The Old-School Item No One Uses In The Kitchen Anymore (& Other Ways To Use It)

From bread boxes to handwritten recipe cards, there's a long list of once-popular old-school kitchen items nobody uses anymore. While many of these relics may have once been crucial to a well-running kitchen, in many cases, they simply don't serve much purpose in 21st-century households. However, the egg coddler is one example of a kitchen tool from a bygone cooking age that may have fallen out of fashion, but can still be both pretty and practical even today.

If you aren't familiar with this quaint contraption, an egg coddler is a simple tool for cooking eggs. Popularized in Europe around the late 19th century, egg coddlers came in various designs, from simple monochromatic to intricately detailed and patterned. There are plenty of recipes and ideas for cooking with them, but the most basic way to use an egg coddler is to simply butter the inside of the coddler, crack an egg inside, screw on the lid, and cook the egg in a shallow pool of boiling water – allowing the egg to gently steam without touching the water, unlike traditional poaching.

But if you're more of a throw-the-eggs-in-the-pan-and-go kind of chef and don't feel like getting egg coddlers involved in your cooking, there are plenty of other uses for these pretty antiques — so don't give them away or banish them to the attic just yet. From complementing your dinner table decor, to housing pretty potted plants, to a stylish and practical addition to picnics, there are plenty of creative ways to give your egg coddler new life.

While egg coddlers can have some useful functions, don't underestimate the aesthetic appeal of these vintage pieces. After all, Russian royalty famously showcased Fabergé eggs in their palaces, which are now considered works of art and on display in museums; so if egg-inspired art was good enough for the tsars, it's good enough for our own home decor, too! Rather than stowing it away with other kitchen tools, show off your egg coddler by displaying it on a bookshelf, in your dining cabinet, or on a special spot on your kitchen counter.

Egg coddlers are convenient and beautiful little vessels for keeping dips and sauces in — especially since they come ready-made with tiny lids for easy transport and storage. Bring a touch of elegance to your table at home, or make your next picnic extra stylish and chic by packing dips and condiments such as salsa, ketchup, mayonnaise, or hummus in your egg coddler instead of inside the conventional packaging. 

Tiny plants make great floating shelf decor – but don't skimp on the presentation! Try using your egg coddler to hold tiny bulbs or small succulents, or use it to display mini floral arrangements. You can repurpose the egg coddler as a cross between a bowl vase, which is wider in shape, and a bud vase, which is more petite and intended to hold only one or two flowers.

We also love the idea of using vintage egg coddlers to hold tea light candles. They have a lovely, bespoke look, and the small glow adds a perfect bit of ambiance to side tables, fireplace mantels, and coffee tables. Since they can function as reusable candleholders, they're a great permanent accessory to complement other home decor lighting.

With their bulbous shape and round handles on top, egg coddlers do look a lot like vintage porcelain Christmas tree ornaments; so when the holiday season rolls around, why not repurpose yours as a decoration for the tree? String a ribbon through the loop on top, and hang it on a branch for a bit of Victorian charm that adds a touch of nostalgia to holiday decor. Just be sure you choose a sturdy tree limb that can support the weight of your DIY ornament.

For a sweet addition to your morning coffee or tea routine, try using the egg coddler as a small sugar bowl. You'll want to have a tiny spoon handy, such as an espresso spoon, since this beautiful sugar bowl alternative will be a bit smaller than the conventional sugar bowls you'd usually purchase. Plus, it has the added benefit of having a built-in lid to keep out pests who have a sweet tooth, such as ants.

Egg coddlers aren't the only old-school table item that has fallen out of regular use. Before salt shakers were invented in the 20th century, salt cellars — tiny bowls used for holding salt and sprinkling it over food with a spoon — were the typical way to flavor one's meals. Revive this quaint tradition at your dinner table by repurposing your egg coddler as a small salt cellar that's both pretty and practical.