What is the main use of a slotted spoon?

A slotted spoon is primarily designed to separate solid foods from liquids, making it an essential tool in various cooking and serving tasks. Its unique design with slots allows liquids to drain away while retaining solids. This is particularly useful when you need to lift items from a pot, such as vegetables from boiling water, or when serving foods from a broth-based dish while leaving the liquid behind.

In contrast, using a slotted spoon for serving soup would not be effective since it would allow too much broth to escape. Mixing pastry dough typically requires more solid mixing implements, such as a regular spoon or a dough scraper, rather than a slotted spoon. Similarly, whipping cream or eggs demands a whisk or similar implement for aeration, which is not a function of a slotted spoon. Thus, using a slotted spoon for separating solids from liquids is its primary and most appropriate function.