Quick Answer

Choose Oscar if you want a playful dish scrub brush that makes cleanup less of a chore. Choose Buddy if you need a spoon holder and steam releaser that keeps your stovetop tidier while you cook. They solve different problems, so the right pick depends on whether you're scrubbing or stirring.

What Each Kitchen Helper Actually Does

Oscar and Buddy are both designed by OTOTO, but they belong to different moments in the kitchen. Oscar is a dish scrub brush with a dog-inspired design, so his job happens at the sink, after the cooking is done. Buddy is a spoon holder and steam releaser, so his job happens on the counter or stovetop, while you're actively cooking. That difference matters because a tool you use during cooking needs to be within arm's reach, while a tool you use after cooking needs to stand up to water, soap, and food residue.

The Trade-Off: Charm vs. Counter Space

Both helpers bring OTOTO's signature whimsy to the kitchen, but they compete for different resources. Oscar lives by the sink, where he adds personality to a task most people dread. Buddy lives on the counter, where he holds a spoon and releases steam, but that also means he takes up space in your active cooking zone. If your counter is already crowded, a scrub brush that stays near the sink may be easier to accommodate than a spoon holder that needs to sit beside the stove. If you frequently set down messy spoons while cooking, Buddy's spot on the counter earns its keep.

When You're Cooking With Kids

Both Oscar and Buddy can work as fun kitchen tools for kids, but they invite different kinds of participation. Oscar's dog-inspired design makes scrubbing dishes feel like play, which can help younger children take part in cleanup. Buddy's role as a spoon holder and steam releaser is better suited to kids who are already helping at the stove with adult supervision, since it involves hot cookware and steam. For very young children, Oscar is the safer starting point. For older kids learning to cook, Buddy gives them a specific, useful job.

Trade-Offs at a Glance

  • Primary job: Oscar scrubs dishes and cookware at the sink. Buddy holds spoons and releases steam during cooking. Pick based on whether your pain point is cleanup or countertop clutter while cooking.
  • Where it lives: Oscar belongs near the sink. Buddy belongs on the counter or stovetop within reach. Measure your available counter space before choosing Buddy.
  • Kid involvement: Oscar suits kids helping with dishes. Buddy suits older kids assisting at the stove with supervision. Match the tool to the child's age and the task they can safely handle.

Product Facts

  • Oscar: Oscar is a dish scrub brush with a dog-inspired design from the OTOTO DESIGN collection. Its shape and purpose make it a natural fit for the sink, where it can handle dishes and cookware while adding personality to cleanup.

    Oscar

    Oscar

  • Buddy: Buddy is a spoon holder and steam releaser designed by OTOTO in collaboration with Bar Davidovici. It keeps a spoon off the counter and gives steam a place to escape, which helps during active stovetop cooking.

    Buddy

    Buddy

Which One Fits Your Cooking Style?

Best for

  • Home cooks who want to make dish duty more enjoyable
  • Families with young children who help with cleanup
  • Anyone who wants a playful kitchen helper near the sink

Not for

  • Cooks who need a tool during stovetop cooking
  • Kitchens where counter space beside the stove is already tight