This $16 OXO Tool Is My New Favorite Go-To for Cooking Meat and Fish

If there’s one thing to know about my kitchen, it’s that it’s stocked with some of the coolest gadgets and gear in the game. I get the opportunity to test out a ton of sweet cookware and kitchen tools for my job, and while I have pretty much every pot, pan, knife, small appliance, and niche, unnecessary grocery item you can think of, there’s one category in which I’m lacking: spatulas. I’ve never really been satisfied with any food-moving implement that isn’t an old-fashioned wooden spoon, and the spatulas I have had in the past have always been lackluster. The silicone ones are either too flimsy or too fat to properly flip food, and the metal ones are usually too rigid and end up scraping my pans. 

Now, working in food media, I’d heard tell of the mighty fish turner — a kitchen tool that purportedly made everything from flipping flaky fish filets to mincing meat a breeze — but I chalked it up as kitchen rag lore. Recently, though, I got the chance to try out OXO’s Fish Turner, and I have to say, I’ve been converted. 

If you’re not familiar with a fish turner, you’re in for a treat. This handy tool is your best bet for precise flipping when you’re dealing with whole fish or filets, but it’s also exceptional for flipping burgers, breaking up ground meat, making pancakes, and much more. The beveled edge slides like a dream under whatever you’re whipping up, and the negative space in the head allows grease to drain like a slotted spoon. Plus, the durable, stainless-steel construction means it’s also good for moving larger pieces of meat, and the soft, ergonomic handle gives you a firm, comfortable grip.

For me, the biggest draw to the OXO Fish Turner is its versatility. The sturdy, thin edge lets you get underneath pretty much anything, and the head is flexible enough that you can make sure not to scratch your pan, but solid enough to hold pretty much any reasonably sized piece of meat. It’s also great for breaking up ground meat and sausage, since the angled head gives you a flat edge to chop with. And, with a perfect five-star average rating from 68 reviews on the site, it’s clear that I’m not the only one who digs the OXO Fish Turner. “This tool is nicely made and useful for all kinds of cooking, not just for fish,” one reviewer writes. “[I] use it all the time!” 

So, if you’re looking to upgrade the limp, ineffectual silicone spatula that you may have received years ago as a part of a largely unwanted “first apartment housewarming gift set,” snag the OXO Fish Turner ASAP and get ready to take all of your meals to the next level. 

Buy: OXO Fish Turner, $15.99