Foodie Friday: Silicone Spatulas Taste Bad (A Kitchen Mystery)
For once, Google has failed me. I’ve been noticing that when I taste test something using my silicone ‘soup style’ spatulas, there is a gross, chemical-y taste. Has anyone else had this happen?
Literally the only thing I can find online that seems like what I’m experiencing is this random little chat thread from way back in 2009.
Before you say I have a cheapie spatula, yes, I do have a couple, and yes, they also have this problem, but so does my fancy-pants spatula set from Williams Sonoma.
I don’t notice that the spatulas change the taste of food, but when I’m stirring or scraping something hot, spoon some up on one of these silicone spatulas, and taste it, there is a decidedly disgusting and unnatural taste that makes it literally impossible to tell what my food tastes like. Honestly, it’s taken me completely aback, because if the material tastes like this when I’m cooking, how is it not leaching nastiness into my food?
The FDA says it’s safe, but Scientific American says there’s been little actual research done.
I’m a little cautious on the cooking products front, because there’s so much conflicting information out there, all from legit sources, and generally speaking not all that much research done. Between the potential hazards of Teflon, the back and forth on BPA in plastic, melamine issues, etc., etc. it’s hard to know what’s safe.
BUT what I do know is that my silicone spatulas taste disgusting when heated, so I’m figuring out alternatives.
Made of stainless steel, I have an older (like I’ve had it for 15 years older) model of this that I LOVE. I’m going to get another one because I’m inevitably washing it several times when I cook. It’s great in my cast iron skillet.
Now for enameled pans, like a Le Cruset, you can’t use a metal spatula. Olive wood is super strong, not to mention beautiful, and this guy has pretty great reviews:
Maybe I’ll give it a try! I have some older wood spoons I sometimes use in enamel cookware and they do okay, but honestly I haven’t taken good care of them (I never oil them, really), so it’s probably time for a replacement anyway.
Next time you’re cooking taste your hot food on the spatula you’ve been using to cook with and PLEASE tell me I’m not crazy …
I have the same problem. There is a subtle, lingering taste left by what I assume is lower grade silicone.
Baking on my silpat is fine. If I bake on the generic “100% silicone baking mat” from Amazon, the bottom of my biscuits have that same chemical taste.
I remain on the search for a silicone manufacturer with impeccable quality. : (
This happens to me and I was wondering whether it was the dishwasher soap leaving a film on my spatulas. I googled it and here I am. I will have to get rid of them.
I agree there is a nasty taste when testing food using a silicone spatula. I’m glad it’s not just my taste buds. I’m definitely looking for alternatives to use for stirring my food.
Suggestions are welcome.
I have the same problem with my (high-end!) silicone spatulas! Super gross. Why is no one else talking about this?
Looks like I’m not the only one who has noticed this and had Google turn up little to nothing about the issue. Thanks for commenting, guys! I feel much less crazy now …
My husband literally just brought me some cooked chocolate custard on a fancy silicone spatula to taste test. (Quarantining for Coronavirus, you know, so all manner of cooking is underway bc he’s bored, and needed custard to whip up ice cream for later.) The custard was wonderful except for the bitterness that always hits me when tasting food from a spatula. Made a bad face and wounded his feelings. Told him about the horrible taste of a spatula. He stuck it in his mouth and said it was fine.
Frustrated, I got on-line and found this discussion. So I’m not crazy after all. However, any idea why he’s immune to the nasty taste.
Anything silicone spatulas touch tastes like I cooked it in the dishwasher. Many people say I’m crazy. I say I have good taste budz, too good. Can’t stand it. Same thi with anything in plastic Tupperware, tastes like Tupperware.
I’ve noticed this for the last 10 years. But I actually can taste it on the food too like if it was cupcakes baked in a silicone pan. Glad I’m not the only one.
Me too! (And I found this by googling, “Can I taste the spatula?” because people keep telling me I’m crazy. I don’t think I can taste it in the finished product, but I sure can taste an unpleasant chemical taste if I use silicon to taste as I cook. SO glad it isn’t just me.
Threw out an entire cake this eve after scraping out batter using broken silicone spatula- I could even taste it throughout the batter but not in the bowl I had not used the spatula in- through out cake without baking it and spatula. My husband couldn’t taste a difference but to me- inedible! Thanks! Glad to know I am not crazy!
You’re not crazy! I’m on my way to replace my kitchen utensils and googled this to see if I was the only one who notices the weird taste. My husband doesn’t notice, but I’m a super-taster (look that up) and every little thing is noticeable, like a chemical silicone-y taste. I think will get some wooden utensils but I like the flexibility of the silicone. I wish there was something similar without the taste.
I’m glad you are talking about this. I cannot figure out why there aren’t more tests being done on the safety of silicone spatulas. I have removed most plastics from my kitchen at this point and because silicone is said to be completely safe have continued to use it. We bought a new set of spatulas only a month ago. I only hand wash them, never dishwasher. They have a flavor that leaches off them. Even when they are not heated, in fact they rarely are used in hot liquids they taste bad! I know it’s not a soap flavor it’s a chemical flavor. These are red spatulas the kind where the entire handle is made silicone as well. Anyway, I really hope someone starts testing a random sampling of brands to see what is going on. If you can taste it, that has to mean something! In the meantime I’m off in search of alternatives. Probably going to go with untreated wood.
Haha! You are not crazy….I recently started making yogurt and I really notice the unpleasant “off” smell/taste When scraping the yogurt out of the pot.
Thank you!!!… when I taste marinara on my spatula I get a soapy taste… its off putting and I worry if all my food tastes like this …