Tools for food: the history of how we eat
A new book, Tools for Food: The stories behind objects that influence how and what we eat reveals, the changing nature of our culinary habits
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

The history of kitchen (opens in new tab) tools is explored in a new book, Tools for Food: The stories behind objects that influence how and what we eat, from Nashville-born, east London-based writer, curator and producer Corinne Mynatt.
A global history of food utensils
The book explores the history of 250 food tools, ranging from the familiar to the obscure, the useful to the useless. Mynatt takes a closer look at items as diverse as a 4th century Korean fermenting crock and a chic 20th-century Italian lemon juicer, exploring the habits and customs of the societies that used them.
Intertwining history with anecdotes, Mynatt darts back and forth between interesting tidbits and fascinating facts as she addresses each kitchen tool. On graters, she begins with Asia’s intricate bamboo pieces, and explores graters made of tin in 18th-century France – the metal was used as it was tough enough to get through old cheese, thus preventing food waste.
In America, she looks at chemist Earl Tupper’s airtight seal system in the 1940s, which set the scene for today’s Tupperware; and examines Irwin Gershen’s shrimp cleaner, created in 1954 and now part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.
Shrimpmaster
The clean graphic design of the book – by A Practice for Everyday Life, which has worked on projects for clients including the Barbican, Design Museum and Gagosian – makes it a desirable object in its own right. The tome featured in London’s recent Design Festival (opens in new tab) in collaboration with functional design store Labour and Wait, where it is now available to buy.
‘We have always been fascinated by the panoply of implements involved in the preparation of food, from the everyday to the highly specific, and this is evident in the tools we stock at Labour and Wait,’ says director Simon Watkins. ‘This book sheds light on the history and evolution of myriad wonderful tools from around the world.’
Salad basket
Cruets
Rice trivet
Rex Peeler
Salt pig
INFORMATION
Tools for Food: The stories behind objects that influence how and what we eat, by Corinne Mynatt, £20
Hannah Silver joined Wallpaper* in 2019 to work on watches and jewellery. Now, as well as her role as watches and jewellery editor, she writes widely across all areas including on art, architecture, fashion and design. As well as offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, Hannah is interested in the quirks of what makes for a digital success story.
-
Saltviga House is an architectural celebration of leftovers
Saltviga House by Kolman Boye Architects ingeniously uses offcuts from Dinesen planks to create a timber retreat on the south coast of Norway
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Paola Navone turns her souvenirs into lottery prizes
Lottery now open: ‘Take It Or Leave It’ – by Paola Navone and The Slowdown with Daniel Rozensztroch – sees the Italian designer offer her souvenirs to the design community in Milan
By Maria Cristina Didero • Published
-
London Original Print Fair 2023: 10 prints on our radar, from Brian Eno to Tracey Emin
As London Original Print Fair 2023 kicks off (until 2 April 2023), explore the 10 prints on our wish list this year, from Brian Eno to Tracey Emin; Mona Hatoum to Harland Miller
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
Upgrade your Ikea kitchen with Superfront’s Bruta collection by Raw-Edges
Stockholm Design Week 2023: Raw Edges designed the new Bruta Kitchen for Superfront, marking the Swedish brand’s first design collaboration
By Rosa Bertoli • Published
-
Caesarstone taps Snarkitecture for a new experiment in kitchen design
By Elly Parsons • Last updated
-
Special brew: ‘Rising Sun’ tea cart, by Isabelle Stanislas and Mauviel
By Emma Moore • Last updated