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If it's the perfect tool for smoothing icing, then we figure it must be good for smoothing other things as well. We use it for pushing batter into every corner of the baking pan and then for leveling the top afterward. Once the cake or tray of brownies has baked, the long skinny blade is the perfect shape for running around the edge of the pan and making sure nothing sticks to the sides.

An offset spatula also makes short work of transferring a whole mess of cookies from baking sheet to cooling rack and cooling rack to serving tray. Two spatulas together are perfect for supporting a tender round of cake as we move it onto a cake stand for decorating. For that matter, we've used offset spatulas to transfer hot roasted meat onto a cutting board to rest.

In a pinch, we've even used an offset spatula for flipping pancakes and lifting bacon out of a hot pan. Whenever we need to handle hot foods gently, this spatula become an extension of our hands and fingers.

Yes, we'd say that an offset spatula is definitely one of the more useful kitchen tools we keep around!

Do you own an offset spatula? What do you use it for?

Related: Five Essential Baking Tools: Pans

(Image: Williams-Sonoma)