What is spurtle?

A spurtle, sometimes spelled "spurtel" or "spurtil," is a Scottish wooden kitchen tool dating back to at least the 15th century. It is essentially a stick, typically made of wood (traditionally beech), used for stirring porridge, soups, stews, and broths.

The key characteristics of a spurtle are:

• Shape: It's a slender, rod-like tool, usually between 8 and 12 inches long.
• Material: Typically made of wood to avoid scratching pots and pans.
• Purpose: Primarily used for stirring thick mixtures to prevent lumps from forming, especially in porridge.
• Scottish Tradition: Closely associated with Scottish culinary heritage. It's often said that a spurtle should always be used to stir porridge clockwise with the right hand. This is considered good luck.
• Design Variations: While the basic shape is a stick, spurtles can have decorative handles and textured ends for better mixing. Some have a thistle carved at the top or other Scottish motifs.
• No Metal: Traditionally, metal spoons were avoided for stirring porridge to prevent the porridge from cooling down too fast. That's why wooden spurtles were preferred.