There’s something exciting about buying new kitchen gadgets, especially when they promise to make cooking easier. Many of these tools seem like must-have items at first, but then, after a few uses, they’re often shoved in a drawer or cabinet and forgotten about. Here are 16 kitchen gadgets that take up space and barely get used.
Bread Maker
Many people purchase a bread maker with dreams of filling their home with the smell of freshly baked bread. The reality, however, is that after the initial excitement wears off, it becomes clear that making bread from scratch takes time, effort, and a lot of ingredients.
Store-bought bread is simply more convenient, and the bulky appliance takes up a lot of counter or cabinet space.
Ice Cream Maker
Homemade ice cream sounds like a delicious idea, but the process can be more effort than it’s worth. Ice cream makers often require pre-freezing bowls, precise measurements, and a lot of patience. Once the novelty fades, it’s easier to pick up a pint from the grocery store rather than spend hours churning a homemade batch.
Juicer
As you already know, juicers promise to help people live a healthier lifestyle by making fresh fruit and vegetable juices at home. But they require a lot of produce, create a mess, and take a significant amount of time to clean. Eventually, the juicer becomes one of those gadgets that sits unused in the back of a cabinet.
Egg Cooker
It’s easy to think that an egg cooker will simplify breakfast preparation, but the truth is, cooking eggs on the stovetop is already quick and simple.
The extra gadget takes up unnecessary counter space, and it’s often more trouble than it’s worth. Cleaning all the small parts and finding storage for the appliance becomes an added hassle.
Panini Press
At first, this gadget seems like a great way to enjoy gourmet sandwiches at home. The reality is that a regular frying pan or griddle can achieve the same results with much less hassle. Once the excitement fades, the bulky press just ends up gathering dust in a cabinet.
Fondue Set
The idea of hosting fondue nights with melted cheese or chocolate sounds fun and indulgent. However, most will agree that fondue sets take up a lot of space and tend to become one of those novelty items that never see the light of day.
Spiralizer
A spiralizer may seem like a fun way to incorporate more vegetables into meals, but it often ends up being more work than expected. The cleaning process can be tedious, and many people find that pre-spiralized veggies from the store are more convenient.
Single-Use Peelers
Many kitchens are cluttered with specialty peelers that are designed for all different types of foods. These tools often promise to make prep work easier but end up taking longer to use and clean than a simple knife.
In most cases, a good quality chef’s knife can accomplish the same tasks more efficiently and with less clutter.
Electric Can Opener
For those who don’t have mobility issues, an electric can opener is usually more trouble than it’s worth. It takes up counter space and requires regular cleaning, making it far less practical than a simple manual can opener. The electric can opener often ends up in storage, rarely seeing any action.
Cake Pop Maker
Making cake pops at home sounds like a fun and creative activity, but this gadget often ends up being used only once or twice. The process of mixing, baking, and decorating can be time-consuming, and the novelty wears off quickly. Eventually, the cake pop maker becomes another forgotten appliance taking up valuable storage space.
Quesadilla Maker
There’s no denying that owning a quesadilla maker sounds like a fun way to create delicious meals quickly, but a frying pan works just as well, if not better.
After the initial excitement wears off, the quesadilla maker often ends up buried in the back of a cabinet.
Hot Dog Toaster
Most people will agree that buying a hot dog toaster might seem like a novelty idea for quick snacks and parties. In practice, it’s rarely used because a standard stovetop or microwave does the job faster and with less cleanup. The toaster takes up counter space and becomes one of those appliances that only gets pulled out for rare occasions.
Rice Cooker for Small Portions
It’s easy to see why people think a small rice cooker will make meal prep easier, but it often ends up being more trouble than it’s worth.
Cooking rice on the stovetop is simple and doesn’t require another appliance taking up valuable counter or cabinet space. Most people end up going back to traditional cooking methods, leaving the rice cooker unused.
Popcorn Machine
There’s something nostalgic about the idea of making fresh popcorn in a dedicated machine. Popcorn machines are bulky, difficult to store, and often more trouble than they’re worth. The novelty wears off quickly, and the machine eventually gets pushed to the back of the cabinet, taking up unnecessary space.
Margarita Machine
If you’re a fan of cocktails, then a margarita machine may seem like a fun addition to a home bar, but the reality is that it’s rarely used outside of parties or special occasions. You can still make margaritas with a regular blender, which is often quicker and just as effective.
Avocado Slicer
One of the biggest trends in recent years is avocado toast, and so an avocado slicer might seem like a must-have gadget. The promise of perfectly sliced avocados without the hassle of using a knife makes it appealing at first. However, most people quickly realize that a regular kitchen knife works just as well.