From Duct Tape to Dinner: The Weirdest Chinese Kitchen Tools
- Date：
- Views：7
- Source：OrientDeck
Ever walked into a Chinese kitchen and felt like you’d stumbled onto a mad scientist’s lab? Woks that double as flamethrowers, cleavers that could split wood, and gadgets that look like they were borrowed from a hardware store? You’re not alone. Chinese kitchens are full of tools that might seem bizarre to the uninitiated — but once you get the hang of them, you’ll wonder how you ever cooked without.
The Chopstick Fork: When East Meets West (and Gets Weird)
Imagine a fork… with chopsticks for tines. That’s the chāzi chā (叉子叉), a niche hybrid tool mostly found in street food stalls across Guangdong. It’s designed for skewering dumplings or buns without squashing them. While it hasn’t gone viral globally (yet), it’s a cult favorite among dim sum lovers.
Bamboo Steamers: Nature’s Slow Cooker
No Chinese kitchen is complete without a stack of bamboo steamers. Unlike metal counterparts, bamboo absorbs excess moisture, preventing sogginess in bao buns and siu mai. Bonus: they’re eco-friendly and add a subtle woody aroma.
| Tool | Primary Use | Weirdness Factor (1-5) | Surprisingly Useful? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo Steamer | Steaming buns, dumplings, fish | 2 | Yes — superior texture control |
| Cleaver (Cai Dao) | Chopping, smashing, lifting food | 3 | Extremely — multitasking king |
| Tea Egg Maker (Plastic Cage) | Cracking shells evenly for marination | 4 | Meh — a rock works fine |
| Duck Press (Rare) | Extracting meat from roasted duck bones | 5 | Rarely — only in pro kitchens |
The Cleaver That Does It All
The Chinese cleaver, or cai dao, isn’t just for chopping. Watch any auntie in action: she’ll mince garlic, crush ginger, scoop scraps into the wok, and even tenderize meat — all with one blade. It’s the Swiss Army knife of Chinese cookery. And no, it’s not dangerous — it’s precision in disguise.
Duct Tape? In the Kitchen?!
In some rural households, yes — duct tape holds cracked pots together during peak cooking hours. Not exactly FDA-approved, but when dinner’s on the line, improvisation wins. (Pro tip: maybe stick to proper repairs.)
Why These 'Weird' Tools Actually Work
Many so-called oddities stem from necessity and ingenuity. Take the tea egg plastic cage — it ensures even cracking so marinade seeps in uniformly. Is it essential? Debatable. But it shows how deeply function shapes form in Chinese culinary culture.
And let’s be real: if your kitchen can’t handle a steamer made of bamboo or a cleaver that doubles as a spatula, are you even trying?