We'd love to say the '80s and '90s were the golden age of TV sitcoms, but we'd be remiss to not acknowledge that this was also the time when “as you saw it on TV” infomercials truly revolutionized every aspect of life in every room of the house. Fixing up the garage! Cleaning the bathroom! And perhaps most importantly, mastering every task in the kitchen.
Personally, I enjoyed seeing the fake crowd yell “Awesome!” and “Wow!” just as much as I enjoyed seeing them groan when Urkel “did that.”
read more: What you'd find in a 1970s kitchen
One infomercial I remember recently was from Snakmaster.
I think the reason I came up with this is because most kids are on summer vacation and their TV time is dominated by infomercials. I'd love to say I was outside soaking up the sun all day, but the reality is that I spent a lot of time glued to the TV, especially during the summer.
read more: 14 things you'll see when you visit grandma's house
It was the perfect combination of more free time and independence. Perhaps that's why the Snakmaster became my first and only infomercial purchase. That's right, I picked up my landline, dialed the number, and purchased a Snakmaster via cash on delivery (COD for short). Remember COD?
What is Snakmaster?
It's no exaggeration to say that I used my new Snakmaster every day during the summers of the '90s. Even before I knew what that was, it was the perfect meal prep machine. A cross between a waffle maker and a toaster, the Snakmaster would take two slices of bread and some toppings and whip up a panini in no time.
Was it the perfect panini? Of course not.
Snack Master Pizza Panini
Cathy made sure to let us know there was more, too, in her famous infomercial from 1990. Perhaps her most famous recipe (and the one that got me hooked) was making pizza pockets: add two slices of bread, some prego and a little cheese and you have a pizza panini.
Sure, you'll inevitably end up overpacking it and spilling melted lava cheese and sauce all over the counter, but you made it yourself.
read more: Something I Found in a 1980s Garage
Snack Master Apple Pie
And then there was the apple pie. I think they wanted to say, “Make your own McDonald's apple pie!” but they couldn't actually say that, so I filled in the blank. Two slices of bread, canned apple pie filling, and an apple pie pocket. I remember my mom thought I was crazy when I brought the canned apple pie filling home.
Snackmaster still has appeal
Apparently, the infomercials for the iconic Snackmaster have caught the attention of not only me, but also other “food influencers.” Emmy Made, a hugely popular foodtuber with over 3 million subscribers, got her hands on a vintage 1990 Snackmaster and put it to the test. The verdict? She was impressed with the durability of this powerful machine.
Can I still buy Snakmaster?
If you are looking for a Snakmaster, look no further than eBay. It is easily available under a variety of brands. This revolutionary invention may have changed my eating habits and sparked my adventurous side in cooking. Today, it is mostly referred to as a “sandwich maker” and is as common as a toaster oven.
Take a look: Can you recognise these iconic objects from the '70s?
Let's take a super cool walk down memory lane and think about some of the things that made life easier, more fun, and definitely cooler in the '70s.
Gallery credit: Steven Lentz
Look: What I saw at Grandma's house
Step into Grandma's house, where every cookie tin holds a mystery and even the toilet paper covers have a story.
Gallery credit: Steven Lentz
