For the most part, I don’t like having spiders in my kitchen. Or anywhere, really. When it comes to spiders, I’d rather just...not. (If you have any friends that are spiders, please, just don’t mention this to them.) I will make an exception for one spider, though: my beloved wood-handled, stainless steel spider.
No, not a piece of stainless steel that is shaped like an eight-legged creature. I’m talking about the kitchen tool, the one that looks like a mini flattened colander with a long handle. (It’s called a spider because the woven metal netting resembles a spider’s web.) Much less creepy than an actual spider.
Someone gave me my first spider—I didn’t go out looking for one. But what a gift it was, because it's since become one of the most reached-for tools in my kitchen. The perforated bowl is perfect for transporting pasta from pot to pan (while reserving the pasta water), lifting items like dumplings or thinly-sliced potatoes (read: chips) out of sizzling oil, and picking blanched vegetables like carrots or green beans out of boiling water.
Yes, yes. Those are all great applications, but in my opinion, a spider is actually best used when when making eggs. Hard-boiled, soft-boiled, and jammy eggs. Any egg that goes in boiling water benefits from being carried in a spider. The spider makes it easy to lower multiple eggs gently into a pot, and removing them three at a time is no problem either. Eggs love spiders, and spiders love eggs—it's the perfect boiled egg tool.
The best part? You don't need a fancy or expensive one to reap all of those benefits. The Joyce Chen spider that I have is cheap and pretty perfect, IMO. The wooden handle is comfortable and lightweight. The bowl of the spider is about 5” wide, the perfect size for scooping up everything from dumplings to orecchiette to eggs. And you know what? I actually think it's pretty cute. It’s sure to liven up the handmade ceramic crock (or large mug, if you’re less of an adult, like me) you keep all of your spoons and ladles in.
Look, this is an easy upgrade. It costs less than ten bucks, and will help you overcome any fears you may have of boiling water or splattering oil. You need a spider in your kitchen. But one you bought and put there on purpose—not one that crawled in through the window. Gross.
Buy It: Joyce Chen Stainless Steel Spider on Amazon for $8.58
And once you have that spider, make some rigatoni:
