The 1970s were a time of bold colors, funky patterns, and, apparently, some very questionable kitchen gadgets. Whether it was a tool that promised to make life easier or just another gadget collecting dust in the drawer, these quirky contraptions found a way into nearly every home. Some of them were oddly specific, others hilariously impractical, but for some reason, we loved them all. Let’s take a nostalgic look back at 13 retro kitchen gadgets from the ’70s that made no sense—but we wouldn’t have had it any other way.
1. The Electric Can Opener
Sure, manually opening a can wasn’t that hard, but the electric can opener made it feel like we were living in the future. Mounted on the wall or sitting proudly on the counter, it buzzed and whirred, taking a simple task and turning it into a noisy production. It took up more space than it saved, and cleaning the blade was a hassle, but it was the epitome of convenience back then. Nowadays, a good old handheld opener feels simpler, but we still miss that satisfying zzzzt sound.
2. The Fondue Set
Nothing screamed 1970s dinner party like a fondue set, complete with long, color-coded forks for dipping bread, veggies, or fruit into bubbling cheese or chocolate. It seemed like the height of sophistication, even if half the time we ended up burning the cheese or losing our food in the pot. Cleaning the pot afterward was a nightmare, and really—how often did we actually use it? But hey, it made any gathering feel fancy, and that was all that mattered.
3. The Electric Carving Knife
Why use a regular knife when you could plug one in and have it vibrate its way through your roast? The electric carving knife promised perfect slices with minimal effort, but in reality, it was loud, awkward, and slightly terrifying to use. Half the time, it tore the meat more than it carved it, but it still made you feel like a pro chef on Thanksgiving. Even if it wasn’t the most practical tool, it had a certain buzz of excitement.
4. The Hamburger Press
For anyone who wanted perfectly shaped burgers, the hamburger press was the gadget to have. You’d stuff your ground beef into the mold, press it down, and voilà—a uniform patty every time! But honestly, was it that hard to shape a burger with your hands? Probably not, but there was something oddly satisfying about using the press, even if it ended up in the back of the drawer more often than not.
5. The Salad Spinner
The salad spinner burst onto the scene in the ’70s, promising to dry your lettuce leaves with a quick spin and a whole lot of centrifugal force. It felt like a futuristic upgrade from the old paper towel method, and watching the greens whirl around was oddly satisfying. But let’s be honest—did we really need a giant plastic contraption just to dry a handful of lettuce? It took up half the cabinet space, and half the time we still ended up patting the leaves dry anyway. Still, it made salad prep feel like a mini science experiment, and that was half the fun.
6. The Jell-O Mold
In the ’70s, no dinner party was complete without a wobbly, colorful Jell-O mold centerpiece. Whether it was filled with fruit, marshmallows, or the infamous addition of shredded carrots, these gelatin creations were a staple of the time. The molds themselves came in all shapes and sizes, from rings to domes, but getting the Jell-O to release cleanly was a gamble. Still, no one questioned the odd combinations—it was Jell-O art, and we loved every jiggle.
7. The Crock-Pot (Slow Cooker)
The Crock-Pot became a household hero in the ’70s, promising hot meals with minimal effort—just set it and forget it! But while it made cooking easier, it also turned some meals into mushy, overcooked disasters if you weren’t careful. The flavors were hit or miss, and the ceramic pot was a pain to clean, but it felt revolutionary at the time. Even today, the Crock-Pot remains a beloved kitchen staple, but we can’t help but chuckle at those first experimental stews.
8. The Avocado Slicer
Avocados were all the rage in the ’70s, and naturally, that meant we needed a special tool just to slice them. The avocado slicer promised perfect, even cuts without the mess, but it didn’t take long to realize a regular knife did the job just as well—if not better. It quickly became one of those gadgets you forgot about until you cleaned out the utensil drawer. Still, it made us feel fancy every time we used it, even if it wasn’t necessary.
9. The Ice Cream Maker
Homemade ice cream? Yes, please! The ’70s ice cream maker seemed like a dream come true—until you realized how much effort it took to churn that thing by hand (or listen to the noisy motor for hours). The process was messy, the cleanup even worse, and half the time the ice cream didn’t set properly. But when it did work, it felt like magic, and that first bite was worth every bit of hassle.
10. The Hot Dog Toaster
Why boil or grill hot dogs when you could toast them? The hot dog toaster promised perfectly cooked franks alongside toasty buns, all in one handy appliance. But more often than not, the hot dogs were unevenly cooked, and cleaning out the greasy mess wasn’t exactly fun. Still, it made hot dog night feel like an event, and who could resist a gadget that toasted your entire meal?
11. The Butter Bell (Butter Keeper)
Keeping butter soft without refrigeration sounded like a brilliant idea, and the butter bell claimed to do just that. You’d fill the lid with butter, add water to the base, and it supposedly stayed fresh and spreadable on the counter. But let’s be honest—half the time, we forgot to change the water, and the butter turned into a science experiment. Still, there was something charming about this little gadget, even if it didn’t always work as promised.
12. The Corn Holders
This one may be bewilderingly simple, but to this day is quite timeless! Corn holders were the tiny, fork-like gadgets designed to save your fingers from hot, buttery corn on the cob. Shaped like little ears of corn themselves (because why not?), they promised a mess-free eating experience—but more often than not, they’d slip out or poke you when you least expected it. They were easy to lose, impossible to store neatly, and somehow never matched, yet every kitchen drawer had a mismatched set. Despite their quirks, they made corn on the cob feel like an event, and honestly, wrestling with them was part of the fun.
13. The Egg Slicer
If you wanted perfectly sliced hard-boiled eggs, the egg slicer was the tool for you. It had thin wires that promised uniform slices with a single press, but let’s be real—it wasn’t exactly hard to cut an egg with a knife. The wires bent easily, and cleaning between them was a chore, but for some reason, we couldn’t resist using it. It made slicing eggs feel like an event, and that alone made it worth keeping around.
These quirky kitchen gadgets from the ’70s might not have always made the most sense, but they brought a sense of fun and innovation into our homes. Whether they were truly practical or just a passing fad, they were part of what made cooking in the ’70s feel exciting. And who knows—some of these oddball tools might just find their way back into our kitchens, bringing a little retro charm along with them.
