Spider (utensil) facts for kids
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Have you ever seen a kitchen tool that looks a bit like a spider's web? That's exactly what a spider is! It's a special kind of kitchen tool, also called a skimmer, that's really popular in East Asian cooking. Imagine a wide, shallow basket made of wire mesh with a long handle. That's a spider! People use it to carefully lift hot food out of liquids, like boiling water or oil. It's also great for scooping off foam when you're making yummy soups or broths. The name "spider" comes from the way the wires are woven, which really does look like a spider's web!
Even though it started in East Asia, cooks all over the world, especially in Western kitchens, love using spiders. They often prefer them over slotted spoons because the open mesh lets liquids drain away much faster and more safely.
A spider is different from a sieve or a strainer. Sieves and strainers usually have very fine holes to drain away all the liquid, even from small bits of food. But a spider has a more open mesh. This means it's perfect for lifting bigger pieces of food while still letting the liquid drip off. Most often, it's used to add or remove foods from hot liquids like water or cooking oil.
Spiders can come in different shapes. Some are flat and round, while others are smaller and shaped more like a spoon but with an open basket design. You might also hear them called spoon sieves, spoon skimmers, or basket skimmers.
How to Use a Spider
A spider is super handy for lifting and draining foods from hot oil, soups, and boiling water. It's the perfect tool for skimming foam off the top of broths, quickly blanching (lightly cooking) vegetables, and deep-frying foods.
This kitchen utensil is most often used to get foods out of pots or pans filled with hot water. You can dip the spider into steaming hot water or oil and scoop up many different types of food. This lets you check if the food is ready, or remove it to cool down before you eat it.
