A ladle is nothing but a spoon with a long handle and a bowl-shaped base. It is primarily used in serving soups and other delicacies. The smaller ones, measuring 5 cm long, serve sauces where the larger ones, measuring 15 cm, are used for serving soups. It can be understood that no other utensil can do the job of serving liquid dishes as perfectly as a ladle does.

Some have bigger pots, while others have smaller bowls. Many versions have little flows on one side or both sides to fill out the components more specifically. Most of them are made of stainless steel or plastic; copper is scarce today.

Many ladles come fitted with a designed-in spout that allows pouring, while others are enclosed on one side of the bowl so that rice, meat or vegetables are easily strained. Before digging more into this fantastic utensil's versatility, let us look into different types of materials used in making the same.

Materials used in a ladle

Wooden Ladle – This is the simplest yet beautiful type of ladle. They are mainly employed for imparting a specific texture to a particular piece of design. These are perfect for a kitchen with a wooden theme. Despite having a natural touch, they do require some additional attention for maintaining its quality. Regularly, they are required to be cleaned and sanitized thoroughly, such that its life can be extended.

Brass Ladle - The antibacterial properties of brass make brass ladle healthy just like your serving. We also love it especially for its color and gleam in the kitchen and on the dining table. Pure brass ladle will last for a lifetime.

Stainless Steel Ladle – Unlike the wooden ones, which requires extra pampering from your side, the steel ones can easily last for long in your kitchen with minimal maintenance efforts. The ladle made with stainless steel does not retain stains or odours and doesn't get rust.

Aluminium Ladle - Aluminium ladles are just as traditional as stainless steel ladles but lightweight. However, they are not advisable for serving acidic foods such as tomato sauce.

Artificial ones - Synthetic materials are lightweight and easy to maintain manually, although they are less heat resistant than metal. The bulk of nylon and silicone ladles are non-sticky and have more excellent insulation than rubber. The highest heat tolerance is of silicone. It is the most effective and environmentally friendly of the three plastic ladles. Plastic and rubber cookware are versatile and are not likely to get worn out easily.

After ascertaining the perfect material for a ladle, it is essential to decide what type of ladle will be the best fit.

Versatile ladles and their types

The caramel brewing ladle is like an ordinary ladle, but it has a large bowl and a smooth top. The flat front portion is efficient for gathering the residual jelly at the base of the pot. You can top the pot up with your usual ladle or place it on one side of the pot with a spatula.

Soup ladles have a form identical to a sauce ladle, but they have a longer handle. Such ladles typically have a length of around 15 cm. Soup pans are also widely used to serve punch and can also accommodate thick sauce or broth plates well. In addition to the weight, soup ladles often have a sharper curve. And they come in different shapes and sizes. It's good to have a few soup ladles in the kitchen.

Along with other kitchen accessories, every kitchen needs ladles both for convenience and serving. A ladle improves the look and feel of any plating and makes it easy for a person to pour out any liquid delicacy. Smaller ones or the sauce ladles are used mainly for serving sauces, chutneys and such. In contrast, the larger ones are mainly used for serving soups or gravy dishes.

With a properly sized ladle, every process becomes so easy and convenient. Many ladles are primarily used to serve dishes which contain liquids. They can also be used to scoop things like hard-cooked eggs and other small items that must be prepared in liquids.

Without a range of cooking ladles, no kitchen utensil set is complete. Such equipment is needed to add to any café, restaurant or buffet, as servers will store soups, stuffing, and other items. Such serving ladles can also be used for filling gravy dishes in cups.

This utensil, equipped with a massive spoon foundation, has several functions in the preparation of foods. The ladle is a device for serving foodstuffs, such as sauces, chilli, toppings, skims and combining products. For specific purposes, ladles can be categorized as a gravy or a skimming ladle, and each of them is built to perform the same function differently. Serving ladles consist of a spoon with a lower bowl. Blades used for cooking, such as skimming tongs, are built with a longer handle to keep hot fluids and liquids out.

From salad bars to solid metal service options, at ellementry, we have the right cooking ladles for your pub, café or buffet. Such hand tools are excellent for serving your delicacies with robust soup bowls and sprinkling sauces. Ellementry comes with an immense range of handcrafted ladles that are capable of versatility usage in our kitchen.