Spurtle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The spurtle (or "spirtle") is a Scots kitchen tool, dating from at least the fifteenth century. It was originally a flat, wooden, spatula-like utensil, used for flipping oatcakes on a hot girdle. This terminology is now confined to Angus and Perthshire.
Over time, the original implement changed shape and began being used specifically for stirring oatmeal and soups. The rod-like shape is designed for constant stirring which prevents the porridge from congealing and so becoming lumpy and unappetising.[1] It looks like a fat wooden dowel, often with a contoured end to give the user a better grip. It is in common use throughout Scotland, except in the area of Glasgow, where a normal wooden spoon is commonly used, although it is rarer in Angus and Fife where the term theevil is used.
The word may derive from the Latin spatula.
World Porridge Cooking contestants compete for the "Golden Spurtle".
[edit] References
- ^ National Trust (2007), Gentleman's Relish, p. 67, ISBN 9781905400553, http://books.google.com/books?id=B8jak2NZfUIC
[edit] External links
 |
Look up spurtle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- The Golden Spurtle held annually in Carrbridge, Inverness-shire.
