Looking for a Strong Spoon

Q, check out the Danish dough whisk - Eric at Breadtopia sells them and they do a fine job of blending dough. He even shows it in the video on the No Knead bread. I use mine all the time and find it easier than a spoon, A.

with and inch wide handle.  Sturdy enough to stir an ox into dough.  Could also be a rice serving spoon. 

Mini O

Right now I am using a bamboo spoon and it does a fine job. I can't imagine a dough tough enough to break it. When my mom made bread for a family of seven in a large washtub, she used a hand carved spoon made of ash. It was still in the house when my Dad moved to a retirement facility last year. I am planning to send for the whisk from Breadtopia, though. Watching that video, there is no question it is the perfect tool for incorporating flour into a stiff dough. I really don't think there is a metal spoon as strong as a good wooden or bamboo one, but that whisk is amazing.

I found a terrific metal spoon with a silicone-coated heat that I use all the time for bread making. I still haven't talked myself into popping for a KitchenAid, so the spoon gets a workout, and this baby stands up to the biggest batches. It is also way easy to clean. Even sticky dough will slip off easily, and I usually wash it in the dishwasher.

Here is a what it looks like:

http://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-Silicone-Stainless-Steel-11-75/dp/B000X7MTAO/ref=sr_1_170?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1197215446&sr=1-170

As you can see, the head is spoon-shaped, but smaller and flatter than a serving spoon. The shape is about what you would expect in a typical wooden spoon, so it is just right for mixing. I found mine at either Target or TJ Maxx, and I'm sure I didn't pay more than 5 ot 6 bucks for it.

You can find variations that have more spatula-like heads, different shaped handles, etc. 

"I am not a cook. But I am sorta cooky."

Ditto on the dough whisk.  It is amazing - there is hardly any resistance when mixing.  King Arthur Flour also sells them (in two sizes, I believe).

Nancy

Heard from. 

This is by far the best tool for mixing sourdough starters after feeding, too. It incorporates more air into the starter than a spoon, I think.

David

I ordered both sizes of dough wisk from Eric at Breadtopia and love them. I use the smaller one for stirring my starter and for mixing pre-ferments and the larger one for mixing final doughs. One of the great things about these wisks is that the dough doesn't stick to them. They are also very strong!