The Nostalgic Household Staple We Want Back In The Kitchen

The 1990s were a time when there seemed to be an innovative appliance for everything. The overwhelming amount of options made it difficult to decide which gadgets deserved to fill out your precious counter space, but the Clark Snakmaster reigned supreme as an essential kitchen staple. The compact sandwich press made its glorious debut during the age of half-hour infomercials, promising to turn basic ingredients into crispy snacks with little effort. Cathy Mitchell's nostalgic demonstration of the vintage kitchen item featured grilled cheese, pizza pockets, and even cinnamon rolls, with the effortless assembly pleasing busy moms and kiddos alike.

The Snakmaster's biggest selling point was how easy it made getting food on the table. Using two slices of bread and whatever else you had on hand, everyday ingredients or last night's (unappealing) leftovers could be completely transformed into a delicious pocket, all with the machine's simple on-off operation. With nostalgic '90s style having a resurgence in current home trends, now is the perfect time to rediscover the Snakmaster's classic design.

The Snakmaster retailed for $49.95 plus $8 for shipping and handling (you could pay using Cash on Delivery) and functioned as a cross between a toaster and a panini press. The most popular way to use the iconic kitchen appliance was to place bread over the nonstick bottom plate (which had triangular-shaped pockets), adding a chosen filling, covering it with more bread, and closing the lid. As the plates heated, the raised edges crimped the bread shut and divided it into individual pockets. In about two to four minutes, you had a personalized snack. The possibilities were endless: Grilled cheese, pizza pockets, corn dog-inspired snacks, and beef pot pies were just some of the creations noted in Mitchell's infomercial. And don't forget the dessert — the Snakmaster could transform baking mixes into muffins or make two-ingredient mini pies with a crust and canned filling.

Anyone craving the original Snakmaster experience will now need to shop secondhand, with working units appearing on resale sites like eBay and Etsy. Units typically appear in a black-and-brown body with faux woodgrain trim. Before thrifting a vintage Snakmaster, take a close look at its condition to avoid some of the more common home appliance dangers. Decades of use and storage may have taken a toll. Even though the Snakmaster features a baked-in, vegetable-based nonstick coating instead of Teflon, you should generally avoid using cookware when its coating becomes scratched or chipped. Check the cord as well, inspecting for damage that might present fire and shock hazards.