Ambiguous Standandards of Specification: Kitchen Utensils
Since the 1950s, the number of objects designed for specific tasks has increased considerably, especially those used in the kitchen. There are an overwhelming number of specialised apparatus: for the removal of the head and strings in string beans, peeling tops of okra fingers, slicing eggs, and more. For these hyperspecific [overspecific] objects to function properly, however, the food has to be a specific size, shape, or firmness. Yet all these tasks could be accomplished with a simple kitchen knife, which, in addition to its accessibility, practicality, convenience and low-cost, requires almost no instruction and does not discriminate against a fruit or vegetable that falls short of industrially imposed standards.
Contents (31 objects listed in alphabetical order): apple core remover, avocado slicer, banana slicer, boiled corn grater, butter curler, cake server, cake server fork, carrot sharpener, chestnut scraper, chip chopper, dough folder and sealer, egg de-sheller and separator, egg slicer, falafel maker, lemon sprayer, lemon squeezer, lid opener, okra peeler, orange peeler ring, pasta slicer, pit remover and slicer for fruit, pit remover, pot-pan handle, potato spiraliser, screw-press garlic crusher, spring-operated walnut cracker, string bean slicer and cleaner, stuffed vine-leaf wrapper, sugar claw, tea tong, vegetable preserver lid.