Anyone who has ever searched through an old kitchen drawer knows the feeling — strange gadgets and mysterious tools that seem out of place in a modern home. Recently, one such discovery sparked online curiosity when a photo of several sharp, metallic instruments in a small bowl went viral, leaving people guessing their purpose. At first glance, the tools looked intimidating. Some joked they resembled tiny weapons or dental instruments, while others guessed they were used to “find cavities.”
In reality, the answer was far simpler and tied to a once-common household tradition. The objects are nut picks, traditionally used with a nutcracker. Before pre-shelled nuts became widely available, families cracked walnuts, pecans, and almonds at home. The nutcracker would split the hard shell, but removing the edible nut meat without crushing it required precision — and that’s where nut picks came in. Their pointed tips helped extract small pieces stuck inside the shell.

Nut picks were made from metal, wood, or plastic and often came in decorative sets. Beyond nuts, similar tools have long been used to remove meat from lobster or crab shells and even as olive picks. Many online commenters shared memories of cracking nuts at home during holidays and family gatherings.

The viral post became a reminder of how everyday life has changed. Tasks that once required patience and simple tools are now replaced by convenience and pre-packaged foods. Still, these humble nut picks reflect a hands-on tradition — proof that even the most unusual-looking kitchen tools once had a practical and meaningful role.