An online user recently shared a photo of strange metal tools found in a grandparents’ home, sparking confusion and jokes about their purpose. While some guessed they were medical or dental tools, the answer is much simpler.
The tools are nut picks, which are traditionally used alongside a nutcracker. After cracking a nut’s shell, these pointed picks help remove the meat from tight crevices without damaging it.
Nut picks have long been used for walnuts, pecans, and other hard-shelled nuts, and they also work well for extracting meat from lobster or crab legs. Often sold as part of a nutcracker set, they were especially common before pre-shelled nuts became widely available.
Online commenters shared memories of using them for baking, seafood, and even creative art projects — while others joked about using them as toothpicks or to “find cavities.”