Mayukh Saha
Mayukh Saha
April 9, 2024 ·  3 min read

Can You Identify This “Mystery” Tool?

Over the decades, this mystery tool has actually gone through quite a few changes and updates. In the early 1930s, this device was updated with a longer handle, as well as a wider base which would improve the leverage. In the 1950s, this device was updated yet again with a more streamlined design and a plastic handle. This chopper has been making the rounds for close to a century- but has been losing out on popularity due to the constant evolution of kitchen gadgets and tools.  Nevertheless, there are still quite a few families who have owned the Kwik-Kut chopper for generations and have continued to use it in their kitchens regularly. However, some have never heard of or seen this type of kitchen tool before. Some even took to Facebook to try and figure out what it was.

This mystery tool, which has befuddled the modern audience, is nothing more than the Kwik-Kut Deluxe Food Chopper– which is a kitchen tool that was previously used to chop and mince foods easily. This device became heavily popular with home cooks, who did appreciate the convenience and efficiency that it provided. The Food Chopper was originally marketed as a principal way of simplifying the process of mincing and chopping vegetables, nuts, fruits, and other food items. For those who are unaware, this device basically consists of a metal cylinder, which has sharp, rotating blades fixed inside it. The user first places the food item that is to be chopped into the cylinder after which a crank is turned to rotate the blades. 

So, let’s talk about some of the other kitchen gadgets which have managed to replace the mystery tool- the Kwik-Kut chopper. 

The mystery tool evading the recognition of the internet.
Image Credits: eBay

Read: 9 Things We Used To Do in The Kitchen That Just Don’t Happen Anymore

Kitchen Tools That Have Seen The Turn Of The Century- And Are Still In Use

1. Toaster

The pop-up toaster, which has been made famous in several movies and TV shows, was invented in 1919- before sliced bread was a thing. Up till the 1930s, they were considered to be an item of luxury, for the wealthy- but by the 1960s, they had become sorely affordable and popular. In 1990, a toaster was created which could be controlled by the Internet. 

2. Tupperware

The company of this sturdy and durable storage item was founded in 1946. And in 1951, the parties that we are so familiar with started to take off. In 1976, the sales topped a solid $500 million. 

3. Juicer

This kitchen tool was made famous by Jack LaLanne, in the 1970s. But like some of the most famous fitness fads over the years, this is making a comeback. In 2014, the annual sales of home juicers touched an enormous $300 million- just in the United States. 

4. Microwave

A quintessential kitchen product, the microwave did see quite a growth in its fanbase post the 1980s. In 1986, around 25% of the households in the country had a microwave. By 1997, around 90% of the households had one. In fact, the microwave also brought popcorn back as a favorite snack of many. 

5. George Foreman Grill

This favorite grill tool was launched in 1994 and has already sold more than 100 million units. Interestingly, George Foreman actually made $200 million just from the many endorsements of the product. 

So, what kitchen tool do you use the most in your kitchen? And is it as useful as the mystery tool? Write to us in the comments below.

Keep Reading: 20 Clever Uses For Binder Clips

Sources

  1. Facebook. Randi Coble
  2. Kitchen Gadget Trends Through the Years.” Technology. October 5, 2017