# What is this kitchen tool? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [May 26, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638 "2023-05-26T16:05:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/1 "2023-05-26T16:05:40Z")
I have a kitchen utensil whose use is unknown to me, so I went looking on the internet and [found it for sale on eBay](https://www.ebay.com/itm/165217085398), but I think the seller doesn’t know what it is either, as they refer to it as a “curved serrated kitchen tool.” Well duh - I could have told you that. But what do you USE it for? It looks like it is probably designed to scoop out a particular shape of fruit. Or maybe large curls of butter? (It just seems a little large for that.) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/2 "2023-05-26T16:09:46Z")
Probably one of those old specialized tools for tasks nobody does anymore, like a squirrel zester. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/3 "2023-05-26T16:09:48Z")
Google Lens says it’s a chocolate, cheese, and butter shaver. Versatility! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/4 "2023-05-26T16:10:23Z")
A spatula 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/5 "2023-05-26T16:10:32Z")
It looks like a Cheese/Butter shaver. Like this one: > **[Amazon.com: Daycount Chocolate Cheese Butter Shaver, Slicer Hook Shape Cake...](https://www.amazon.com/DayCount-Chocolate-Decorations-Shavings-Utensils/dp/B078JLLNYG)** > > Online shopping for Kitchen Knives & Accessories from a great selection of Cutlery Sets, Specialty Knives, Sharpeners, Cutting Boards, & more at everyday low prices. Apparently for chocolate too. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/6 "2023-05-26T16:11:34Z")
[A tool for cutting decorative shavings of butter and chocolate.](https://www.amazon.com/triangle-Hook-Shaped-Impressive-Polypropylene-Dishwasher/dp/B00DZP6KIS) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/7 "2023-05-26T16:12:00Z")
Or maybe a song by Duran Duran. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/8 "2023-05-26T16:12:23Z")
(Three correct answers in 2 minutes. Is this the Dope or what?) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/9 "2023-05-26T16:14:40Z")
As long as this is thoroughly answered, I think I’ll move it to the Cafe as it is cooking related. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/10 "2023-05-26T16:27:33Z")
Thanks everyone. Now I have to decide whether it’s worth keeping or not. I’ve made it to 64 without needing to curl butter, cheese, or chocolate. On the other hand, it might be nice to curl some chocolate shavings on top of an elegant chocolate cake… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/11 "2023-05-26T17:31:10Z")
Can I use it to scrape out the insides of pumpkins? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/12 "2023-05-26T18:01:47Z")
No, the kitchen utensil police (KUP) will get you for doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/13 "2023-05-26T18:17:27Z")
I used to visit a Williams-Sonoma store (yuppie kitchen goods shop) every so often. They had a wall of specialty kitchen tools, with samples of each hung on the wall, next to a number corresponding to the drawer containing more of each for purchase. And there was a legend on the wall explaining what each was for. (This is a lemon zester, this is a shrimp deveiner, etc.) I would not look at the legend but instead make a game of guessing what each was used for. (What can I say; I was bored often.) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/14 "2023-05-26T18:26:37Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I would not look at the legend but instead make a game of guessing what each was used for. - That works in adult shops, too, ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/15 "2023-05-26T18:31:12Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > chocolate shavings on top of an elegant chocolate cake I was hoping more for cheese shavings on top of an elegant cheesecake. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/16 "2023-05-26T18:46:09Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > I was hoping more for cheese shavings on top of an elegant cheesecake. Could be used that way, or to decorate vegetables. Probably not all that good for faces, legs, or other areas people tend to shave. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/17 "2023-05-26T20:01:06Z")
That actually sounds like a great idea for the kabocha squash I buy all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/18 "2023-05-26T20:23:05Z")
Why can’t we all get along? Chocolate and cheese shavings on a chocolate cheese cake ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/19 "2023-05-26T20:49:01Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Probably not all that good for faces Not really enticed by face shavings on an elegant facecake. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638/20 "2023-05-26T20:57:48Z")
Is it sharp? I ask because I have a use for it, if it is. Lately I’ve been using pineapples as cereal bowls. I lop off the top, and use a sharp paring knife to cut at the insides, and then I scoop out what I can into a separate bowl, leaving me with a concave area I can pour cereal and milk into BUT: I can’t get at the remaining stub of the pineapple core–if this thing is sharp enough, It might do the trick. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-kitchen-tool/984638.md?page=2)