember to look for or buy any. Anyway, they're kind of hard to find in the "not totally cheap, ugly and/or sucky" category.
@splatgirl - I see ice tea spoons all the time at garage and estate sales, even silver or silver plate ones, usually very cheap.
Ice tea spoons are my obsession. Great for digging into the ice cream sundaes that my dad insists should be made in insulated travel mugs... and they make perfect tasting spoons, or spoons to dig lemon seeds out of things into which you've squeezed juice, or retrieving egg shells....
I use ice tea spoons for measuring and stirring my french press coffee in the mornings. The spoon is just long enough so I don't get my fingers in the coffee press.
Reminder: need to get more than 4 next time.
Am I the only one with a full set of these things? My grandmother bought my silverware in Tennessee when I was about 20. Now, over 20 years later I'm living in Chicago and have been shopping few new silverware only to find tea spoons aren't even sold with sets here. Shock. Thankfully, I still have plenty from the set I'm trying to replace.
When I got married and friends knew I was moving to the UK, they made sure I had a set of iced tea spoons to take with me, since in the UK the only teaspoons sold with flatware are short-handled and designed to be used in hot tea. She got them at Bed, Bath, and Beyond if anyone else is searching for any.
I use those thing all the time -- and even in my hot tea. They're perfect for fishing tea bags out of the tall flasks my husband uses for work.
I have a set inheirited from my grandmother and use them often--I do like a little sweetener in my iced tea, but as several others have mentioned, they are also great for stirring milk and sugar into travel coffee mugs, for ice cream sundaes and use as tasting spoons.
I also have a set of these, from my grandmother, and they are sterling silver. I think they were seen much more when people registered for silver place settings when getting married. I use mine all the time and wish I could get more of them that aren't a hideous stainless steel pattern. You see a lot of sets on ebay and sometimes they're not too pricey.
I use these for filling doughy pockets of goodness... like pot stickers or ravioli.