What home cook doesn’t love the idea of a miracle tool that makes preparing food faster, easier, and more fun? It’s too bad that while some gadgets are absolute lifesavers, a surprisingly large heap of them are just money- and space-wasters that’ll sit in your kitchen drawer of shame, untouched and unloved.
To help you spot the futile stuff before you fall prey to it, here’s a roundup of the most useless kitchen gadgets around. And just in case you still believe any of these things will change your life, we’ve included buying info. But you’ve been warned.
Pickle fork
For anyone with an extreme phobia of touching pickle juice (we know you’re out there, somewhere), this unique utensil ($9.95, Amazon.com) can spare you from having to stick your fingers or, god forbid, a fork in the jar—or will it?
One reviewer writes, “Pickles slid off the prongs right back into the jar. Perhaps I do not know how to use it.” Perhaps.
PB&J spreader
Maybe this dedicated peanut butter and jelly spreader ($9.99, Amazon.com) was invented by someone who didn’t feel like washing a knife in between whipping up this most simple of all sandwiches.
See, it’s two butter knives in one! As an alternative—and we’re just spitballing here, folks—you could just use two butter knives. But what fun would that be?
Jug pourer
Calling all those with weak wrists! The Roll n Pour ($22.99, rollnpour.com) means the misery-filled days of lifting heavy gallons of milk or juice are over! But really, unless you’re in grade school, is it really that difficult?
Banana slicer
Anyone out there have a problem slicing bananas? Anyone? Anyone? Even though the banana slicer is inexpensive ($4.99, lightinthebox.com), this still seems like a perfectly fine job for a butter knife.
Microwave egg boiler
To us it never seemed like too much work to heat up a pot of water, but for egg lovers in a rush, there’s this microwave egg boiler ($8.77, Amazon.com). Reviewers, however, warn to brace yourself for “eggsplosions.” Um, no thanks.
Pot stirrer
Though this Robo Stir ($13, Amazon.com) might seem ideal for those who don’t want to stand beside a pot of soup or risotto and tire out their arm with all that endless stirring, reviewers say it works by vibration and simply “dances in one spot,” leaving large portions of your pot unstirred.
Butter applicator
While it might work well for corn on the cob, this Butter Applicator ($9.99, Amazon.com) can’t get the job done when it comes to toast.
One reviewer wrote, “I tried this butter applicator for a week, but never could make it work. Butter kept spilling out everywhere.” That’s one long week.
Mushroom brush
Sure, fungi need a little tidying up, but do they require their own grooming kit? Even though you could use this Mushroom Brush ($7.45, amazon.com) on potatoes and carrots, a damp paper towel seems a little more efficient.
Pasta portioner
Stressed over deciding how much pasta to cook? Join the club! This pasta portioner ($24.50, odditymall.com) was designed to eliminate that pesky guesswork and—bonus—show you exactly how much spaghetti to make if your dinner guests are horses (or at least as hungry as one).
Cake tester
Can you believe there’s a dedicated instrument you can use to see if your cake is fully baked? This cake tester ($7.19, amazon.com) is pretty much just like a thin toothpick. So why not just use that?
