Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with one of these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Home
  3. Vintage Kitchen Items Mama Will Remember

Vintage Kitchen Items Mama Will Remember

Mary Shannon Hodes, Associate Digital Editor at Southern Living
By Mary Shannon Wells Updated September 24, 2021
Skip gallery slides
FB
Colorful Appliances
Credit: Pinterest/Kate Beavis

In today's kitchens, refrigerators have touch screens and ovens can be turned on with an app. Modern kitchen gadgets simplify everyday tasks, but some of us miss the old classics. And while some of these vintage finds are now obsolete, looking back on these antiques makes us feel nostalgic for microwaves without Bluetooth. You might recognize these vintage kitchen tools, and you probably have some of these tucked away in a kitchen cabinet, such as those old Pyrex dishes from Mama. Thanks to rustic, shabby chic, and retro trends, some of these vintage kitchen accessories are coming back in style. Etsy is filled with shops that sell vintage kitchen gadgets and retro appliances, so there are plenty of people out there who want to keep things old-school like us. And while some of these retro kitchen accessories aren't around anymore, you might get some stylish vintage kitchen ideas from the throwbacks. Take a stroll down memory lane to find the best vintage kitchen items, and you might realize what that weird-looking tool sitting on Mama's counter is actually supposed to do.

Start Slideshow

1 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Bread Boxes

Bread Boxes
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/twolittleowls

Bread boxes in countless colors once adorned every countertop, and we think they should be brought back.

1 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Wooden Dough Bowls

Wooden Dough Bowls
Credit: Pinterest/Tumblr/ArtPropelled

Although wooden dough bowls were formerly used to let dough rise, they're now extremely popular as centerpiece containers.

2 of 24

3 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Labeled Tins

Labeled Tins
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/CeeGeesAttic

Mama had her flour, sugar, coffee, and more in matching labeled tins. With rustic and retro looks on the rise, labeled kitchen tins are coming back in style.

3 of 24

Advertisement

4 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Punch Bowls

Punch Bowls
Credit: Pinterest/Ebay

If you didn't have a punch bowl with matching glasses at your party, was it really a party? Bonus points if you had a Tom and Jerry Christmas set.

4 of 24

5 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Milk Glass Everything

Milk Glass Everything
Credit: Pinterest/The Goodwill Gal

Milk glass has made a comeback, and we're so glad we kept all of Mama's around.

5 of 24

6 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Hand-Crank Coffee Grinders

Hand-Crank Coffee Grinders
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/Somethingcharming

Coffee drinkers everywhere should be happy we don't have to hand-crank our coffee grinders anymore.

6 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Egg Separators

Egg Separators
Credit: Pinterest/Ruby Lane

You may see modern egg separators out there, but the first ones were made of tin.

7 of 24

8 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cake Breaker

Cake Breaker
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/YatsDomino

This tool was widely used for cutting angel food cakes and other soft cakes, as the delicate tines wouldn't crush or compress the cake under pressure. Cake breakers were so popular that you could even find one in your silver pattern.

8 of 24

9 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Herb Cutters

Herb Cutters
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/Papillonpieces

Herb cutters came in different styles than this one. For example, some herb cutters had a handle on both sides of the blade for each hand.

9 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Jell-O Molds

Jell-O Molds
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/vintagous

You had a Jell-O mold for every season, occasion, and size.

10 of 24

11 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Hand Mixers

Hand Mixers
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/SewVintage8

Next time you walk away from your standing mixer as it's beating eggs, remember how hard these vintage hand mixers were to use.

11 of 24

12 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Flour Sifters

Flour Sifters
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/forgottenPLUM

Not only were there hand-crank flour sifters like this one, there were flour sifters from a later era with handle pumps.

12 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Fondue Sets

Fondue Sets
Credit: Pinterest/Wise Apple Vintage

Fondue sets were the grooviest way to have a night in.

13 of 24

14 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Colorful Appliances

Colorful Appliances
Credit: Pinterest/Kate Beavis

Before the appliance world went stainless steel, kitchens featured appliances, countertops, and cabinets in many shades of pastel and bright colors.

14 of 24

15 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Potato Ricers

Potato Ricers
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/kingdomtreasuretrove

If you wanted the softest mashed potatoes, you'd use a potato ricer rather than a masher.

15 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Butter Dishes

Butter Dishes
Credit: Pinterest/Flickr

Some butter dishes like these were shaped to fit a stick of butter and others were round for tub butter. Another vintage butter tool was a butter mold, used to press beautiful patterns in the butter for table presentation.

16 of 24

17 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Tomato Slicer

Tomato Slicer
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/CynthiasAttic

It seems like this vintage tomato slicer might just leave you with a mushy tomato mess.

17 of 24

18 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Egg Slicers

Egg Slicers
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/UrbanAntix

Because you just couldn't use your tomato slicer on your eggs.

18 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Colorful and Patterned Pyrex Dishes

Colorful and Patterned Pyrex Dishes
Credit: Pinterest/kariradasch.com

Whose Mama didn't have some colorful or patterned Pyrex mixing bowls?

19 of 24

20 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Recipe Card Boxes

Recipe Card Boxes
Credit: Pinterest/Etsy/Somethingcharming

We hope the tradition recipe card boxes never dies. Even though you can save recipes online, there's nothing like a handwritten recipe card that can be passed down.

20 of 24

21 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Handmade Hot Pads

Handmade Potholders
Credit: No Derog/Getty Images

It isn't that our mothers and grandmothers had more hours in the day than we do now. They just took the time to make everything, like a mundane hot pad, a little more beautiful.

21 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Butter Molds

Butter Molds
Credit: Angelika Jakob

The hunt is on for vintage butter molds now that more and more cooks are making homemade butter. Sure, you can just plop your butter in a bowl, but how much prettier it will look when you use a decorative mold.

22 of 24

23 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Aluminum Ice Trays

Aluminum Ice Tray
Credit: Rimglow/Getty Images

Long before the easy twist-and-pop plastic ice trays or automatic ice dispensers, these aluminum gadgets served to keep glasses of sweet tea filled with ice.

23 of 24

24 of 24

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cast-Iron Trivet

Cast-Iron Trivet
Credit: Cadifor/Getty Images

If you ever used one of these, you probably still have it, because it has never gone out of use or style. Before we started using pot-folders and tea towels for hot pads, these trivets stood between countertops and hot pots. They also make for pretty wall décor when not in use.

24 of 24

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Mary Shannon Wells

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 24 Bread Boxes
    2 of 24 Wooden Dough Bowls
    3 of 24 Labeled Tins
    4 of 24 Punch Bowls
    5 of 24 Milk Glass Everything
    6 of 24 Hand-Crank Coffee Grinders
    7 of 24 Egg Separators
    8 of 24 Cake Breaker
    9 of 24 Herb Cutters
    10 of 24 Jell-O Molds
    11 of 24 Hand Mixers
    12 of 24 Flour Sifters
    13 of 24 Fondue Sets
    14 of 24 Colorful Appliances
    15 of 24 Potato Ricers
    16 of 24 Butter Dishes
    17 of 24 Tomato Slicer
    18 of 24 Egg Slicers
    19 of 24 Colorful and Patterned Pyrex Dishes
    20 of 24 Recipe Card Boxes
    21 of 24 Handmade Hot Pads
    22 of 24 Butter Molds
    23 of 24 Aluminum Ice Trays
    24 of 24 Cast-Iron Trivet

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Vintage Kitchen Items Mama Will Remember
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.