Ladle (spoon)

Sterling silver ladle - hallmarked London silver 1876-7 (on 5cm squares)

Stainless steel ladle (on 5cm squares)

C. 10th century AD ladle from Chaco Canyon, USA

A ladle (dipper) is a type of serving spoon used for soup, stew, or other foods.^[1] Although designs vary, a typical ladle has a long handle terminating in a deep bowl, frequently with the bowl oriented at an angle to the handle to facilitate lifting liquid out of a pot or other vessel and conveying it to a bowl. Some ladles involve a point on the side of the basin to allow for finer stream when pouring the liquid; however, this can create difficulty for left handed users, as it is easier to pour towards one's self. Thus, many of these ladles feature such pinches on both sides.

A spoon ladle is also known as a spoodle.

In modern times ladles are usually made of the same stainless steel alloys as other kitchen utensils; however, they can be made of aluminium, silver, plastics, melamine resin, wood, bamboo or other materials. Ladles are made in a variety of sizes depending upon use; for example, the smaller sizes of less than 5 inches in length are used for sauces or condiments, while extra large sizes of more than 15 inches in length are used for soup or punch.^[2]

In ancient times ladles were often made from plants such as calabash (bottle gourd) or even sea-shells.^[3]

References

1. Swartz, Oretha D. (October 2, 1988). Service although not actually a spoon as is commonly found on a table, serving spoons are grouped under the 'utensil' umbrellaEtiquette (4th ed.). United States Naval Institute. p. 228. ISBN 978-0870216206.
2. Von Drachenfels, Suzanne (November 9, 2000). The Art of the Table: A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners, and Tableware. Simon and Schuster. p. 213. ISBN 978-0684847320.
3. "Dippers". Horniman Museum and Gardens. Retrieved 2015-07-20.