FAQ

What is a spurtle?
A slim, paddle-shaped stirring tool that does the work of a spoon, a spatula, and a scraper. It comes from Scotland, where cooks have used one to stir porridge since the 1400s. Lucinda Scala Quinn redesigned it for the modern kitchen and, in 2015, made the first silicone spurtle. It became the tool Mad Hungry is known for.

What’s the difference between a spurtle and a spatula?
A spatula is flat and rigid, built for flipping. A spurtle is curved and slim, so it stirs, scrapes, folds, and serves as well as flips. It gets into the corners of a pot where a spatula can’t.

Do spurtles come in different shapes and sizes?
Yes. The Original is the one to start with, in large or small. From there, Lucinda has designed a family of them: the Skinny for jars, icing, and anywhere you’d otherwise use a finger; the Offset, angled to get into the corners of a pan; the Slotted, which also sifts, whisks, strains, and separates eggs; the Scoop, which holds two tablespoons for quick measuring; and the Chopper, for breaking up meat in the pan. All come in wood, silicone, or both, from about 7 inches to 13.

Should I get wood or silicone?
Wood for heavy stirring and enameled cast iron. Silicone for nonstick pans, scraping bowls, and the dishwasher. The full comparison, care instructions, and a dozen ways to use one are on our spurtle page.

Where can I buy Mad Hungry products?
Direct from us at shop.madhungry.com and on QVC. You may see our tools on other marketplaces, but those two are the ones we run ourselves.

Can I change or cancel an order?
Yes, within 24 hours of placing it. Email orders@madhungry.com with your order number and what you’d like changed, and we’ll take care of it before it ships.

Can I get a signed copy of a cookbook?
Yes. Every book on our shop can be signed by Lucinda and gift wrapped. Add a note at checkout with who it’s for.

Do you sell wholesale?
Yes. Email orders@madhungry.com with your store name, location, and what you’re interested in carrying.

Where do you ship?
Everywhere in the US, and internationally on orders placed through shop.madhungry.com. International orders may pick up duties or import fees on arrival, which we can’t control.

How long does shipping take?
Orders ship within one to three business days. We pack them ourselves, so around holidays and in high summer it can take a day or two longer. You’ll get a tracking number when it goes out.

Is shipping free?
No. We’re a small family business and we charge what the carrier charges us, nothing more. You’ll see the exact cost at checkout, and we keep it as low as the carrier lets us.

What’s your return policy?
If something isn’t right, email orders@madhungry.com within 30 days and we’ll sort it out. Unused items can be returned for a full refund, and we’ll send you a prepaid label. If a tool fails in normal use, our one-year limited warranty covers it, and we’ll replace it.

Where do the recipes come from?
Most are from Lucinda’s eight cookbooks, adapted for the site. Newer ones come straight from her kitchen. Every recipe on madhungry.com has been cooked and thoroughly tested by her.

Can I share or republish a recipe?
Cook them, share them, print them for the kitchen wall. If you publish one on your own site or social, credit Lucinda Scala Quinn and link back to the recipe page.

How do I find a specific recipe?
Use the search box on the Recipes page, or browse by category: mains, sides, soups, and so on. The Notebook has the stories behind some of them.

What is the Notebook?
It’s where we write. Essays on cooking and why it still matters, what’s inspiring us, what we’re building at Mad Hungry and how it’s going. Some of it is Lucinda, some of it is the rest of us.

How often do you post?
A few times a month. Lucinda writes when she has something to say, which is often.

Can I get it by email?
Yes. Sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of any page and new Notebook pieces will come to your inbox.

How do I reach Mad Hungry for press or partnerships?
Email press@madhungry.com. Tell us your outlet, your deadline, and what you need, and we’ll get back to you quickly.

Is Lucinda available for interviews and appearances?
Yes. She’s done live television for decades, from QVC to the Today show, and she’s comfortable on camera, on air, and in print. Send details to press@madhungry.com.

Where has Mad Hungry been featured?
Lucinda has appeared on NBC’s Today show, PBS, CBS, and The Martha Stewart Show. She and Mad Hungry have been covered in Oprah Daily, Bon Appétit, and Eater, and her writing has run in The Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, and Martha Stewart Living. A selection is at the bottom of our homepage.