A Return to the Kitchens of Yesterday
The meat grinder, invented in the 19th century, changed the way we prepared food. No more laborious chopping with a knife: in a few simple steps, the filling was ready to cook. But it wasn’t just used for meat: some also used it for vegetables, herbs, nuts, and even fish.
The meat grinder, often secured to the table with a tightening screw, was part of everyday cooking. It wasn’t uncommon to see children turning the handle while their mothers or grandmothers seasoned the food. A true moment of passing on tradition, accompanied by the delicious aroma of home-cooked food.
And what do we do with it today?
In the age of appliances and quick recipes, you might think this type of appliance was extinct… But the manual meat grinder is making a comeback. With the growing interest in homemade food, short supply chains, and zero-waste cooking, it’s finding its place in families where quality and authenticity are important.
Some old models, found at flea markets or in attics, even become decorative objects. Others, restored or still usable, are put back into use to prepare homemade terrines, meatballs, or tartar sauce.
An object, a memory
What’s touching about this story isn’t just the object itself, but also what it evokes: a time when cooking was done with patience and care. When every gesture counted. When skills were passed down within the family.
So, the next time you come across an unusual object at a flea market, take a closer look. You might just have a culinary memento in your hands.
And you, have you guessed what it was? Or did you already know this object from your parents or grandparents? Share your memories: after all, they don’t need electricity to last!
