20 ‘Handy’ Kitchen Gadgets That Are Just A Waste Of Money

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We’ve all been there — whether or not it was an impulse purchase close to the register, an advert promising the final word reply to your meal prep woe, or an influencer raving over the brand new kitchen software that has single-handedly modified their life, novel kitchen devices could be a temptation too sturdy to withstand. In truth, in keeping with Business Research Insights, the kitchen instruments market was valued at greater than $31 billion globally in 2024.

Instead of multi-use merchandise that attempt to be the one kitchen software you may ever want, the trade appears to take the other method, advertising and marketing a novel software as the very best option to do one single kitchen job. Not solely that, however there’s a drive to infuse instruments with technological advances which might be usually pointless, making many devices needlessly sophisticated. Before you already know it, you wind up with drawers crammed to the brim with devices you do not even use, and many who principally do the identical factor. While we’re all for revolutionary merchandise that really make life simpler, a separate software for each job is not value a cluttered kitchen. Save your cash and skip these 20 kitchen devices.

Microwave egg poachers are helpful in principle, however unappetizing in apply. What is meant to supply scrumptious outcomes each time winds up yielding arduous, rubbery eggs far too usually, because of the difficult-to-predict microwave cooking time. Making poached eggs the old school method (in a pot of boiling water) does take apply, however when you get the dangle of it, it is a fast and straightforward option to prepare dinner scrumptious, rubbery-free eggs with out having to dig out (and clear) an additional gadget.

This one belongs squarely within the single-use gadget class. You do not want a separate software only for avocados. Cutting, pitting, and slicing one is simply as simple with a knife and spoon: Cut the avocado in half across the pit, then rigorously use the knife to grip the pit simply sufficient to softly twist it out of the fruit. Then, scoop out the flesh from the outer pores and skin with a spoon and slice the fruit from there, if desired. Avocados are expensive to start with, so do not waste your cash (and drawer area) on a slicer.

Listen, if you happen to love your taco stand, we aren’t right here to speak you out of it. They merely aren’t obligatory to your month-to-month (or, let’s be trustworthy, weekly) taco night time. They might assist construct the right taco, however that minor comfort would not warrant the quantity of area they take up within the cupboard. If you want to unlock some wasted cupboard area, use your taco stands to maintain your craft necessities organized as an alternative.

This software has a easy design — a deal with with a number of lengthy, steel prongs connected to the opposite finish that maintain an onion in place when you minimize it. While it will probably assist guarantee even slices, somewhat apply will yield the identical consequence. Often, the onion holder winds up deserted at the back of the drawer. Plus, this software is not well worth the effort to wash for a way little it helps with meal prep.

While we’re on the subject of onions, this is one other onion-specific software to skip. In order for goggles to be efficient in opposition to the sulfenic acid and onion enzymes launched by the onion when it is minimize (which is what brings on the water works), they must have a really tight seal across the eye. Onion goggles obtain blended evaluations at greatest, and swimming goggles or security goggles may go simply as nicely, if not higher. Alternatively, utilizing a small fan to waft the eye-watering gasoline away from you may assist curb tears.

If you’re a low-maintenance prepare dinner dreaming of a pasta machine, we applaud your optimism. But sadly, this shiny gadget simply winds up at the back of the cupboard as a rule. Making do-it-yourself pasta is labor-intensive and solely warrants a gadget if you happen to make your personal all or more often than not. For most of us, pasta making is a one-off enterprise at greatest, and you do not want a whole machine simply to flatten and minimize the dough.

Not all reducing boards are created equal, and sure surfaces may be further robust on knives. Metal, stone, marble, or glass reducing boards would possibly look good, however they may uninteresting your blade very quickly. Instead, stick with wooden and plastic chopping boards. They’ll shield your knives they usually’re usually cheaper than their knife-dulling counterparts. You additionally do not want an entire cupboard filled with reducing boards. Two is loads — one for uncooked meat and one for every thing else.

For die-hard grill masters and cooks, a Bluetooth meat thermometer could also be well worth the worth level (averaging between $40 and $100). But for many of us, a very good, old school (digital) thermometer will do the trick for beneath $15. Bluetooth thermometers can ship notifications to your cellphone when your brisket reaches simply the appropriate temperature for barbecue perfection, which is helpful — when it really works, that’s. Common complaints about connectivity points and longevity issues make us hesitant on whether or not one is well worth the funding, so we’re sticking with our old style strategies for now.

Another one-trick pony losing area in your kitchen drawer is an egg separator. Instead, guarantee an ideal, yolk-free meringue by merely cracking an egg and transferring the yolk backwards and forwards between the shell halves till the white absolutely separates from the yolk (have a bowl or measuring cup able to catch the whites as you do that). If you are not afraid of getting somewhat messy, your fingers additionally make egg-celent egg separators. Just crack an egg on prime of your hand and let your fingers catch the yolk because the white drips down.

No, you do not want a selected set of scissors to chop your pizza. The oddly-shaped scissors are more durable and extra awkward to make use of than a pizza cutter wheel — which, by the best way, is one single-use gadget that’s well worth the drawer area since it’s so simple to make use of. Between a pizza wheel and a very good pair of kitchen shears, you merely do not want pizza scissors cluttering your kitchen.

This one deserves a couple of caveats. First, electrical can openers are much more compact than they was once, so the clunky countertop devices of yesteryear are now not obligatory, except they serve an accessibility want, in fact. Electric can openers may be important when dexterity is an element. But in case you are seeking to declutter your counter tops, dropping the massive, upright electrical can opener is a simple selection. Plus, you guide can opener can pull double-duty by opening troublesome plastic packaging with a fast flip of the deal with.

To be truthful, we have all tried (and failed) to eyeball the quantity of pasta we want for ourselves or the household, solely to make sufficient for the entire neighborhood. Still, you do not want yet one more software simply to measure your spaghetti. With apply, you’ll see and really feel the quantity that’s best for you. Save your cash and guesstimate pasta by hand, and when unsure, go along with rather less than you suppose you may want.

Just since you love a sizzling sandwich doesn’t suggest you want a separate gadget to make one. Take a notice from mother and father of generations previous who cooked up scrumptious grilled cheeses utilizing nothing greater than a humble frying pan. That’s all you want to your sizzling, melted-to-perfection sandwich. Plus, you will not must rigorously clear out all of the nooks and crannies of an electrical equipment.

This one falls into the unnecessary dish class for us. However nicely a hen shredder may go, it isn’t value shopping for to do what two forks will do in the identical period of time with out all of the cleanup. Plus, it is advisable that you simply minimize the hen first earlier than inserting within the shredder  — why not simply shred the meat in a single step? Save the cupboard area for a extra multi-functional software. 

Plastic butter dispensers primarily duplicate what butter wrappers already do — include butter. And positive, you would possibly save a knife, however will probably be far tougher to wash out the butter dispenser between sticks. Unwrapping one finish of a butter stick and smearing it in your corn on the cob, toast, or pancakes works simply in addition to a dispenser, and you do not have to wash and retailer an additional gadget.

Electric knives might turn out to be useful frequently for these with impaired hand mobility or people who work with massive portions of meals, however most family cooks will solely lug theirs out a few times a yr for household gatherings or vacation dinners. They take up appreciable drawer area, have an iffy lifespan, and do not are likely to yield exact cuts. At the tip of the day, an electrical knife is considered one of numerous kitchen devices simply attempting to imitate what a well-sharpened knife does effortlessly.

Just as a result of well-sharpened knives can deal with nearly any job within the kitchen doesn’t suggest they warrant a elaborate, electrical gadget to sharpen them. Opt as an alternative for a easy and efficient guide sharpener or sharpen your knives like a chef utilizing a honing rod, which each work simply in addition to an electrical sharpener for lots much less and with out the fuss.

We agree — stripping herbs from woody stems is a ache. But digging out an herb stripper from the drawer is hardly well worth the assist it offers. It’s nonetheless a sluggish means of feeding every stem by means of the stripper, and will probably be yet another factor to wash. Plus, a cheese grater, colander, or perhaps a fork can do the identical job. Your fingers make nice alternate options as nicely; simply pinch the tip of the herb and slide down the stem to tug off the herbs.

Bread machines are an upscale kitchen gadget (starting from $80 to $150 or extra) that merely aren’t well worth the worth or the counter area for most individuals. If you might be simply moving into breadmaking and are tempted to spend money on a standalone machine, it is value attempting your hand at easy bread recipes you may bake within the oven first to ensure this can be a interest you need to persist with. Especially if you happen to’re on a funds, a bread machine is a simple gadget to skip for breadmaking lovers.

Unless you might be peeling a ton of potatoes or dexterity is a part of the equation, an electrical potato peeler merely is not well worth the problem. In the time it takes to set it up and peel a potato, to not point out ensuring the peel would not jam the gadget, you may simply peel it by hand. Unless you will have some particular use for lengthy, effective peels (which, to be truthful, an electrical peeler can do nicely), do not trouble with this gadget.