Spurtle facts for kids
The spurtle is a special wooden kitchen tool from Scotland. People have used it since the 1400s! It's mainly for stirring porridge, but it also works well for soups and stews.
Imagine stirring porridge with a spoon. It can get lumpy! A spurtle's long, thin shape helps stir porridge smoothly. It stops lumps from forming. Also, not much porridge sticks to it because it has a small surface area.
Spurtles are usually made from wood like beech, cherry, or maple. They come in different sizes. Old-style spurtles often have a cool thistle design at the top. Thistles are a symbol of Scotland! Newer ones are often smooth.
There's a fun tradition: you should stir with your right hand. And always stir in a clockwise direction!
Where Did the Word "Spurtle" Come From?
The word spurtle has been used in Scotland since at least 1528. There was a similar word, spartle, used in Northern England for a stirrer.
Many other languages, like German, also have words similar to spurtle. These words often describe a flat tool. All these words likely came from the Latin word spatula. This Latin word meant a broad, flat tool.
So, the words spade and spoon are actually distant relatives of spurtle! They all share a very old root word that means a long, flat piece of wood.
What is a Couthie Spurtle?
Early spurtles were a bit different from the ones we use for porridge today. They were flat, made of wood or metal, and had long handles with flat blades.
These spatula-like tools are called 'Couthie Spurtles'. You can use them for flipping oatcakes or making pancakes. But they are not used for making porridge!
Spurtles in Modern Times
Today, the spurtle is still famous! The World Porridge Making Championship is a big event. The main prize for the winner is a special trophy called the "Golden Spurtle".
