My Sourdough Starter's Personal Trainer and My New Favorite Stick!
To the Sourdough whisperers and anyone who's ever stared into a jar of bubbling starter wondering, "How do I mix this without getting it everywhere?", let me introduce you to the Skinny Spurtle. I saw this online, described as being "for Sourdough Starter," and thought, "Is this the specialized tool my life has been missing? Is this the key to a perfectly mixed, non-exploding starter?" My curiosity (and a few messy feeding sessions) got the better of me.When this little wooden wonder arrived, it was exactly as pictured: a long, thin, elegantly shaped piece of teak wood. It felt smooth and lightweight, like a tiny, artisanal paddle. My regular spoons, which had been doing double duty as starter stirrers, looked on with a mixture of disdain and resignation. Their reign was over.Using the Skinny Spurtle for the first time felt surprisingly satisfying. It slides into the jar with ease, reaching all the way to the bottom to coax every last bit of flour and water into the mix. The "skinny" design is key – it navigates the curves of the jar perfectly, scraping down the sides without making a mess. It's like a tiny, highly trained spatula for your starter. My starter, Bubbles (yes, still Bubbles, and now living in a fancy Weck jar, see my other review!), seemed to appreciate the gentle, thorough mixing. It bubbled with renewed vigor.But it's not just for sourdough. I've used this spurtle for getting the last bits of jam out of a jar (it's a jam-retrieval ninja!), stirring sauces in small pots, and generally poking things I probably shouldn't be poking. Its versatility is a quiet superpower.The teak wood is beautiful and feels durable. It's easy to clean – just a quick rinse – and the recommendation to oil it occasionally makes me feel like I'm performing a small act of woodworking maintenance, which is oddly satisfying.If you have a sourdough starter, or just appreciate a well-designed, multi-purpose wooden tool that makes mixing and scraping a breeze (and looks good doing it), this Skinny Spurtle is a fantastic addition to your kitchen. It's simple, effective, and has brought a surprising amount of ease and satisfaction to my baking routine. I'm thoroughly impressed with this elegant little stick.