7 Kitchen Gadgets That Are a Total Waste of Money (and What to Buy Instead)
Stop cluttering your drawers with unitaskers. These 7 popular kitchen gadgets are a waste of money — here's what actually works better.
7 Kitchen Gadgets That Are a Total Waste of Money
Let's be honest — we've all fallen for a slick Amazon listing or an infomercial demo that made some kitchen gadget look life-changing. Then it sits in the back of a drawer for three years until you move apartments.
Here are seven of the worst offenders, and what you should actually spend your money on instead.
1. The Garlic Press
This is the hill I will die on. Garlic presses are annoying to clean, waste half the clove, and take up drawer space. A sharp chef's knife and 10 seconds of smashing-and-mincing gets you better garlic with more control over the texture.
Buy instead: A decent chef's knife is the only garlic tool you need.
2. The Avocado Slicer
Three-in-one tools that do three things poorly. A paring knife cuts it open. A spoon scoops it out. You already own both of these things.
Buy instead: Nothing. You already have what you need.
3. The Egg Separator
This gadget solves a problem that doesn't exist. Crack the egg, pass the yolk between the shell halves, done.
Buy instead: Confidence. Just practice twice and you'll nail it every time.
4. The Banana Slicer
I genuinely cannot believe this product exists and has thousands of reviews. It's a piece of plastic that slices a banana — something you can do with literally any knife, a butter knife, or even a fork.
Buy instead: Seriously, anything else.
5. Herb Scissors (5-Blade)
They look cool in the ad. In reality, herbs get jammed between the blades, they're a nightmare to wash, and they give you uneven, bruised cuts.
Buy instead: A sharp paring knife handles herbs beautifully.
6. The Electric Can Opener
Bulky, requires counter space or a power outlet, and breaks after a year. A good manual can opener costs five bucks and lasts a decade.
Buy instead: A simple manual can opener.
7. The Salad Spinner
Controversial take incoming. Salad spinners are enormous, take up half a cabinet, and do one thing. A clean kitchen towel does the exact same job.
Buy instead: Kitchen towels you already own.
The Real Lesson
The best kitchen tools are versatile. A great knife, a sturdy cutting board, and a few quality pans will outperform a drawer full of unitaskers every single time. Stop buying gadgets that solve problems you don't have.
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