Food & Cooking A Bench Scraper Is the Versatile Tool You Need for All Kinds of Cooking and Baking Tasks Shop our picks for this go-to tool for food prep in professional and home kitchens. By Rebecca Morris Rebecca Morris Rebecca is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Published on November 15, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: TONO BALAGUER / Getty Images Professional chefs and bakers already know how useful a good bench scraper can be. This tool is used so often in pro kitchens that it practically become an extension of a chef or baker's hands. Whether it is referred to as a dough cutter, bench scraper, or bench knife, know that what you're looking at is a simple and sturdy kitchen tool that will be your secret weapon for faster, cleaner, and more efficient cooking prep. Bench scrapers are made to cut biscuit and scone dough into shape, lift chopped ingredients up from the cutting board and into the skillet, and assist in kneading things like pasta and bread dough. It's the lesser-known uses for the bench scraper that will wind up being the most valuable once you get into the habit of always having this tool by your side. From scraping stubborn gunk from a messy kitchen counter to smashing cloves of garlic for fast peeling, a bench scraper a versatile and affordable tool that will make cooking tasks easier. Top Picks Best Wood-Handled Bench Scraper: Williams and Sonoma Olivewood Bench Scraper Best for Heavy Use: Dexter Russell Sani-Safe 6x3-Inch Dough Cutter/Scraper Best Design: Tovolo Bench Scraper Best Set: Chef'n Pastrio Set Bench Scraper and Chopper Best for Kitchen Prep: Epicurean Scraper Series Best Flexible Scraper: BergHOFF International Leo 5-Inch Silicone Scraper Why the Microplane Is a Kitchen Must Have 01 of 06 Best Wood-Handled Bench Scraper: Williams Sonoma Olivewood Bench Scraper Courtesy of Williams Sonoma The handle on this scraper is made from sustainably-sourced olivewood and designed to be comfortable to grip, so it will be a pleasure to pull this tool out of your drawer for years to come. This option isn't dishwasher-safe, but its simple shape makes it easy to wash by hand (and the upside is that it will always be around for you to use for various kitchen tasks rather than stuck in a rinse cycle). Both sides of the wide stainless-steel blade are printed with a helpful measurement guide so you can stay on track of your dicing no matter which hand you use. Shop Now: Williams Sonoma Olivewood Bench Scraper, $19.95, williams-sonoma.com. 02 of 06 Best for Heavy Use: Dexter Russell Sani-Safe 6x3" Dough Cutter/Scraper Courtesy of Amazon A bench scraper like this one with a deeply beveled edge means that it will effortlessly cut through a batch of pizza dough for breadsticks and easily remove sticky cookie dough from your countertops come clean-up time. And while this workhorse won't be winning any beauty pageants, it is made in the USA out of dishwasher-safe materials and gets bonus points from us for its textured handle that is made from slip-resistant polypropylene. Shop Now: Dexter Russell Sani-Safe 6x3-inch Dough Cutter/Scraper, $12.62, amazon.com. 03 of 06 Best Design: Tovolo Bench Scraper Courtesy of Crate & Barrel This bench scraper from kitchenware brand Tovolo features an offset blade, so after you cut the biscuits, it will be just as easy to lift them up and on to your baking sheet. The eye-catching color on the silicone handle means it will never get lost in your utensil drawer. This design includes a measurement guide, so you'll be able to double-check your knife work as you chop. Shop Now: Tovolo Bench Scraper, $11.95, crateandbarrel.com. 04 of 06 Best Set: Chef'n Pastrio Set Bench Scraper and Chopper Courtesy of Amazon If you can't decide if you prefer a traditional metal bench scraper or the more flexible plastic options, get this set so you won't have to choose! Designed to nest into one another for a smaller storage footprint, all three scrapers will come in handy for different tasks: the most flexible scraper in the set is great for scooping the very last bit of batter from the mixing bowl, while the harder plastic version is perfect for when you are firmly shaping a loaf of bread or log of cookie dough. Shop Now: Chef'n Pastrio Set Bench Scraper and Chopper, $8.79, amazon.com. 05 of 06 Best for Kitchen Prep: Epicurean Scraper Series Courtesy of Amazon This handsome scraper will look great sitting out next to your work station. It's sharp enough to cut sheets of fresh pasta dough into bite-size strands, but it's made from a composite material that is softer than steel, so you won't accidentally scrape your wooden cutting board when you go to scoop up that pile of minced garlic for shrimp scampi. Shop Now: Epicurean Scraper Series, $11.95, amazon.com. 06 of 06 Best Flexible Scraper: BergHOFF International Leo 5-Inch Silicone Scraper Courtesy of Wayfair A silicone scraper like this is ideal if you are an avid baker and looking for a tool to scrape every last bit of dough or batter from the bowl. It is rigid enough to be excellent for scooping chopped fruit and vegetables up and into bowls and skillets, but it's not the best option if you want a dough cutter. Shop Now: BergHOFF International Leo 5" Silicone Scraper, $15.04, wayfair.com. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit