What Is This Mystery Kitchen Tool? Good Questions

Q: This mystery tool is used in my restaurant's kitchen but no one knows what it is, where it came from, and it has no label on it. It looks homemade. If anyone could identify this I would really appreciate it!

Sent by Carlos

Editor: Carlos, wow, that's quite a mystery tool. My hunch is that it's used to shred big cuts of meat, like brisket and pork shoulder.

Readers, what's your guess?

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(Image: Carlos via The Kitchn's submission form)

Categories: Advice, Main, Kitchen Tools, Product & Shopping Questions, Questions

Posted by Faith Durand

Faith Durand is the executive editor of The Kitchn and the author of Bakeless Sweets: Pudding, Panna Cotta, Fluff, Icebox Cake, and More No-Bake Desserts. She lives in Columbus, Ohio.
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Comments (8)

I'd say it's to hold a large roast something to carve it. Shredding meat is another option!

It looks like what we used to use in one of the restaurants I worked in for turning roasts / turkeys etc in the oven. Basically like those carving forks but for commercial-portion cuts

I was going to say turkey lifter

My other thought would be an old-fashioned bread holder, so that you can toast slices of bread over a fire or stove.

I've never seen a bread holder with a third prong.
I have seen roasting forks that have a third prong, it is usually on the outside of the meat helping to hold it in place.

Looks like you could also put potatoes or hot dogs on it for the grill

it looks like it is missing a prong. You can see the indent where it broke off.

If it's really "used in my restaurant's kitchen" why don't you ask the person who actually USES it? Just from looking at the picture I don't have a clue...