When my parents got married, they received a variety of gifts—some practical, some sentimental, and a few that left them completely baffled. Among the fine china, home appliances, and classic wedding presents sat one peculiar item that no one in the family could quite figure out. For decades, it remained untouched, gathering dust in a kitchen drawer.
Was it an antique? A specialty tool? A forgotten relic of cooking history? We had no idea. But recently, curiosity got the best of us, and we decided it was finally time to uncover the truth about this long-overlooked wedding gift.
A Wedding Gift That Became a Mystery
Like most newlyweds, my parents were showered with gifts meant to help them start their life together. Some were well-used over the years—dinner sets, a coffee maker, and a sturdy set of pots and pans. Others, like a decorative crystal bowl, became more ornamental than practical.
But there was one item that remained a mystery. It was small, metal, and oddly shaped, with no clear function. It didn’t resemble any familiar kitchen tool, and no one in the family could recall who had gifted it.
For years, we shrugged it off. It stayed in the back of a kitchen drawer, occasionally pulled out for inspection before being put right back. Every attempt to figure it out led to the same conclusion: What on earth is this thing for?
Video: Does It Work: The Zipstrip Herb Stripper
Finally Solving the Mystery
One day, after stumbling upon it again while reorganizing the kitchen, I decided enough was enough. It was time to uncover the truth. Armed with the internet and a little determination, I set out on a mission to solve this decades-old puzzle.
A quick online search of “vintage kitchen tools” brought up dozens of possibilities, but none looked quite right. I posted a photo of the object in an online cooking forum, hoping someone would recognize it. Within hours, the responses came flooding in.
The Answer? A Herb Stripper!
To my surprise, the mystery item turned out to be a herb stripper—a kitchen tool designed to remove leaves from herb stems quickly and efficiently.
Herb strippers have various-sized holes meant for different herbs. To use one, you simply insert the stem into the appropriately sized hole and pull it through, easily removing the leaves while leaving the stem behind. Some versions even come with a built-in blade for chopping the herbs after stripping them.
The Herb Stripper: A Tool That Makes Cooking Easier
Fresh herbs add vibrant flavors to meals, but they can be tedious to prepare. Unlike dried herbs that come ready to use, fresh herbs require washing, stripping, and chopping—a process that can take longer than expected. That’s where an herb stripper comes in handy.
Here’s why this tool is a game-changer:
✔️ Saves Time: No more tediously picking leaves off stems by hand.
✔️ Prevents Waste: Helps extract every last bit of the herb.
✔️ Encourages Fresh Cooking: With less hassle, you’re more likely to use fresh herbs.
Had my parents known what it was, they might have gotten years of use out of it!
How to Use an Herb Stripper
Now that we knew what it was, it was time to put it to the test. Here’s how simple it is to use an herb stripper:
- Choose the right hole – Different herbs have different stem sizes. Find the smallest hole that fits the stem.
- Insert the stem – Push the herb stem through the hole, keeping it firmly in place.
- Pull through – Slide the stem through, and watch as the leaves fall off effortlessly.
- Chop if needed – Some herb strippers come with a blade for quick chopping.
In just seconds, we had fresh basil, rosemary, and thyme ready to go. After years of collecting dust, the mystery wedding gift had finally found its purpose!
Herbs That Work Best with an Herb Stripper
Not all herbs need stripping, but these work exceptionally well:
Basil
- Sweet and slightly spicy, basil is essential in Mediterranean cuisine.
- Use it in pasta sauces, pizzas, and pesto.
- Add it at the end of cooking for maximum flavor.
Rosemary
- A fragrant herb with pine-like notes.
- Works well with roasted meats, potatoes, and bread.
- Stripping rosemary is a must since the stems are tough.
Thyme
- Delicate yet bold, thyme enhances chicken, soups, and roasted veggies.
- The tiny leaves can be tricky to remove by hand, making an herb stripper invaluable.
Cilantro (Coriander Leaf)
- A divisive herb—some love it, some say it tastes like soap!
- Used widely in Latin American and Asian dishes.
- Works well both raw and cooked.
Dill
- Common in Scandinavian and German cuisine.
- Pairs well with seafood, potatoes, and yogurt-based sauces.
- Stripping helps separate the delicate leaves from the fibrous stems.
Oregano
- A staple in Italian and Mexican cuisine.
- Strong enough to withstand cooking, making it perfect for sauces and stews.
- Can be used fresh or dried.
Why This Kitchen Tool Deserves More Recognition
After using the herb stripper, we realized what we had been missing out on. Fresh herbs became easier to prepare, which encouraged us to use them more often. Suddenly, meals were more flavorful, and cooking felt less like a chore.
Here’s why this underrated tool deserves a place in every kitchen:
Encourages Healthier Eating – Fresh herbs are packed with nutrients and antioxidants.
Reduces Food Waste – Makes it easy to use every part of the herb.
Inspires Culinary Creativity – Encourages home cooks to experiment with new flavors.
A Lesson Learned: Don’t Ignore the Mystery Items!
For years, this tool sat unused, simply because we didn’t know what it was. It makes me wonder—how many other overlooked treasures are hiding in kitchen drawers around the world?
This experience taught us an important lesson: if you receive an unusual gift, don’t just toss it aside. Investigate it! You might just uncover something incredibly useful.
Conclusion: A Forgotten Gift Finally Put to Use
What started as a long-standing family mystery turned into a valuable discovery. The herb stripper, a wedding gift that had gone unused for decades, turned out to be a tool that made cooking easier and more enjoyable.
While my parents may have never figured out its purpose, they were thrilled to see it finally being used. And who knows? Maybe this will inspire others to dig through their own kitchen drawers and rediscover forgotten treasures waiting to be appreciated.
