spider

Definition

A wire-mesh skimming tool with a long handle used to retrieve items from hot oil or boiling water. Named for its web-like basket, not because it catches anything crawly.

Example Usage

Use the spider to pull the blanched vegetables from the water, then shock them immediately in the ice bath.

Origin

Named for the resemblance of the wire mesh to a spider's web

Fun Fact

Asian-style spiders with bamboo handles are preferred by many chefs for their balance and the way they don't conduct heat.

Source: Basic kitchen equipment terminology

Related Terms

Beginner

appetiser

The British spelling of appetizer, because even food terminology needs to cross the Atlantic with extra vowels and pretension. A small, savory starter course that UK diners enjoy before the main event, served with a side of linguistic superiority. Proof that Americans and Brits can't even agree on how to spell the foods that make them hungry.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Intermediate

shouting

When a chef or expeditor is calling out orders loudly and rhythmically during service, maintaining timing and communication across the line. Part conductor, part drill sergeant, all intensity.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Beginner

Reduce

Simmering a liquid until some of it evaporates, concentrating the flavor into a thicker, more intense sauce. It's basically boiling patience into deliciousness. The hardest part is not getting bored and wandering away, which turns 'reduce' into 'burn.'

🍳 Food / Culinary

Intermediate

supremes

Citrus segments freed from their membranes with surgical precision, or boneless, skinless chicken breast portions. Either way, it's the premium cut that requires actual knife skills.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Beginner

on the board

An order that's been received and displayed on the kitchen's ticket system, officially in the queue for preparation. Once it's on the board, there's no pretending it doesn't exist.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Intermediate

shoyu

The Japanese term for soy sauce, specifically the dark, naturally-brewed variety that makes everything from sushi to ramen taste like liquid umami magic. While technically the same as regular soy sauce, using the term "shoyu" at a restaurant makes you sound 47% more cultured and knowledgeable about Asian cuisine. It's made from fermented soybeans and wheat, aged like a fine wine but costs about the same as cheap beer.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Translate This Term

See “spider” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Intermediate

peer learning

An educational approach where students learn from each other rather than exclusively from the instructor, either through...