Cooking Tools You Don’t Need to Buy for Your Kitchen: A Practical Guide
Before you buy that trendy kitchen gadget, ask yourself if a tool you already own can do the same job—because most single-use items end up collecting dust.
You know that feeling. You see a clever gadget online—a banana slicer, an avocado tool, or a garlic press that promises to change your cooking life. It seems cheap enough, so you buy it. A year later, it’s buried at the back of a drawer, forgotten. The problem isn’t your cooking habits—it’s that these tools solve problems you didn’t really have. The best way to save money and space in your kitchen is to skip the unnecessary gadgets and stick with versatile basics.
TL;DR
- The Problem: Single-use gadgets and specialty appliances take up space and rarely get used.
- The Solution: Stick with versatile tools like a good chef’s knife, sturdy pots, and a few quality utensils.
- How to Fix It: Before buying anything, ask yourself: “Does a tool I already have do this job?” and “Will I use this at least once a week?”
- Key Takeaway: A sharp knife and basic cookware can replace dozens of specialty gadgets.
Key Takeaways
- Specialty Gadgets Are Usually Wasteful: Avocado slicers, garlic presses, and herb scissors sound useful but often create more cleanup than they save .
- Single-Purpose Appliances Clutter Your Kitchen: Ice cream makers, popcorn machines, and bread makers end up collecting dust while eating up valuable space .
- You Only Need a Few Good Knives: An 8-inch chef’s knife, a paring knife, a serrated slicer, and a boning knife are all most cooks need .
- Glass Cutting Boards Damage Your Knives: They dull blades quickly and can shatter into your food .
- Quality Over Quantity Wins: A few high-quality, versatile tools are better than a drawer full of cheap, single-use gadgets .
Main Topic: The Most Useless Kitchen Tools and What to Use Instead
You don’t need a drawer full of specialty gadgets to cook great meals. Here are the tools experts agree you can skip.
The Worst Single-Use Gadgets
Avocado Slicer: This is the gadget chefs agree is most unnecessary . A simple knife and spoon do the same job in seconds. “A knife and spoon can handle the whole job easily,” experts note .
Garlic Press: This might be the most controversial item on this list—and also the most hated by chefs . While it seems convenient, it creates a sticky mess that’s hard to clean. Chef Jonathan Sawyer says, “A sharp chef’s knife does the job faster, cleaner, and with way less fuss” . Smashing garlic with the flat side of a blade and mincing it takes seconds and leaves you with less cleanup.
Garlic Peeler: This adds another object to wash and store. If you cook with garlic often, you already have a faster method. “Giving the clove a quick smash” with a knife works perfectly .
Pizza Cutter: Unless you’re making homemade pizza every week, a regular kitchen knife slices it just as well . Pizza scissors? Even worse—they’re “a bulky, single-purpose item that needs to be disassembled for proper cleaning” .
Banana Slicer: This is a running joke among chefs. “A banana slicer, avocado slicer, silicone egg poachers—all of them take up so much space and you will likely use them once a year, if that,” says one culinary director .
Egg Cooker: A pot of water does the same job without the extra appliance. “If you can boil, poach, or steam eggs with the cookware you already own, there’s not much reason to dedicate counter space to this” .
Turkey Baster: This classic holiday tool is a once-a-year item that’s “awkward to handle, prone to clogging, and a pain to wash thoroughly” . Chef Jeff Strauss says simply, “I use a spoon” .
Taco Holders: These are “terrible,” says one chef. “Hands are taco holders” . A plate works just fine.
Shredder Claws: These look impressive, but two ordinary dinner forks will achieve the exact same result .
Specialty Herb Scissors: Multi-blade scissors are popular but hard to clean and easily replaceable. “Unless you’re doing herbs professionally, a chef’s knife can do it better,” says one expert .
The Kitchen Gadget Rule: Replace with What You Already Have
The most important rule of kitchen tool buying comes from home chef Marissa Stevens: “Before I buy any kitchen gadget, I ask myself if a tool I already have can do the same thing” . She adds that the answer is usually yes.
Here are some easy swaps:
| Useless Gadget | What You Already Own |
|---|---|
| Avocado Slicer | Knife + spoon |
| Garlic Press | Chef’s knife |
| Herb Scissors | Knife or kitchen shears |
| Egg Separator | The eggshell or your hands |
| Honey Dipper | A spoon |
| Muddler | Back of a wooden spoon |
| Pancake Batter Dispenser | Measuring cup or ladle |
| Popcorn Machine | A pot on the stove |
Appliances That Are a Waste of Counter Space
Specialty Appliances: These are the biggest offenders. Chris Aquilino, director of culinary at Elior North America, says that “appliances designed for only one specific task tend to clutter up your kitchen, collect dust, and aren’t worth the investment for most people” . Examples include ice cream makers, hot dog warmers, popcorn machines, and cotton candy makers.
Bread Maker: These bulky machines often end up stored away after the novelty wears off. Chef Michelle Doll Olsen recommends a stand mixer instead: “If bread is your focus, go for a fixed head… and then you have something that does a lot more than just knead bread” .
Panini Press: Unless you make sandwiches weekly, skip it. “Panini presses are heavy and a pain to move, so you kind of have to leave it on the countertop,” Olsen says. She uses a brick wrapped in foil to press sandwiches instead .
Rice Cooker: While some swear by them, chefs note they’re not essential. “Rice cookers take up a lot of space for something a pot and a lid already do well,” says one chef .
Air Fryer: This is controversial because air fryers are popular. But many chefs point out that if you already have a convection oven or a toaster oven with an air fryer setting, you don’t need a separate machine .
Instant Pot: This one surprises people, but some chefs argue these multi-cookers feel more complicated than helpful. “For everyday cooking, it often doesn’t save much time compared to normal cooking,” says one chef .
The Worst Materials: Glass Cutting Boards
Glass cutting boards are a special kind of kitchen fail. “They’re terrible all the way around,” one expert notes. “The most obvious reason is the break risk. If the glass breaks, you’ll have irretrievable shards of it in whatever food is in the immediate vicinity” . Additionally, glass is terrible for your knife, causing it to dull quicker as the blade bounces off the surface with each slice. Wood or plastic boards are much better choices .
What to Skip: The “TikTok Finds”
Professional organizer Shantae Duckworth has a simple rule: “If it’s been collecting dust, get rid of it. Yes, this includes that veggie spiralizer you thought would change your life. If it hasn’t seen the light of day in a while, donate it and reclaim some precious drawer space” .
What to Keep Instead
Here’s what chefs actually recommend :
| Keep This | Instead Of |
|---|---|
| 8-inch chef’s knife + paring knife + serrated slicer + boning knife | A drawer full of specialty knives |
| Silicone spatula (heat-proof) | Non-heat-proof spatulas that melt |
| Microplane (handles garlic, ginger, citrus zest, Parmesan, nutmeg, and more) | Garlic press, zester, and other single-use tools |
| Cast iron pan or quality stainless steel skillet | Nonstick pans that wear out quickly |
| Wood cutting board | Glass cutting boards |
| One or two quality silicone spatulas | Five slotted spoons and three ice cream scoops |
Quick Comparison: What to Skip vs. What to Use Instead
| Skip This | Use This Instead | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Avocado slicer | Knife + spoon | Already in your drawer |
| Garlic press | Chef’s knife | Faster, easier to clean |
| Bread machine | Stand mixer | More versatile |
| Rice cooker | Pot with lid | Does the same job |
| Glass cutting board | Wood cutting board | Won’t shatter, won’t dull knives |
| Pizza cutter | Chef’s knife | One less gadget |
| Popcorn machine | Stovetop pot | No extra appliance |
| Panini press | Heavy pan or foil-wrapped brick | Same results, less clutter |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s the most useless kitchen gadget?
Avocado slicers are the top choice among chefs. A knife and spoon do the same job with more control and less clutter .
2. Is a garlic press worth buying?
No. Most chefs say a knife does the job faster, and a garlic press is a pain to clean. “A sharp chef’s knife does the job faster, cleaner, and with way less fuss,” says one chef .
3. Do I need a bread machine?
Not unless you bake bread constantly. A stand mixer is more versatile, and most bread machines end up collecting dust .
4. Are air fryers worth it?
It depends. If you already have a convection oven or toaster oven with an air fryer setting, you don’t need a separate machine .
5. What’s wrong with glass cutting boards?
They dull knives quickly and can shatter. The break risk alone makes them not worth it .
6. How many knives do I actually need?
Most chefs say five: a paring knife, straight boning knife, flat-edged slicer, serrated slicer, and an 8-inch chef’s knife. Stop there .
7. What’s a good rule for buying kitchen gadgets?
Ask yourself: “Does a tool I already have do the same thing?” If the answer is yes, skip it. Also ask if you’ll use it at least once a week .
Conclusion
A kitchen filled with single-use gadgets and specialty appliances doesn’t make cooking better—it just makes your kitchen more cluttered. The secret to a functional kitchen is simple: invest in versatile, high-quality tools that pull double duty. A good chef’s knife, a sturdy skillet, and a few quality utensils will outperform a drawer full of avocado slicers and garlic presses any day. Before you buy that next gadget, ask yourself if a tool you already own can do the same job. If the answer is yes, save your money and your space.
Essential Kitchen Tools vs. Gadgets to Skip
- Real Simple – 6 Kitchen Items Chefs Say Are a Total Waste of Money
- Real Simple – Chefs Pick the Gadget They’d Never Buy
- Yahoo – Most Overrated Kitchen Gadgets According to Culinary Pros
- The Takeout – Kitchen Tools You Shouldn’t Waste Money Buying
Which gadget are you finally ready to toss? Share your thoughts in the comments.
