I saw my neighbor about to throw this in the bin, so I asked her if I could have it, and she gave it to me. The reason why she was throwing it because she didn’t know what it was for. I don’t either, but I took it anyway.

The Mystery Kitchen Gadget My Neighbor Nearly Threw Away

Every good recipe has a story—and sometimes the story begins long before any cooking happens. Mine started the moment I spotted my neighbor standing by her trash bin, holding something that looked like it belonged in a kitchen… or a workshop… or possibly a spaceship. I couldn’t tell.

Curiosity spoke before I did:
“Are you throwing that out?”

She shrugged. “Yeah. I don’t know what it’s for.”
I didn’t either—but that didn’t stop me. A mysterious tool with an unknown purpose? That sounded like the beginning of an adventure, not something for the landfill. So, naturally, I asked if I could have it.

She handed it over with the generous confusion of someone hoping I knew more than she did.