also: さもじ
noun
rice scoop; wooden spoon; ladle
A flat wooden paddle used for serving rice, often with a non-stick surface. Common in Japanese kitchens.
炊きたてのご飯をしゃもじでほぐす。
I fluff the freshly cooked rice with a rice scoop.
しゃもじにご飯がくっつかないように、水で濡らしてから使う。
To keep rice from sticking to the scoop, wet it with water before using.
Rare kanji spelling; the word is normally written in kana.
Rarely used kana form; しゃもじ is the standard reading.
おたま is a round ladle for soups and liquids, while しゃもじ is a flat paddle for rice.
Derived from 杓子 (しゃくし, 'ladle') with a sound change. The exact derivation is uncertain.