Ladle (spoon)

Iron ladle from Sirpur Excavation
Sterling silver ladle - hallmarked London silver 1876-7 (on 5cm squares)
Stainless steel ladle (on 5cm squares)
C. 10th century AD ladle from Chaco Canyon, USA

A ladle (dipper) is a type of spoon used for soup, stew, or other foods.[1] Although designs vary, a typical ladle has a long handle terminating in a deep bowl, frequently with the bowl oriented at an angle to the handle to facilitate lifting liquid out of a pot or other vessel and conveying it to a bowl. Some ladles involve a point on the side of the basin to allow for finer stream when pouring the liquid; however, this can create difficulty for left handed users, as it is easier to pour towards one's self. Thus, many of these ladles feature such pinches on both sides.

In modern times ladles are usually made of the same stainless steel alloys as other kitchen utensils; however, they can be made of aluminium, silver, plastics, melamine resin, wood, bamboo or other materials. Ladles are made in a variety of sizes depending upon use; for example, the smaller sizes of less than 5 inches in length are used for sauces or condiments, while extra large sizes of more than 15 inches in length are used for soup or punch.[2]

In ancient times ladles were often made from plants such as calabash (bottle gourd) or even sea-shells.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Swartz, Oretha D. (October 2, 1988). Service although not actually a spoon as is commonly found on a table, serving spoons are grouped under the 'utensil' umbrellaEtiquette (4th ed.). United States Naval Institute. p. 228. ISBN 978-0870216206.
  2. ↑ Von Drachenfels, Suzanne (November 9, 2000). The Art of the Table: A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners, and Tableware. Simon and Schuster. p. 213. ISBN 978-0684847320.
  3. ↑ "Dippers". Horniman Museum and Gardens. Retrieved 2015-07-20.
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