Fat skimmer can refer to two different kitchen gadgets. One type skims floating fat from the surface of soups and stews, while the other gadget is used to remove fried foods from boiling fat.

Fat skimmers for removing floating fat unearthed at Pompeii are shallow flat-bottomed ladles that were carefully pressed into the broth until they filled with the floating fat. These ancient fat skimmers work like the large spoons and ladles that are used by most people today to skim the fat from their soups and stews since most home kitchens do not have a specialized kitchen gadget for skimming fat.

There are many kinds of kitchen gadgets designed to skim the floating fat from the surface of soups and stews.

Some fat skimmers are modified ladles with the upper edge of the cup having vertical or horizontal slots, holes or extensions that are intended to make fat separation easier and to exclude floating vegetables. Other fat skimmers are ladles that have a drain at the bottom to release broth that has been captured while skimming. Another kitchen gadget for skimming fat is a pitcher into which the chef pours the soup. The pitcher has a spout at the bottom to decant the broth from underneath the floating fat.

Other fat skimmers are wicks and other absorbent materials that are lowered into the fat layer.

Now there is a totally different type of fat skimmer kitchen gadget that concentrates a thin layer of fat into a thick layer and then skims it off in seconds.

Get more information about the Fatsoff Soup Scoup at fatsoffsoupscoup.com.