And it’s just $19.

A former vegetarian of 22 years, it took me a while to take a real liking to fish, even if its nutritional merits were undeniable. Once I started to enjoy its delicate texture and flavor, though, cooking a piece of salmon without mangling it was a whole different story. I lost countless pieces of expensive seafood to skillets or grill grates that weren’t heated properly, and more than once, I plunged a sharp spatula right through a delicate piece of fish. Turns out, trying Misen’s silicone-tipped fish spatula was all it took to turn me into a confident fish cook.

Misen Silicone-Tipped Fish Spatula

$19 at Amazon

Since first testing it last year, Misen’s fish spatula has become one of my most-used kitchen utensils. My love for it comes down to its construction: The spatula paddle combines a thin, flexible stainless steel shape that slides underneath tender fish and heavy burgers, with a platinum-cured silicone edge. The silicone doesn’t add material height to the slotted stainless steel paddle; it gives me freedom. I can comfortably maneuver a piece of salmon or cod without tearing it and without scratching my favorite cookware. Between a nonstick skillet and this spatula, I haven’t ruined a piece of salmon in over a year.

As spatulas go, this one is incredibly nimble: The Misen fish spatula’s handle isn’t overly long, which gives me more control and agility. As a long-time potter and knitter, my dominant wrist fatigues remarkably fast, but thankfully this spatula’s 3-ounce weight helps. Plus, Misen’s raised logo gives me a place to rest my thumb for a comfortable grip that doesn’t strain my wrist while handling the heaviest foods, like salmon.

While I have taken the Misen spatula out to the grill, my favorite uses are anywhere I need precise lifting or flipping without tongs, like scooping up lacy cookies, crispy vegetable fritters and sunny-side-up eggs. It’s also heat-safe up to 450°F and dishwasher-safe, so the utensil doesn’t need any special coddling.

Speaking of which—this simple tool has been instrumental in turning fish from a daunting, special-occasion dish into a weeknight protein I can whip up multiple times a week. At just $19, the Misen silicone-tipped fish spatula has paid for itself many times over in pieces of fish that have actually made it to my plate.

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At the time of publishing, the price was $19.

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