Martha Stewart's viral square ladle is sold out, but I've found these alternatives that I think she'd approve of – it's such a budget-friendly addition

I'm always waiting with baited breath to hear which products and hacks the queen of hosting, Martha Stewart, will recommend next. Lately, I've noticed her sharing how much she loves a square ladle. If you've been thinking about switching to non-toxic kitchen tools, this could be your sign to start.

Frustratingly, when I found Martha's particular ladle on QVC it had sold out (watch this space in case it comes back), but luckily, I've hunted down some great alternatives.

The OXO steel ladle from Amazon and the LEORX square soup ladle from Walmart are almost identical to the Martha Stewart-designed square ladles on offer at Macy's and QVC. And just like these wildly popular ladles, both the Walmart and Amazon finds are non-toxic thanks to their stainless steel finish.

'I haven’t personally tested either option, but I would probably recommend the OXO steel ladle,' says our kitchen appliances editor Lydia Hayman. 'I’m a huge fan of OXO tools. They’re thoughtfully designed, ergonomic, durable, and reasonably priced – trusted by myself and many of my chef friends.'

Both the Amazon option and the LEORX square soup ladle from Walmart are crafted from stainless steel, too. 'The material is top-notch and non-toxic,' Lydia emphasizes. 'You don't want black plastic utensils anywhere near your hot soups or stews.'

While ladles (and particularly the square variety) might not seem like a kitchen priority, Martha Stewart raves about them. And I've since discovered their many benefits, but square ladles are in fact ideal utensils – both for serving soups and decanting liquids into awkwardly-shaped containers.

Of course, it's wise to invest in the best kitchen appliances for soup season, but if you're planning to batch-cook a lot this fall, or host a potluck dinner, expert-approved utensils like these will be a real time-saver.

'Why have a round ladle that will not fill a jar easily?' says Martha in a video with QVC. 'It'll spill over the edges of the jar, and you'll usually have to use a funnel to fill the jar. But if you have a square ladle, it goes right in.'

The LEORX square soup ladle features a handy hanging loop for easy storage, while the OXO steel ladle boasts two pour spouts and a non-slip handle.

Both benefit from angled heads, allowing you decant or serve with no drips or mess. 'These square ladles replace round ladles and short-handled ladles,' Martha confirms. So essentially, you're getting two utensils for the price of one and saving space in your kitchen drawer. I'm sold.

Shop square ladles

Wondering how best to store bulkier utensils like ladles? You can always count on Martha Stewart's antique kitchen utensil holder hack.