Chef Raves: What’s the Deal with Gray Kunz Spoons?

Emma Christensen
Emma Christensen
Emma is a former editor for The Kitchn and a graduate of the Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. She is the author of True Brews and Brew Better Beer. Check out her website for more cooking stories
updated Sep 27, 2019
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Credit: Apartment Therapy

Hang around chefs, or read profiles of them, long enough and eventually, you’ll hear one mention how much they love their Gray Kunz spoon. We couldn’t believe how many chefs actually included this spoon in their <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="list%20of%20favorite%20kitchen%20tools.%20A%20spoon?%20And%20a%20%2410%20one%20at%20that?%20What's%20the%20deal?</p>%0A%0A%0A%0A<p>There%E2%80%99s%20more%20to%20this%20spoon%20than%20meets%20the%20eye.%20It%20was%20designed%20by%20Chef%20Gray%20Kunz%20back%20when%20he%20was%20heading%20up%20Lespinasse%20in%20New%20York%20City%20and%20was%20originally%20only%20given%20to%20chefs%20who%20worked%20in%20his%20kitchen.</p>%0A%0A%0A%0A<p>The%20proportions%20of%20the%20spoon%20are%20a%20little%20different%20than%20average.%20The%20bowl%20is%20larger,%20holding%20an%20exact%202.5%20tablespoons,%20and%20it%20has%20a%20slightly%20tapered%20edge.%20That%20edge%20makes%20it%20more%20of%20a%20precision%20tool%20when%20it%20comes%20to%20shaping%20quenelles%20of%20foam%20or%20even%20just%20flipping%20fish%20on%20the%20griddle.%20The%20handle%20is%20also%20shorter%20and%20narrower,%20nine%20inches%20from%20tip%20to%20tale%20and%20ostensibly%20making%20the%20spoon%20easier%20to%20control.</p>%0A%0A%0A%0A<p>This%20spoon%20can%20be%20used%20for%20everything%20under%20the%20sun.%20Saucing%20dishes,%20tasting%20a%20soup,%20prying%20open%20jars,%20measuring%20spices,%20flipping,%20stirring,%20and%20probably%20a%20whole%20lot%20more.</p>%0A%0A%0A%0A<p>But%20is%20<em>this</em>%20spoon%20really%20necessary?%20It%E2%80%99s%20a%20useful%20tool,%20no%20doubt,%20but%20we%E2%80%99re%20guessing%20much%20of%20the%20popularity%20of%20this%20spoon%20has%20to%20do%20with%20its%20mystique%20in%20the%20chef%20world.%20Chefs%20can%20be%20as%20superstitious%20as%20baseball%20players,%20and%20there%20are%20probably%20many%20who%20won%E2%80%99t%20start%20a%20dinner%20service%20without%20this%20spoon%20firmly%20and%20lovingly%20tucked%20into%20their%20sleeve%20pocket.</p>%0A%0A%0A%0A<p><strong>Buy:<a%20href=" https: target="_blank"> J.B. Prince Chef Gray Kunz Sauce Spoon, $ 11.90 at Amazon

Do you have a Gray Kunz spoon? Do you think it’s worth the hype?

Related: Egg Gear: Michael Ruhlman’s $27 Bad Ass Egg Spoon

(Image: JB Prince)

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Knives & Cutlery