A Bench Scraper Is the Most Underrated Kitchen Tool

The Problem

You chop vegetables and try to scoop them off the cutting board with a knife — half falls on the floor.

The Hack

Buy a flat metal bench scraper ($5 at any kitchen store). Use it to scoop chopped ingredients off cutting boards, portion dough, scrape dried food off counters, and transfer food to pans.

Why It Works

The wide, flat blade is the perfect shovel for moving chopped food. It's faster and safer than using a knife blade, and it does double duty as a counter scraper and dough cutter.

Pro Tips

• Also called a dough scraper or pastry scraper
• The straight edge is perfect for cleaning flat surfaces
• Use the ruler markings on some models to measure dough thickness
• A $5 tool that professional chefs consider indispensable