Before smart fridges and air fryers, cooks relied on tools so simple and effective that many of us still use them every day. While gadgets come and go, these classics have stood the test of time. Here are 11 of the oldest kitchen tools you’ll still spot in homes today.
11. Knives (2.6 million years ago)
The knife stands as humanity’s first and most essential kitchen tool, predating modern humans by millions of years. Archaeological evidence from Ethiopia reveals that our ancestors created the first cutting tools from stone 2.6 million years ago. The knife’s evolution from chipped stone to bronze, iron, and eventually steel represents one of humanity’s longest-running technological developments.
10. Clay Pots (18,000 years ago)
The oldest known cooking pots, discovered in China, date back to 18,000 years. This technology changed how humans prepared and consumed food, introducing the ability to boil and stew ingredients in a contained vessel. Clay pots also unlocked new nutritional possibilities, making tough grains digestible and extracting nutrients from bones through simmering.
9. Mortars and Pestles (10,000+ years ago)
This ancient food processor has been the cornerstone of spice preparation for over 10,000 years. Archaeological evidence reveals that mortars and pestles were among the first specialized food processing tools, used by Stone Age peoples to crush grains, seeds, and medicinal plants.
8. Tongs (3,450 years ago)
First depicted in Egyptian art around 1450 BCE, tongs are a brilliant solution to one of cooking’s common challenges: handling hot objects. Early tongs were crafted from green wood, and later evolved to bronze and iron as metalworking advanced. The basic pincer design remained unchanged for over three millennia because it perfectly solves the problem of extending human reach while maintaining dexterity.
7. Wooden Spoons (3,300+ years ago)
The wooden spoon is one of the most practical kitchen innovations, with the oldest known example discovered in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. So yes, the wooden spoon is over 3,300 years old. This utensil was valued by Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations because it didn’t scratch delicate surfaces. It was also prized for its natural antimicrobial qualities.
6. Sieves/Strainers (3,000+ years ago)
Ancient Egyptians pioneered the art of sieving over 3,000 years ago, using woven reeds and grasses to separate fine materials from coarse ones. Meanwhile, archaeological evidence includes a 1,500 BC sieve discovered in a Liverpool museum. The principle behind sieving (using a mesh barrier to separate particles by size) was so effective that it became essential to many culinary processes.
5. Rolling Pins (3,000+ years ago)
The rolling pin’s journey started in ancient Egypt and Rome. Early versions were simple cylinders of stone or wood used to flatten dough for flatbreads. The 19th century brought innovations, including John W. Reed’s 1860 patent for a hollow wooden cylinder design and Frederick Belcher’s 1892 introduction of ball bearings for smoother operation. Despite these refinements, the core function remains: applying even pressure to flatten dough.
4. Cutting Boards (3,000+ years ago)
The cutting board’s origins trace back to ancient Mesopotamia, where clay tablets depict the human need for a stable surface for food preparation. Wooden cutting boards emerged as the preferred solution, and modern science highlighted that wood has natural antimicrobial properties, with hardwoods like maple and walnut actively drawing in bacteria, which die as the board dries.
3. Wooden Bowls (3,000+ years ago)
Before pottery became widespread, our ancestors discovered that wooden bowls were perfect for holding, mixing, and serving food. Archaeological evidence shows that craftsmen chose specific woods for their bowls. Hardwoods like oak and maple for their resistance to cracking, and fruit woods like cherry and apple for their pleasant aroma and fine grain. Today, wooden bowls are still the choice of cooks who appreciate their aesthetic appeal.
2. Ladles (3,000+ years ago)
The ladle, which is a spoon with a long, angled handle, works best for serving liquids from deep containers. This tool has been facilitating the transfer of soups, stews, and sauces for over 3,000 years, with early versions crafted from large shells and carved wood. Modern ladles now use stainless steel and heat-resistant plastics, and skilled cooks also use them for basting roasts, transferring batters, and even as measuring devices.
1. Wooden Spatulas (3,000+ years ago)
Meet the kitchen workhorse for over three millennia, the wooden spatula! This tool, with its flat-bladed design was so effective it didn’t require modifications since Roman times. Ancient Romans used wooden spatulas for stirring porridges, scraping bowls clean, and flipping flatbreads on hot stones. Today, wooden spatulas are preferred by cooks who want something gentle for their cookware with nonstick surfaces, and by those looking for natural, chemical-free alternative to plastic.