Kitchen appliances are supposed to make your life a lot easier - but that's not always the case. There are a number of "useful" gadgets on the market today that really aren't worth hyping up. And we'll be guiding you through some of the worst offenders right here, so we hope you're ready!
Apple Corer
A gadget that removes the core from your apples? Sounds great, right? Well, we hate to disappoint you! Apple corers are surprisingly tricky to use, as they don't always get the job done. They can create a real mess. Cutting out the cores with a knife is much less hassle. It’s quicker, more precise, and doesn’t leave jagged edges or half-cut seeds behind.
Unless you're baking pies in bulk, this tool ends up shoved in a drawer, rarely seeing daylight.
Meat-Shredding Claws
While you might look like Wolverine when donning meat-shredding claws, they're not an essential tool for your kitchen. You can tear slow-cooked meat apart with two forks from your drawer, dicing it up into tasty chunks. It admittedly won't look as cool, but still! Most home cooks find the claws bulky, hard to clean, and honestly just overkill for everyday meals.
They’re fun once or twice, but then they live in a drawer next to the banana slicer and avocado saver.
Garlic Press
The garlic press is supposed to make the job of crushing cloves a lot easier — yet it never does! In most cases, the diced garlic sticks to the gadget and it feels almost impossible to scoop all the nuggets out. Cleaning the press can be a headache, too. Even dishwasher-safe models seem to hold onto stubborn bits.
In the end, a good knife and a cutting board do the job faster, with way less frustration and mess.
Glass Cutting Boards
Visually, glass cutting boards do have the edge over their plastic brethren. But using them is a different story! These glossy boards can ruin your knives in a hurry, dulling their sharpness. Plastic surfaces won't do that, so grab one of them from the cupboard when you need to do some chopping. The loud clinking sound with every cut doesn’t help, either.
Despite their sleek look, glass boards are impractical, noisy, and best left as decorative serving trays.
Pasta Spoon
Given their shape and size, pasta spoons seem to be perfect tools for prepping spaghetti. They're not, though! These spoons actually make things a lot more awkward, as they don't grab all the strands in the saucepan. Tongs and strainers are a better bet. You often end up chasing noodles around the pot with little success or scooping up excess water.
They might look like a must-have utensil, but they usually end up ignored after a couple of frustrating tries.
Yolk Separator
Yolk separators do exactly that — they allow you to isolate yolks from egg whites while cooking. Why invest in this gadget when you've already got something in the fridge that serves the same purpose, though? Yes, you can use egg shells as a makeshift separator! It's fast, efficient, and doesn't require digging through drawers to find a single-use tool.
Unless you're separating dozens of eggs daily, this gadget becomes just another unnecessary item taking up space in your kitchen.
Banana Slicer
Yep, banana slicers are indeed a thing — and they're just as puzzling as they look! The gadget is supposed to cut your bananas up into bite-size portions. But why not use one of your knives to do that instead? It'd be quicker and easier to clean up afterwards. Plus, slicers don’t always line up well with curved bananas.
They’re a novelty at best — fun to try once, then destined for the dreaded junk drawer with other forgotten tools.
Honey Dipper
Honey dippers may look aesthetically pleasing, but are they worth the space they'll take up in your kitchen drawer? Probably not! If you want to measure your honey portions, or drizzle the delicious nectar over your breakfast, then you can just use a tablespoon instead. The dipper often leaves a sticky mess and doesn’t offer any real precision or convenience.
While charming in rustic food photos, in real life they’re just decorative extras that rarely get used more than once.
Electric Knife Sharpener
Electric knife sharpeners are big and bulky gadgets that keep your knives in tip-top condition. But they're far from cheap. You could save a lot of money, and kitchen space, by investing in a manual sharpener as an alternative. It does the same job! Plus, electric models can be overly aggressive, wearing down your blades faster than necessary with frequent use.
Unless you're running a restaurant, a compact manual sharpener is the smarter, simpler option for everyday home kitchens.
Cast Iron Grill Pan
When it comes to indoor grilling, the cast iron grill pan certainly looks like the perfect tool for the job. In practice, though? Well, that's a different story! These pans are not only incredibly bulky, but they don't always produce the best results, either. And good luck scrubbing all the muck off after cooking. The grooves trap grease and food bits like magnets.
Unless you're deeply committed to grill marks, a standard skillet is often easier, faster, and far less hassle to clean.
Salad Spinner
Vegetables are indeed much cleaner after a whirl in a salad spinner. But is the plastic gadget truly necessary for your kitchen? That's debatable. After all, you can get the same results by washing your leafy greens under the tap and dabbing them dry. Plus, the spinner takes up a lot of precious cabinet space for a task that lasts seconds.
Unless you’re prepping salads daily, it’s one of those tools that ends up forgotten behind mixing bowls and colanders.
Melon Baller
When cutting up melons in the kitchen, do you aim to produce ball-shaped chunks? No? Well, there's no need to invest in a melon baller then! These tools take up needless space in your drawers when a simple knife will do just fine. The novelty wears off quickly, and the effort to scoop perfect spheres isn’t worth the cleanup.
Unless you’re catering fancy fruit platters regularly, this gadget becomes another single-use tool collecting dust beside cookie cutters and corn holders.
Bacon Press
If you only enjoy eating straight rashers of bacon, then a bacon press may seem like the perfect tool. But for everyone else? It's not really needed! This gadget is as cumbersome as they come. It takes up lots of space and only adds to the washing up. Plus, bacon still crisps up nicely on its own without extra hardware.
Unless you're chasing diner-style aesthetics every morning, this heavy hunk of metal is more hassle than it's worth.
Cupcake Maker
Few things occupy as much space on your kitchen counter than a cupcake maker. These things are big! And honestly? They're pretty unnecessary. If you've got a cupcake tin in the cupboard and a functioning oven, you really don't need this gadget. The results aren’t even noticeably better — and the cleanup is definitely worse, thanks to all the crevices.
It’s a fun gift idea, sure, but it usually ends up forgotten behind the toaster and waffle iron.
Salad Fork
You can't deny that salad forks look pretty fancy. But are they necessary utensils for your kitchen? It's tough to argue their case! Normal forks are perfectly fine when it comes to eating salad. Why take up more space in the drawer by buying another one? The slightly shorter tines don’t make much difference in everyday meals, and most people won’t notice.
Unless you're setting a formal dinner table regularly, salad forks are just extra clutter disguised as elegance.
Pizza Scissors
Yep, pizza scissors are very real — and unbelievably bizarre! It combines a pair of scissors with a pizza shovel, allowing you to cut up your slices and pick them up at the same time. But why do that when a simple pizza cutter will suffice? Plus, the scissor blades can gunk up fast with cheese and sauce, making cleanup annoying.
They’re fun to show off once, but after that, they’re just another novelty tool you’ll never actually use again.
Mandoline Slicer
Mandoline slicers are incredibly effective when cutting vegetables in the kitchen. They're also pretty hazardous for your fingers! But in all honesty, dicing up your veg with a knife is probably easier. It'll leave you with less to clean up and it can be just as quick. The slicer’s many parts, sharp edges, and guards make washing and storage a hassle.
Unless you’re aiming for paper-thin precision daily, your trusty kitchen knife is faster, safer, and far more practical.
Soda Maker
Soda makers are serious pieces of kit. You won't miss them sitting on the kitchen counter! They can be more trouble than they're worth, though. The gas drums that you need to make the drinks aren't cheap, and they don't have the longest shelf-life. In truth, you're probably better off buying bottles of soda from the store.
Refills can be a hassle to find. Unless you're making fizzy drinks daily, this gadget ends up as an overpriced, oversized paperweight.
Truffle Shaver
Truffle shavers are used to prepare the tasty delicacy, cutting it down into thin slices. But why invest in a shaver if you've got a quality grater in your kitchen already? It'll do the same job and save you a bit of money in the process. Unless you're regularly buying fresh truffles — which most of us aren’t — it’s just not practical.
It’s a gourmet gadget that sounds fancy, but mostly ends up unused, collecting dust next to the zester.
Electric Can Opener
Electric can openers are big, heavy, and take up huge amounts of space. Now, you could probably stomach that if they were significantly better than their handheld brethren — but they're not! The latter tools are just as effective, while being small enough to fit inside a drawer. Plus, electric versions can jam, malfunction, or struggle with dented cans far too often.
Unless you have limited mobility, a manual can opener is faster, simpler, and way easier to store and clean.
Burger Press
Designed to shape your homemade burgers into a perfect disc, the burger press might seem like a helpful tool to keep around. But do you really need it? You're not losing anything preparing your patties by hand — it can actually be more enjoyable that way! Presses can be a pain to clean and sometimes over-compress the meat, affecting texture.
Unless you're cranking out burgers assembly-line style, your hands and a flat surface work just as well — with less cleanup.
Bagel Slicer
Bagel slicers are monster-sized tools that can cut the tasty bread rolls in half. Now, we can probably guess what you're thinking — can't you just do that with a knife? Yes, you'll save so much space in the kitchen by relying on your utensil drawer instead. Plus, slicers can get jammed or collect crumbs that are tough to clean out.
Unless you’re running a brunch café, a good bread knife is more versatile, compact, and far easier to maintain.
Coffee Grinder
Coffee grinders can be neat gadgets for those who love to prepare their own cup of joe. But the grinding can become tedious after a while. If you're not fussed about DIY coffee, then buying already-ground beans is the way to go. It’s faster, more convenient, and eliminates the daily noise and cleanup that grinders inevitably bring with them.
Unless you're a hardcore coffee enthusiast, this tool often becomes just another appliance taking up counter space for no real reason.
Taco Holder
It may get messy, but preparing your tacos by hand is part of the fun. So what's the point of a taco holder? If you're struggling to find an answer, we don't blame you! It's just another needless tool that'll take up space in your kitchen. Sure, it keeps tacos upright, but so can a plate and a little balance.
Unless you're serving guests at a taco bar, this gadget is more about appearances than actual function — and not worth the storage.
Microwave Egg Poacher
If you're a huge fan of poached eggs, then you should probably swerve microwave egg poachers at the store. Why? Simple — they don't produce the best results. These gadgets can leave eggs in a rubbery state, ruining your snack in the process. The texture is inconsistent, and timing is tricky to get just right without overcooking.
A saucepan and a splash of vinegar offer far more control — and way better eggs — without the plasticky cleanup or extra clutter.
Pasta Machine
You can't argue that pasta machines don't do a good job when flattening and cutting pasta dough. Is it a necessary tool to have in your kitchen, though? That's debatable. You can cut up and shape pasta by hand, while the dough itself can be pressed into thin sheets with one of your rolling pins.
Plus, the machine is bulky, and cleaning it can be a nightmare. Unless you’re making fresh pasta regularly, it’s more of a showpiece than a staple.
Spiral Butter Spreader
At first glance, spiral butter spreaders appear to be useful utensils. A knife that makes it easier to spread through hard blocks of butter? Yes please! Yet these gadgets flatter to deceive. You've got to use both hands to get any kind of momentum going. It's hard work, to say the least. The butter curls look pretty, but they’re not worth the effort.
In the end, a regular butter knife is faster, easier to clean, and far more practical for everyday use.
Hot Dog Maker
Hot dog makers not only cook the tasty sausages, but they warm up the buns as well. What's not to like? Think about it, though — do you really need this hunking gadget on your kitchen counter? After all, you can just cook your hot dogs in a frying pan and stick the buns in a toaster instead. It takes up a ton of space for a very specific task.
Unless you're hosting weekly cookouts, it's one of those fun-but-impractical appliances that quickly wears out its welcome.
Avocado Keepers
Avocados are very delicate once they've been cut open, so you've got to take great care storing them. Having said that, avocado keepers aren't a great investment. If you've already got tupperware in the kitchen, why not use that instead? It's just as effective. And it'll save you money! These keepers rarely prevent browning and often don’t seal as tightly as advertised.
Unless you're committed to avocado-specific storage, your existing containers do the job just fine — without the gimmicky design.
Herb Scissors
Herb scissors are certainly effective when cutting up greens — but are they an essential kitchen tool? A sharp knife can produce similar results, while normal scissors shouldn't be discounted, either. If you've already got those at your disposal, it's hard to make a case for spending out on this gadget. Cleaning between the multiple blades is a hassle, and herbs often get stuck.
Unless you're chopping handfuls of parsley daily, this tool ends up more annoying than convenient in the long run.
Strawberry Huller
Strawberry hullers are nifty gadgets that help you take out the stem while preparing the delicious fruit. But it's tough to say that these things are essential for kitchens. You can just use one of your knives to remove the stem. Or, better yet, you could simply eat around it. Why take the extra steps! They’re small, but not worth the drawer space.
Unless you’re hulling pounds of berries at a time, this tool adds more clutter than convenience to your prep routine.
Carrot Sharpener
Not to be confused with a giant pencil sharpener, carrot sharpeners allow you to shape the vegetable and use its discarded shavings as a garnish. It's a weird one! And honestly, you don't need to make it part of your kitchen arsenal. The knives and shavers in your drawers can do the same job. It’s more gimmick than game-changer.
Unless you're plating dishes for a cooking show, this novelty tool just takes up space and collects dust between uses.
Electric Egg Boiler
A saucepan full of water is all you need to prepare boiled eggs at home. So why invest in an electric egg boiler? These gadgets make an easy job much more complicated, as you've got to put additional prep-work into it. On top of that, they can take up loads of space on the counter. And the results aren’t always consistent, either.
Unless you’re boiling eggs in bulk every day, this device ends up as an unnecessary and oversized countertop ornament.
Turkey Baster
Turkey basters are a pretty familiar tool in the kitchen. They stop the bird from drying out in the oven. But what if we told you that basters aren't as effective as they seem? It's long been suggested that salting or brining your turkey is a better bet for tender meat. Basting often just cools the bird and slows cooking.
Unless you’re committed to tradition, you’re better off skipping the baster and focusing on proven techniques for juicy, flavorful results.
Breakfast Sandwich Maker
How can you go wrong with a breakfast sandwich maker? Surely this gadget speeds up the prep-time for the delicious dish? Well, not quite. It isn't the easiest tool to use, and it can leave a bit of a mess behind. You'd be just as quick whipping up your sandwich in a pan. Cleanup is trickier than expected, with melted cheese and crumbs getting stuck.
Unless you're cooking sandwiches assembly-line style, this bulky gadget adds more fuss than convenience to your morning routine.
Through: Lee Kindness