How to Use This Strange Tool in Your Kitchen

Step Two: Learn Its Original Purpose

Many kitchen tools were invented to solve a single cooking problem efficiently.

For example:

• A microplane was first used for woodworking before becoming a favorite for zesting citrus and grating cheese.
• A spider strainer was designed to lift food out of hot oil or boiling water without splashing.
• A dough scraper helps divide dough cleanly and scrape sticky flour off counters.

Understanding the original purpose helps you use the tool correctly—and safely.

Step Three: Try It with the Right Recipe

The fastest way to appreciate a strange tool is to use it in a recipe where it shines.

• Use a garlic press when making sauces or marinades to evenly release garlic flavor
• Try a mandoline for perfectly thin slices of vegetables (carefully!)
• Use a mortar and pestle to crush spices and unlock deeper flavor

Once you see how much time and effort it saves, the tool suddenly makes sense.

Step Four: Discover Bonus Uses

Many odd-looking kitchen tools are more versatile than they seem.

• A melon baller works for scooping cookie dough or shaping butter
• A zester can grate chocolate, nutmeg, or hard cheese
• A slotted spoon is great for lifting boiled eggs or blanching vegetables

These extra uses turn a “one-job” tool into a kitchen favorite.