Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the food, or if you prefer, wear plastic or rubber gloves. Use a pastry blender for cutting solid fat into flour for pie crusts and biscuit doughs. Lift it up and down with a rocking motion. Use a heatproof rubber spatula for mixing hot foods in saucepans and skillets. Use a spoon for general all-purpose mixing and stirring.
Most people prefer sturdy wooden or plastic cooking spoons.
For liquefying or blending mixtures or chopping small amounts of nuts, herbs or bread crumbs. Most batters or doughs are too thick for a blender. For blending, pureeing, chopping, slicing, dicing, grinding, pulverizing and shredding many foods. Some food processors mix and knead dough. For liquefying or blending mixtures.