Best Ladle: 6 Soup Ladles Ranked for 2026

The best ladle scoops a full serving of soup or sauce and pours it into a bowl without dribbling down the side, because a shallow ladle or one with no pour spout makes a mess every time. I make big pots of soup and stew, and a deep stainless ladle with a pour lip is one of those quietly essential tools. The choice comes down to bowl depth and capacity, material, stainless for durability or nylon for nonstick pots, pour spouts for clean serving, and a comfortable handle. We ranked six ladles on bowl, material, pouring, and value. Here’s the one to buy.

Last updated: August 17, 2026. Product availability re-checked.

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What to Look for in the Best Ladle

Four things separate a great ladle from a dribbly one:

• Deep bowl. A deep, rounded bowl scoops a full serving of soup or stew in one dip, so you’re not going back for seconds. Bowl capacity matters more than length.
• Pour spouts. A pour lip, or dual spouts for right and left-handed cooks, lets you pour into a bowl cleanly without spilling down the side.
• Material. Food-grade 304 stainless steel is durable, rustproof, and dishwasher safe. Nylon or silicone ladles are heat-safe and won’t scratch nonstick pots.
• Comfortable handle. A long, balanced handle with a non-slip or insulated grip keeps your hand off the hot pot. Pair a ladle with our best stainless cookware.

1. OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Soup Ladle

This is the ladle I’d recommend to most people. The OXO Good Grips is a sturdy stainless steel ladle that neatly scoops soups, sauces, and gravy, and its standout is dual-sided pour spouts that make serving easy for both right and left-handed cooks, so you pour cleanly no matter which hand you use. It has OXO’s comfortable, secure grip and the durable build the brand is known for. That combination of a sturdy bowl, two pour spouts, and a comfortable handle covers everything a ladle should do. It’s fairly priced. Between the neat pouring, the dual spouts, and OXO’s quality, I think it’s the clear starting point for a soup ladle.

Pros:
– Sturdy stainless steel
– Dual pour spouts for either hand
– Neatly scoops soup and sauce
– Comfortable OXO grip
– Durable everyday build

Cons:
– Metal can scratch nonstick pots
– Mid-range price

2. Newness 304 Stainless Soup Ladle

For the deepest bowl and a modern look, the Newness ladle is my pick. It’s made of food-grade 304 stainless steel, so it’s safe, rustproof, resilient, and built to last, with a sleek modern design, and its deep, rounded bowl is exactly what you want for scooping and serving soups and stews in a single dip. It’s also heat-resistant for use in a hot pot. That deep bowl plus premium 304 steel makes it a genuine upgrade for anyone who serves a lot of brothy dishes. It sits at the upper end of the price range. If you want a deep, good-looking, rustproof ladle, this is the one I’d choose. The deep bowl really does scoop a full serving.

Pros:
– Food-grade 304 stainless steel
– Deep, rounded scooping bowl
– Rustproof and heat-resistant
– Sleek modern design
– Serves a full portion per dip

Cons:
– Priciest on the list
– No dual pour spouts

3. OXO Steel Ladle

If you prefer an all-metal ladle, the OXO Steel is my sleek pick. It features two pour spouts to accommodate both left and right-handed cooks, so serving is clean and mess-free from either side, and it’s great for dishing out soups, stews, sauces, and more. Unlike the Good Grips version with its cushioned handle, this one is a polished all-steel design that looks sharp hanging on a rail and matches a stainless kitchen. OXO’s build quality carries over. It sits at a fair price. If you want a durable, good-looking all-steel ladle with dual pour spouts, this is the one I’d choose. The smooth all-metal look suits a modern kitchen.

Pros:
– Sleek all-steel design
– Two pour spouts for either hand
– Great for soups, stews, and sauces
– Durable OXO quality
– Matches stainless kitchens

Cons:
– All-metal handle gets warm
– Can scratch nonstick pots

4. Zulay Kitchen 13-Inch Large Soup Ladle

For a big pot with a long reach, the Zulay 13-inch is my large-ladle pick. It’s made from heavy-duty, food-grade stainless steel for long-lasting performance, and at 13 inches long it reaches down into deep stockpots without dipping your hand near the heat. It’s built with a balance of strength and comfort, with a long ergonomic handle that stays comfortable through a big batch of soup. That extra length is genuinely useful for tall pots and canning. It sits at a fair mid price. If you cook in deep pots and want a long, sturdy ladle, this is the one I’d point you to. The reach keeps your knuckles away from the steam.

Pros:
– Long 13-inch reach for deep pots
– Heavy-duty food-grade stainless
– Ergonomic comfortable handle
– Keeps your hand off the heat
– Sturdy for big batches

Cons:
– Long handle needs drawer space
– No dual pour spouts

5. Zulay Kitchen 12-Inch Soup Ladle

For the best value, the Zulay 12-inch is my pick. It’s a durable, reliable stainless steel soup ladle made for brothy recipes like stew, soup, and saucy Italian dishes, and its standout at this price is a rubber-insulated handle, ergonomically designed to fit your hand comfortably and stay cooler than bare metal. It’s the cheapest stainless option here. That insulated grip plus a low price is the real draw. If you want a comfortable, dependable ladle for everyday soups without spending much, this is the one I’d choose. The rubber handle is a nice touch you don’t always get at this price.

Pros:
– Rubber-insulated comfortable handle
– Durable stainless steel
– Great for soups and stews
– Cheapest stainless option
– Reliable everyday value

Cons:
– Lesser-known brand
– No pour spouts

6. KitchenAid Classic Nylon Ladle

The KitchenAid nylon ladle rounds out the list as the pick for nonstick pots. It’s a large ladle with a deep head, perfect for dishing out gravies, soups, stews, and dressings, and because it’s made of heat-resistant nylon, it’s safe for all cookware including nonstick, so it won’t scratch a coated pot the way a metal ladle can. KitchenAid’s trusted name and a low price make it an easy add. That nonstick-safe material is the whole reason to pick it. It’s the cheapest ladle here. If you cook soups in nonstick or coated pots and want a ladle that won’t damage them, this is the one I’d choose. It’s also lighter than steel.

Pros:
– Lowest price on the list
– Nylon is safe for nonstick pots
– Deep head for full servings
– Heat-resistant material
– Trusted KitchenAid brand

Cons:
– Nylon less durable than steel
– No pour spouts

Which Ladle Should You Buy?

For most people I’d start with the OXO Good Grips at #1: a sturdy stainless bowl, dual pour spouts for clean serving, and a comfortable grip. Want the deepest bowl, a long reach, or a nonstick-safe ladle? The Newness, Zulay 13-inch, and KitchenAid nylon cover those. Whatever you pick, match the material to your pots, nylon or silicone for nonstick, stainless for everything else. For cooking, see our best stainless cookware and best whisk guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size ladle do I need for soup?

A ladle with a bowl holding around 4 to 8 ounces suits most home soups and stews, scooping roughly a cup per dip, which is a typical serving. For big stockpots or serving a crowd, a longer 12 to 13-inch handle helps you reach the bottom without burning your hand. Match capacity to your usual serving size.

Are stainless steel or nylon ladles better?

Stainless steel is more durable, rustproof, and dishwasher safe, making it the best all-around choice. Nylon and silicone ladles are heat-resistant and won’t scratch nonstick or coated pots, so they’re better if you cook soup in nonstick cookware. Many cooks keep a stainless ladle for general use and a nylon one for coated pots.

Why do some ladles have two pour spouts?

Dual pour spouts, one on each side of the bowl, let both right and left-handed cooks pour cleanly into a bowl without dribbling down the side. A single spout only pours neatly from one side. The OXO ladles here have dual spouts, which is a small feature that makes serving noticeably tidier.

Can you put a ladle in the dishwasher?

Stainless steel ladles are dishwasher safe, which is one of their advantages. Nylon ladles are usually top-rack dishwasher safe, but check the label since high heat can affect some plastics over time. Rinse off soup or sauce first so nothing dries in the bowl or around the handle.