Kitchen Essentials People Buy but Rarely Use (And What to Buy Instead)
You know that drawer full of gadgets you never touch? The one you have to shove closed every time you open it? You’re not alone — and most of those tools were never worth buying in the first place.
We’ve all been there. You see a clever kitchen gadget online or in a store. It promises to save time, make cooking easier, or impress your friends. You buy it. You use it once. And then it sits in a drawer for years, collecting dust and taking up space. According to research, the average UK household has about $822 worth of neglected kitchen gadgets sitting around unused .
This guide exposes the most common kitchen essentials people buy but rarely use, explains why they end up gathering dust, and offers smarter alternatives that actually earn their place in your kitchen.
TL;DR
Many popular kitchen gadgets sound great in theory but rarely get used in practice. Single-purpose tools like garlic presses, avocado slicers, and specialized appliances often take up space without adding real value to your cooking. Chefs and experienced home cooks consistently recommend versatile, multi-use tools over niche gadgets. Instead of buying items that will collect dust, invest in quality basics like a sharp chef’s knife, good pans, and simple utensils that do multiple jobs well.
Key Takeaways
- Garlic presses are more trouble than they’re worth — hard to clean, waste garlic, and a knife does the job faster
- Single-purpose appliances like bread makers and ice cream machines get used once — they’re bulky, expensive, and rarely earn their space
- Avocado slicers, herb scissors, and apple corers duplicate what a knife already does — a sharp knife is faster and easier to clean
- Specialty appliances like sous vide machines and instant pots feel complicated — many owners stop using them after the novelty wears off
- Toasted sandwich makers and waffle irons are top of the unused-gadget list — a pan or griddle works just as well with less cleanup
The Most Common Unused Kitchen Gadgets
1. The Garlic Press: More Mess Than It’s Worth
The garlic press seems like a clever shortcut. In reality, it’s one of the most overrated kitchen tools according to professional chefs .
Chef Louise Wagstaff explains why she never uses a garlic press: “They can be messy and it’s often faster and easier to use a knife, especially when you’ve got multiple cloves to get through” . Chef Ashwin Vilkhu adds that garlic presses are “hard to clean, and the crushed garlic often lacks the nuanced flavor of properly minced cloves” .
The smarter alternative: Lay the flat side of a knife over the clove and give it a firm whack. The skin separates instantly. Then mince with your knife — it takes seconds and creates less mess .
2. Bread Makers: The Novelty That Wears Off
Bread makers promise fresh, homemade bread with minimal effort. But according to kitchen experts, these machines “don’t make more than one loaf of each recipe in the accompanying booklet before being abandoned to the black hole of unused kitchen gadgets” .
The problem? They take up significant counter space, require specific ingredients, and produce bread that often doesn’t match the quality of what you can buy or make by hand .
The smarter alternative: A good loaf pan and your regular oven. Or skip the equipment entirely and buy fresh bread from a local bakery.
3. Avocado Slicers: A Knife Does It Better
This gadget has become a symbol of unnecessary kitchen clutter. Chefs agree it’s “a one-trick pony that clutters drawers” because “a knife and spoon do the job just as easily” .
The smarter alternative: A sharp chef’s knife and a spoon. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit with your knife, and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Done.
4. Herb Scissors: Crushed and Clogged
Five-blade herb scissors sound brilliant — multiple cuts with one snip. But in practice, “the blades often squash delicate herbs, and small pieces frequently get stuck between them — even with the included cleaning comb” . Users report that “the basil just immediately folded and got crushed between the blades” .
The smarter alternative: Bundle your herbs and slice them with a sharp chef’s knife. It takes less time than cleaning those clogged scissors.
5. Apple Corers: Awkward and Ineffective
Chef Ronna Welsh calls apple corers “awkward, sharp, [and] ineffective,” adding that she can’t “think of one time I’ve reached for an apple corer instead of a knife to take out my apple core” .
The smarter alternative: A sharp paring knife. Cut around the core in four simple cuts. Or just eat the apple with the core intact — it’s perfectly edible.
6. Spiralizers: The Zoodle Trend That Faded
Spiralizers were everywhere for a while, promising healthy vegetable noodles. But like many trendy gadgets, they quickly ended up in the back of cabinets. Many users found them “very useless” and “the least productive gadget” they ever bought .
The smarter alternative: A julienne peeler or a sharp knife. Or just buy pre-spiralized vegetables at the grocery store if you really want zoodles.
7. Toasted Sandwich Makers: Top of the Unused List
According to a survey by a large insurance company, the toasted sandwich maker is the most unused kitchen gadget . While fun for a single serving, they’re impractical for families due to the wait time for each sandwich.
The smarter alternative: A cast iron skillet or a panini press that can handle multiple sandwiches at once. Or simply use your oven’s broiler.
8. Fondue Sets: The Nostalgia Purchase
Fondue sets have been snapped up by those with “higher, sexier aspirations,” but the “difficulties in setup and cleanup of this tool conspire to kill the mood” . These bulky sets now gather dust in basements, “brought out maybe once per decade for nostalgia purposes” .
The smarter alternative: Skip the dedicated set and use a small pot on the stove for the rare occasions you actually want fondue.
9. Specialty Appliances (Waffle Makers, Ice Cream Makers)
Hyper-specific “make your own X!” gadgets are a common regret. As one user put it: “A SodaStream and ice cream-making attachment for our KitchenAid comes to mind. You can only use them for specific foods and recipes, and it’s more of a hassle than it’s worth” . Waffle makers are also cited as taking up too much space for something used so rarely .
The smarter alternative: A stovetop waffle iron (which stores flat) or, for ice cream, no-churn recipes that don’t require a machine.
10. Rice Cookers: A Pot Already Does the Job
Rice cookers are one of the most popular single-purpose appliances, but chefs argue they’re often unnecessary. “Rice cookers take up a lot of space for something a pot and a lid already do well,” says chef Rachel Farnsworth. “I cook rice on the stovetop, which is just as reliable. If it only cooks rice, it doesn’t earn permanent counter space” .
The smarter alternative: A standard pot with a tight-fitting lid. The absorption method produces perfect rice every time.
11. Instant Pots: Too Complicated for Most
While Instant Pots have a devoted following, many owners stop using them after the initial excitement. “Many people buy one and end up using only one or two functions, or stop using it altogether because it feels complicated,” explains recipe developer David Davidov. “For everyday cooking, it often doesn’t save much time compared to normal cooking” .
The smarter alternative: A good Dutch oven and a slow cooker. These simple, intuitive tools cover the same ground without the learning curve.
12. Egg Cookers: The Noise Is Not Worth It
One user described buying an egg cooker that made a “horrible screeching sound” when the eggs were done. “Nothing prepares you for that noise,” they said. “The sound scared me and my cats to death! I promptly cleaned up, put it back in its box, and threw it into the furthest recesses of my cabinet, never to see the light of day again” .
The smarter alternative: A regular pot with boiling water. Perfect hard-boiled eggs every time.
Comparison: The Unused vs. The Useful
| Gadget to Skip | Why It Goes Unused | What to Buy Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Garlic press | Hard to clean, wastes garlic, washes flavor | Chef’s knife |
| Avocado slicer | Duplicates knife and spoon; clutters drawers | Chef’s knife |
| Bread maker | Bulky, used once, produces mediocre bread | Loaf pan or bakery bread |
| Herb scissors | Crushes herbs, impossible to clean | Chef’s knife |
| Apple corer | Awkward, ineffective, duplicates knife | Paring knife |
| Toasted sandwich maker | Too slow for families, hard to clean | Cast iron skillet |
| Rice cooker | Duplicates a pot and lid; takes counter space | Standard pot with lid |
| Sous vide machine | Time-consuming setup, not worth the effort | Skillet or grill |
| Waffle maker | Bulky, rarely used | Stovetop waffle iron |
| Food processor (for small households) | More machine than needed | Mini chopper or knife |
| Spiralizer | Trend faded; takes up space | Julienne peeler |
What to Buy Instead: Underrated Kitchen Essentials
While these gadgets collect dust, people often forget to buy truly useful kitchen tools. Here’s what experts say you should actually invest in :
- A salt cellar — keeping salt accessible improves your cooking instantly
- Lazy Susans — especially for deep cabinets where items get lost in the back
- A kitchen scale — makes baking consistent and helps with portion control
- Dish towels — they double as hot pads and trivets
- A Microplane zester — versatile for garlic, ginger, cheese, and citrus
- A meat thermometer — takes the guesswork out of cooking meats
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people buy kitchen gadgets they never use?
Marketing makes them look useful, and we overestimate how often we’ll cook specific dishes. The novelty wears off quickly, and the cleanup often isn’t worth the benefit.
What’s the most unused kitchen gadget?
According to surveys, toasted sandwich makers top the list, followed by food processors, slow cookers, blenders, and bread makers .
Is a garlic press worth buying?
Professional chefs say no — it’s hard to clean, wastes garlic, and a knife produces better flavor .
Should I buy an Instant Pot?
Only if you’ll genuinely use multiple functions. Many owners stop using them because they feel complicated .
What kitchen gadgets do chefs actually recommend?
A sharp chef’s knife, good quality pans, a Microplane, a meat thermometer, and basic utensils like tongs and wooden spoons .
How do I stop buying gadgets I’ll never use?
Ask yourself: Does a tool I already own do the same job? Will I use this at least weekly? If the answer is no or maybe, skip it.
The Bottom Line
Most kitchen gadgets that people buy but rarely use share a common problem: they’re single-purpose tools that duplicate tasks a knife or a pot already does well. Garlic presses, avocado slicers, herb scissors, and bulky appliances like bread makers and rice cookers end up in drawers because they create more work than they save.
The solution is simple: invest in versatile, multi-use tools that earn their place. A sharp chef’s knife, quality cookware, and basic utensils handle 90% of cooking tasks. Stop buying gadgets that promise to change your cooking life and instead focus on tools that actually make daily cooking easier.
As professional chefs consistently advise: if it doesn’t make your life easier every day, it probably doesn’t deserve the cupboard space .
Kitchen Essentials and Gadget Resources:
- Real Simple: Kitchen Appliances Chefs Say Are a Waste of Money
- Martha Stewart: Kitchen Tools That Aren’t Worth the Hype
- Food & Wine: Most Common Tools People Forget to Buy
What’s the one kitchen gadget you regret buying the most? Or the one you actually use every day? Share your experience in the comments — let’s help each other avoid wasted money.
