Please ID this kitchen object

[neptune]

I was going through some of my mother's old things in a kitchen cabinet. Here's an object that I have no idea about. Unfortunately, she is no longer around for me to ask her what it is. The brand name on the back is "Sterilite."

Does anybody have any idea what this is? Or is it even used in the kitchen? Thanks for any info.

 

[CakePoet]

Isnt that insert for a sink?

 

[neptune]

Isnt that insert for a sink?

Interesting—that's certainly possible. But what exactly is it supposed to do?

 

[Cooking Goddess]

My guess is the solid surface is a cutting board, the chopped veggies are moved to the strainer side for rinsing.

 

[Caslon]

Does that left side lid flap open up? The top view makes it seem like it does. The side view makes me ask, what for?

 

[neptune]

My guess is the solid surface is a cutting board, the chopped veggies are moved to the strainer side for rinsing.

Really? That's certainly possible. What is this kind of instrument called?

 

[neptune]

Does that left side lid flap open up?

No, it is solid—doesn't open up.

 

[Andy M.]

I'm not sure the plastic is sturdy enough to be a cutting board.

Maybe it's a spaetzle maker. Not sure. It doesn't look like it was made to sit on top of a pot of boiling water.

 

[Caslon]

It was made to go with a certain sized kind of sink. Russian gulag maybe.

 

[roadfix]

That top flat surface is slanted to keep items from rolling into the strainer. I think the strainer is for trash collection.
I don't think it was meant to be used over a sink, but rather over a container that originally came with it. There's just not enough 'lip' on the strainer end to straddle over the sink edge.

 

[dragnlaw]

How wide and how long is it?

The picture seems to show it stretched from arm to arm on an easy chair, correct?

 

[blissful]

It was made to go with a certain sized kind of sink. Russian gulag maybe.

When I visit a Russian gulag, I'll measure the sink. That comment had me smirking, good one.

 

[neptune]

That top flat surface is slanted to keep items from rolling into the strainer.

Good point.

I don't think it was meant to be used over a sink, but rather over a container that originally came with it. There's just not enough 'lip' on the strainer end to straddle over the sink edge.

I put it in my kitchen sink, and it does fit. However, it doesn't "lock" into place or anything.

 

[neptune]

How wide and how long is it?

It's 8 1/2 inches wide and 20 inches long.

The picture seems to show it stretched from arm to arm on an easy chair, correct?

Correct.

Interesting that so far no one seems to know for sure what it is. Is it even meant to be used in the kitchen, I wonder? Is it part of some other device that has been lost?

 

[Mad Cook]

I was going through some of my mother's old things in a kitchen cabinet. Here's an object that I have no idea about. Unfortunately, she is no longer around for me to ask her what it is. The brand name on the back is "Sterilite."

Does anybody have any idea what this is? Or is it even used in the kitchen? Thanks for any info.

Combination chopping board and colander/strainer with sits across a small sink. Useless as it blunts knives. Ma was given one for Christmas by a customer eons ago. She used it at the caravan for a few years. I found it at the back of a cupboard when I cleared the kitchen after after she died.

Hope that helps

 

[roadfix]

Is it made in China?

 

[Mad Cook]

My guess is the solid surface is a cutting board, the chopped veggies are moved to the strainer side for rinsing.

Ten out of ten for that woman. Sorry CG, I hadn't read your reply when I added mine.

 

[neptune]

Combination chopping board and colander/strainer with sits across a small sink. Useless as it blunts knives.

Why would it blunt knives?

Ma was given one for Christmas by a customer eons ago. She used it at the caravan for a few years. I found it at the back of a cupboard when I cleared the kitchen after after she died.

Interesting—same situation as mine.

Hope that helps

It does, thanks. But I'm wondering—how come nobody makes these things anymore?

 

[neptune]

Is it made in China?

It doesn't say. But I'm pretty sure it was made before 1980. Back then, stuff was often made in Taiwan—not China.

It could've been made in the U.S., though, depending on how old it is.

 

[neptune]

Maybe they do still make these. This seems to be one example:

https://www.sierratradingpost.com/d...cuttinganddraining-board-collapsible~p~9952p/

Here's what I don't get—why would you chop your vegetables before cutting? Wouldn't you want to rinse them in the colander first and then cut them?