Spatula vs. Turner
The term spatula refers to any tool with a wide, flat head on a long handle (including, ahem, turners). But despite the confusing definition, there are two distinct tools at play here. Simply put, if you fry eggs on occasion, or have ever made a burger, a pancake, or a fresh cookie, you need a turner to get your food from one place to another. As for spatulas? To anyone who buys items in a jar (mayo, peanut butter, prepared frosting), and to anyone who might ever frost a cookie, cupcake, or cake, a spatula is your friend.
You’ll need to make room for both handy tools, and depending on what you get up to in your kitchen, you might even want multiple types of both spatulas and turners—but they’ll earn their keep. When buying, look for sturdy, ergonomic handles, high-quality, heat-resistant materials, and a loop or hole in the handle for hanging and storing both of these keepers at the ready.