"Although a spatula with cracks in it may still be useful and won't break when you try to shove it into a narrow-mouthed jar, those cracks are hiding places for foodborne illness and bacteria that can potentially make you sick. This is especially problematic because you use this utensil for so much, meaning you could be picking up bacteria on your raw eggs and transferring it to a ready-to-eat dish without even realizing it."
"Prolonged exposure to heat, from a dishwasher or cooking, can damage the material, as can pushing it up against the bowl or otherwise stressing the material. You may notice over time that the material becomes less rigid; at that point, you should start to look for cracks specifically."
"There is no set rule for when you should replace your spatula, as this is dependent on use, but you should buy a new one if you notice even tiny cracks. Unfortunately, there is no way to repair a cracked spatula, meaning you need to give it a one-way ticket to the trash."
Rubber spatulas are versatile kitchen tools useful for folding eggs, cleaning bowls, frosting cupcakes, and other tasks. However, they require proper maintenance and timely replacement. Cracks in silicone spatulas create hiding places for bacteria and foodborne pathogens that can transfer to food, particularly when the spatula contacts raw ingredients and then ready-to-eat dishes. Heat exposure from dishwashers or cooking, along with physical stress from pushing against bowls, causes material degradation and crack formation. There is no fixed replacement timeline; replacement depends on individual use patterns. Even tiny cracks warrant purchasing a new spatula, as cracked ones cannot be repaired.
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