# What's this kitchen gadget? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2016, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753 "2016-12-28T03:15:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/1 "2016-12-28T03:15:34Z")
Visiting friends, we discovered this item in a kitchen drawer. No one knows what it is - it kind of looks like the love child of a cheese slicer and a tweezers. It’s chrome-plated, about 6 inches long, and kind of flimsy feeling. There are no sharpened edges, and the “blade” is captive so the device can’t open any farther than shown in the pictures. Any Dopers recognize this thing? Thanks. One view: [http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/cwthree/20161227\_200143-1.jpg](http://s587.photobucket.com/user/cwthree/media/20161227_200143-1.jpg.html) Another view: [http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/cwthree/20161227\_200124-1.jpg](http://s587.photobucket.com/user/cwthree/media/20161227_200124-1.jpg.html) ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/2 "2016-12-28T05:15:04Z")
FYI, I can’t begin to answer the question because I can’t get the photo files to open. The links seem to work fine, but the photos don’t appear, just the little “waiting” graphic. I’ve been waiting for 5 minutes, I don’t know if I’m interested enough to continue waiting. Were they very large photo files you posted? Maybe you could reduce and re-post them? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/3 "2016-12-28T05:21:16Z")
Opens fine here on my iPad. Unfortunate.y, I have no clue what it is. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/4 "2016-12-28T05:24:26Z")
No actual clue, My only guess is a one handed slicer for sticky cheese, that scrapes the cheese off itself. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/5 "2016-12-28T05:40:35Z")
I think I have seen something like this… You would squeeze the tongs closed, then put the flat part under a cookie I guess, then let the tongs open and it drops it on the plate. I’m not sure if it’s for cookies, but it was for something delicate and small. It had to be baked, otherwise it would be slotted so not boiled, or fried. Brownies? Fudge? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/6 "2016-12-28T06:21:28Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > FYI, I can’t begin to answer the question because I can’t get the photo files to open. The links seem to work fine, but the photos don’t appear, just the little “waiting” graphic. I’ve been waiting for 5 minutes, I don’t know if I’m interested enough to continue waiting. > > Were they very large photo files you posted? Maybe you could reduce and re-post them? [Tell me if this link doesn’t work.](http://imgur.com/gallery/iR5yO) ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/7 "2016-12-28T06:48:31Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > [Tell me if this link doesn’t work.](http://imgur.com/gallery/iR5yO) Thanks very much for creating those links, \*\* Derleth\*\*. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/8 "2016-12-28T06:52:18Z")
I should add that it’s possible that this device was not originally intended for kitchen use. One member of the couple who own the kitchen was a research oncologist, and the other was a biologist who studied viruses. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/9 "2016-12-28T07:00:50Z")
It looks kind of like a mutated [cherry pitter,](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiJtq_6p5bRAhUHySYKHeteByMQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FOXO-Grips-Olive-Cherry-Pitter%2Fdp%2FB000NQ925K&psig=AFQjCNHXKkjcw_gPVZ4RKYD65D3CEn9xmg&ust=1482994665812710) except for something bigger than a cherry. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/10 "2016-12-28T07:08:28Z")
Clearly designed for lifting something and depositing it somewhere else, using only a single hand. It doesn’t appear to be very high quality in construction, so not for commercial use - it has the look almost of a novelty utensil of the type that is often included in gift kits where there might be a recipe book, some actual ingredients, and a couple of higly-specialised implements. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/11 "2016-12-28T07:16:19Z")
> [@cwthree](#): > > Thanks very much for creating those links, \*\* Derleth\*\*. No problem. I’ve found [http://imgur.com](http://imgur.com) is a good no-nonsense image host which is very usable for people with all kinds of browsers and devices. It is also easy for people uploading images. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/12 "2016-12-28T11:37:25Z")
> [@cwthree](#): > > I should add that it’s possible that this device was not originally intended for kitchen use. One member of the couple who own the kitchen was a research oncologist, and the other was a biologist who studied viruses. Oh my … the imagination runs astray … ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/13 "2016-12-28T12:21:39Z")
I wonder if it’s actually meant to be used with the blade end pointing downwards (i.e. clasped in the hand with the sprung joint upwards - maybe for cutting something soft into pieces, then flipping the pieces off the blade (gnocchi or something) ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/14 "2016-12-28T12:33:25Z")
My mother used to have one, I remember running across it in the kitchen as a child. This was in the 1960’s so it’s been a while. I also remember asking her what it was for. Her answer made a lot of sense, at the time. Unfortunately, I forget what she said and it’s been years since she passed, so I can’t just ask her again. I do remember it is used in the kitchen and it was not some bizarre function. Perhaps a pastry cutter? ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/15 "2016-12-28T12:59:59Z")
My suspicion is that it is for handling dough - probably cookie dough - and allowing one to scoop up a portion and then deposit onto the oven tray easily, and allow repetition without needing to clean it between portions. Ring any bells? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/16 "2016-12-28T13:20:26Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > My suspicion is that it is for handling dough - probably cookie dough - and allowing one to scoop up a portion and then deposit onto the oven tray easily, and allow repetition without needing to clean it between portions. Ring any bells? Winner. Here it is: [https://www.styleasia.net/product/HW1128](https://www.styleasia.net/product/HW1128) ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/17 "2016-12-28T13:27:27Z")
Lordy 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/18 "2016-12-28T15:07:45Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > FYI, I can’t begin to answer the question because I can’t get the photo files to open. The links seem to work fine, but the photos don’t appear, just the little “waiting” graphic. I’ve been waiting for 5 minutes, I don’t know if I’m interested enough to continue waiting. [I have the same problem, and asked about it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=810744). One photo did open for me, though. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/19 "2016-12-28T15:11:45Z")
Of course, if Dad is going through the kitchen, he could swipe some raw dough then use the thingie to snip off the end of his cigar. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753/20 "2016-12-28T15:20:22Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Winner. Here it is: > [https://www.styleasia.net/product/HW1128](https://www.styleasia.net/product/HW1128) Thanks! I knew someone here would know or be able to find out. I love you guys. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-kitchen-gadget/775753.md?page=2)