8 Old-School Kitchen Gadgets You Probably Still Have But Rarely Use

As with practically anything in the world that once served a unique purpose, these kitchen items have been updated or replaced with more technologically advanced or easier-to-use alternatives. And while these staples look like they’ve been plucked straight out of the Smithsonian, they once played very important roles in the American kitchen. We’re highlighting eight instruments that you rarely see while cooking or baking and the appliances that replaced them.

Nutmeg Grinder

It’s apparent that bakers really loved their nutmeg, so much so that there was a grinder dedicated entirely to turning it into a scoopable or sprinkable powder. Nowadays, you can easily use a microplane to shave down the hard seed, but the vintage tool with a handheld mill seemed just as satisfying to use before making French toast, an apple crumble, or anything that required the earthy and spicy addition to baked goods.

Egg Poacher Pan

While scrambled are the world’s most popular way to prepare eggs, a poached egg was once a breakfast-time staple with its soft and runny yolk. Old-school egg poacher pans, typically made from cast iron or copper, featured four grooves where amateur chefs would crack eggs into and place over a shallow pan of boiling water. Once covered, the trapped steam would cook the egg white until tender and—voila!—a perfectly poached egg would form to place on toast or consume with just a dash of salt and pepper. While modernized versions of these pans exist, most electronic egg makers also boast a poaching option with plastic accessory trays that feature–you guessed it— four of the same grooves.

Hand Mixer

It’s surprising that more chefs didn’t possess bigger biceps because doughs, sauces, dressings, and the likes were once mixed with manual hand mixers. Both labor-intensive and time-consuming, the tool required food professionals and at-home cooks to literally rotate its handle to activate the accompanying beater(s). While it was a guaranteed workout, we’ll stick to a sleek and fancy KitchenAid stand mixer that accomplishes the same task with the simple click of a button, thank you very much.

Foley Fork

Also called a blending fork, this handy utensil was used to mash potatoes, blend fats into flour, beat eggs, stir sauces, and whisk dressings. Though the oversized spatula, beloved by Julia Child, with six elevated tines continues to exist, it’s simply unnecessary. An ordinary fork and a quick hand can beat, stir, and whisk while saving room in your kitchen junk drawer.

Hand-Crank Ice Cream Maker

While we now rely on electronic machines or a trip to the local ice cream shop to satisfy a hankering for frozen treats, there was something special about the arduous process of hand-churning ice cream. This old-fashioned instrument relied on a hand crank, as well as an outside metal canister that contained ice and rock salt to freeze its contents of milk, cream, sugar, and mix-ins. Good things certainly happen to those who wait but after 30 minutes of manual labor and a few hours in the freezer, we’re grateful that electronics took its place.

Cake Breaker

Delicate cakes such as Angel Food require delicate handling. A cake breaker looks like a large comb with teeth that can gently cut through soft desserts. Though a serrated knife or unflavored dental floss can also get the job done, a cake breaker is one of those tools that continues to make entirely too much sense, even in modern times.

Butter Molds

Butter is a beautiful thing when it comes to imparting rich, fat flavor into a meal or dessert but previous generations felt the need to make the butter itself beautiful by placing it in intricately designed butter molds. These ranged from flowers and leaves to monograms and stars. While you can certainly find molded butter in higher-end restaurants, served with a bread basket, most people simply don’t have the time or patience to appreciate the finer details. Instead, they opt for a simple butter dish and don’t think twice about it.

Condiment Trays

We do, of course, put out salt and pepper mills, as well as trays of olive oil, vinegar, and other regularly-consumed condiments, but gone are the days of serving these additions in ornate, matching sets meant to be conversation starters. These works of art can sometimes be seen at diners but they’re also making a bit of a resurgence in the form of a rotating, stone or wood-based lazy Susan that can contain a handful of frequently-used jars, bottles, and shakers. While they’re arguably not as beautiful as their predecessors, they do make for a great organization tool to keep everything in one place.