25 Vintage Kitchen Tools

Remember Jell-O molds, bread boxes, and Pyrex bowls?

There's no denying that modern kitchen tools simplify everyday life. Today, appliances like refrigerators and ovens have smart features like Bluetooth capability. Fancier gadgets like Instant Pots even have touch screens and can be turned on with a phone app. Still, there's something to be said about the old-school classics we used to find in Grandma's kitchen. Heck, many vintage kitchen tools were so beautiful that they're actually back in fashion. It's why Ree Drummond's vintage-inspired dinnerware sets and slow cookers are so popular—you won't find any boring old chrome with her, no sir!

Jell-O molds, bread boxes, Pyrex bowls—these are the items your mother (or her mother) couldn't live without. You can find some of these kitchen tools for a pretty penny in vintage shops or on Etsy. Others might make you cock your head to the side and ask if they're not actually medieval torture devices. 😂 A few are even still in use today, but with a few upgrades. Hop in this time machine and head back to the kitchens of the 20th century. This is by no means a complete list, but it may just inspire you to make a retro-chic kitchen upgrade.

You can certainly still find metal molds in many households, but Jell-O was a culinary star of the 1950s. People created all types of intricate dishes with a multitude of unique molds.

If you've ever made a spritz cookie, then you'll recognize this tool! Today, the cookie guns made by Wilton and Kuhn Rikon descend from the Mirro press. A vintage aluminum cookie press set like this one would come equipped with a full set of accessories, including wooden stand for unique cookie design disks.

Cherry pitters came in all shapes and sizes. Many were like this cute yellow one with two finger holes and a spring puncher. Others looked a bit like modern garlic crushers. And still, older ones were quite big and had a screw to clamp them onto your table!

Contrary to what you may think, this isn't a vintage torture device. Actor and dancer Shirley MacLaine is pretending to use a hand crank egg beater to do her hair!

In fact, there were many a hand-crank kitchen tool back in the day. A food mill differed from a food processor in that it both purees and strains out seeds.

Isn't it nice to pop into your local market to grab butter? Back in the day, people would make and mold butter by hand for individual use or sale.

The caption on this old advertisement reads, "Taking a tip from the utility value of grandpa's roll top desk, Nesco inc. announces its new roll top bread box. It is believed to be the latest departure from the conventional square and oblong types of the past its advantages are claimed to be its wider door for easier accessibility."

These little porcelain dishes were a popular means to make coddled eggs, which used to be a central ingredient in Caesar salads.

Actor Peter Barton stands here with a stovetop coffee maker, which has been popular for decades. In fact, many people still enjoy making their daily espresso with these little countertop appliances!

John Harvey Kellogg is responsible for this American staple, in part because he had famous clientele sell peanut butter as a delicacy. Around 1896, Good Housekeeping encouraged women to make their own with a meat grinder, according to Smithsonian magazine. Eventually, an electric version was born!

Grandma might have kept her flour, sugar, rice, and other pantry items in labeled tins. Tell her to hold onto her old ones, because they're back in style!

Ceramic butter dishes are timeless, but many people simply place their sticks in the refrigerator door. French butter dishes, which use water to keep an airtight seal, were very popular for a while.

During the age of plastics, you also saw funky salad spinners, like this Moulinex! No prewashed lettuce? Wash it in your sink, place the leaves inside, and crank till the water gets spun off!

Before the rise of electric appliances, there were metal poaching pans. Then in the 1950s, people were introduced to rudimentary electric appliances like this Kenwood three-egg poacher.

Wood burning stove or an open flame? You would pour your waffle mix into this iron and use your hands to flip it on both sides. Folks had to be careful not to open it too early though!

Hand-carved wooden bowls were the preferred method for rolling dough for a long time. Today, these vintage beauties are also used as farmhouse chic centerpieces.

Believe it or not, food processors used to look a lot simpler. This photo caption reads, "The food processor is not just another trendy gourmet gadget but a knife that is here to stay, cooking instructor Bonnie Stern says." Looks like Bonnie Stern was right!

This recipe card box is from the 1960s if you couldn't tell by the bright yellow and flowers. They were usually made from wood or metal before the wide availability of plastics and kept your family recipes organized!

This tray is for olive oil and vinegar, but trays existed for all types of condiments. These retro holders are often still in use in diners!

Why was punch so big in the United States? Historically speaking, the earliest punch bowls were made of delftware or silver, which were coveted by the upper class. This gave way to glass in the '50s and '60s when home entertaining became popular with the middle class.

Micaela Bahn is a freelance editorial assistant and recent graduate from Carleton College, where she majored in English literature. She loves running, photography, and cooking the best new recipes.

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