Jennifer Garner uses this $7 kitchen tool that I, a pro baker, can't live without

Yahoo

13-02-2025

A little PSA from your resident pro baker turned shopping writer: If your kitchen isn't already stocked with a bench scraper, consider this your cue to remedy that. Sure, it looks unassuming — it's just a squarish metal blade attached to a handle — but it's undoubtedly versatile. I often reach for mine when I'm slicing butter, frosting cakes or cleaning my counter; it's essentially an extension of my hand at this point. Recently, I was watching one of Jennifer Garner's cooking videos on Instagram and noticed she was using one of these to cut homemade pasta dough. Color me vindicated! This wood-handled Winco Dough Scraper is similar to the one in the video, so if you'd like to slice, scrape and clean like a celebrity (or, you know, a former pastry pro), you can add it to your cart for a mere $7 at Amazon.
Related: 9 professional bakers dish about their 'desert island' kitchen must-haves
I might not make bread for a living anymore, but there are certain tools I used during my time at the bakery that have become permanent fixtures in my home kitchen, and this metal blade tops the list. I know, I know, it doesn't look like much — how many uses could it really have? Oh, let me count the ways.
Don't be misled by the word "dough" in its name. While this bench scraper — also known as a "bench knife" — certainly comes in handy when lifting and portioning out dough, it's so much more than a baker's tool. For starters, it's my go-to for removing caked-on residue, flour and food scraps from my counter when I'm cleaning up, since the blade is dull enough that it won't leave scratch marks. That said, it's sharp enough to cut through many types of vegetables, and when you're finished chopping, you can slide the scraper under the pieces to easily transport them to your pan. I also prefer it to a knife when it comes to slicing uniform cubes of cheese, thanks to its straight edge.
Want your cakes to look like they were made by a professional? I've used my bench scraper to smooth out the frosting after I've applied it for a clean finish. The more you know!
Think I'm the only one who's obsessed with bench scrapers? Not even close — the Winco has "Garner"-ed perfect ratings from over 4,200 Amazon customers.
"I never knew what I was missing without a bench scraper — now I am very annoyed I have been cooking for as long as I have without one!" said this rueful reviewer. "It makes putting chopped veggies into a bowl or pot SO convenient and easy, without the dropping of random pieces like I used to."
"[It's] an incredibly solid, durable pastry cutter," raved a happy home cook. "I love the wooden handle, it's the perfect size for pretty much everything I use it for, it's easy to clean and the edge has remained fairly sharp after several years of frequent use. Such a useful tool to own, and I have no complaints at all; absolutely buy this thing if you do a lot of baking."
"Restaurant quality!" shared this fan. "When it showed up, it took me back to my high school/college restaurant jobs where I used these all the time: cutting pizza dough, cleaning prep tables, scraping up cut food, cleaning the griddle. I chose the wood handle because it won't get slippery/dangerous if working with oily stuff like plastic would. Very heavy-duty."
While the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, a few shoppers did have notes.
This generally pleased buyer noted that "it's heavy-duty and does the job" but pointed out: "It loses the wood coloring a bit from going through the dishwasher."
Echoed this final reviewer. "Due to the wooden handle ... I would avoid putting it through the washer. Just hand-wash it." (This is a good rule of thumb for wooden tools in general, as the machine can cause them to warp or split.)
Psst: Here's another Jennifer Garner-approved gadget.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.