Unnecessary Kitchen Gadgets That Only Fool You
In this guide to upgrading your culinary space, "A Guide to Stocking Your Kitchen" series, I'll help you stock up on small appliances while getting rid of the ones with little to no use.
As a kitchen enthusiast, I'm always eager to add a new gadget, and after unboxing it, my friends endure my non-stop explanation about it. However, not all kitchen tools are worth the investment or the excuse to take up your precious counter space. Below are a few tools that you probably won't need:
Watch as I break it down:
Credit: Aleneli / Shutterstock.com
The automatic pan stirrer
First up in my list of useless gadgets is the automatic pan stirrer. This plastic, battery-powered tool rotates inside a pot or bowl with a zealous shake. It might seem enticing, allowing you to let a pot simmer without constant monitoring, but it's not so straightforward.
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During my tests, I found several issues:
- It's incompetent at stirring thicker substances. This device struggles to move in a pot with a layer of thick chili or gravy, rendering it ineffective for one of the most frequent cooking scenarios.
- It can't handle heating. Most pan stirrers cannot withstand high temperatures, so they're more useful for gravy after heating than during the cooking process.
- It only provides limited stirring options. The stirrer only moves in a single path around the pot, requiring your usual scraping with a spoon, rubber spatula, or whisk.
- It's battery-draining. These gadgets require four double-A batteries to operate, adding an unnecessary expense in the long run.
- It's startlingly loud. This metal device rattles around the pan loudly, creating unwanted noise while you cook.
Now, let's discuss the reality of stirring—it's not a difficult task. It's free and quite therapeutic for some people. This process is typically minimal for less demanding recipes. We can do without an automatic pan stirrer.
The avocado slicer
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The avocado is a unique fruit boasting a soft interior and a firmly placed pit. It almost seems like a recipe for panic: enter the avocado slicer. This plastic tool aims to cut, de-pit, and slice your avocado effortlessly. Let me explain why it's not worth it:
- The blade hurts. It feels terrible to have a sharp plastic blade press against your palm, even though it's dull.
- The scooping end is subpar. This half of the device is one-size-fits-all and so is not well suited for larger types of avocado. Plus, even though it's dull compared to a knife, it still tends to mash your avocado.
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Consider these two options instead:
- Invest in a top-notch knife: A high-quality knife is more versatile and can handle avocados much better.
- Henckels 8-inch Chef’s Knife
- Henckels 7-inch Santoku Knife
- Wüsthof Crafter 7" Hollow Edge Santoku Knife: It's made with a high-carbon stainless steel blade and full tang for better control.
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If your avocado is ripe, then you can easily slice it into segments, twist out or pop off the pit, and remove the skin for a clean cut. For precise slicing, use a knife.
I tend to give multifunction cookware a chance, assuming they can do much more than they're credited for. Consider the waffle iron as an example - it's deemed a "uni-tasker," but its potential is vast. In contrast, the breakfast sandwich maker is a specialized tool, resembling a waffle iron but with smaller, round plates. It appears charming in photographs, but in reality, it can be frustrating.
The breakfast sandwich maker requires specific ingredients: English muffins, rounds of ham or sausage, and perfectly-sized components. It doesn't allow for runny yolks, so you'll need to be prepared to break them. And you'll likely spend more time cleaning it than actual cooking.
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The trustworthy go-to for breakfast sandwiches:
- OXO Good Grips Pro 10-inch Non-stick Frying Pan
- T-fal Hard Anodized Non-stick Frying Pan Set of 2
All-Clad Hard Anodized Nonstick Fry PanDurable and suitable for multi-surface cooking.$55.00 at AmazonShop NowShop Now$55.00 at AmazonCreating a breakfast sandwich with a frying pan is a more versatile option. You can fry bacon, toast bread in the leftover grease (toasted bread is the best!), and prepare your eggs within the same pan - any style you desire.
The food chopper: a workout or a time-saver?
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The food chopper is supposed to be a jack-of-all-trades, handling dicing, slicing, grating, and mashing. However, it often becomes an upper body workout rather than a time-saving device.
- The blades are hit or miss. The device comes with numerous blades and graters, but they're thin metal. Your food needs the right consistency to be pressed through, and it cannot be too hard or too large. If you try to smash raw beets, for instance, you'll damage the chopper.
- Some ingredients still need cutting first. No matter what the product claims, the tool functions best in ideal circumstances. For example, you can't use the chopper to dice a large potato. Mushrooms are small and soft enough to be pushed through, but larger items require division into four or five smaller pieces beforehand. If you've already started chopping, why not finish the rest of the potato on a cutting board?
- It's a pain to clean. Any time you save slicing mushrooms with this chopper is negated by the time-consuming task of cleaning the device's channels and grooves. Eventually, the blades will become dull, and stubborn corners will attract grime.
For standard meals, a cutting board and knife are more efficient options. For larger kitchen tasks, investing in a food processor is worthwhile.
Worth the investment: a top-rated food processor
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- Ninja Professional 9-cup Food Processor
- Breville Sous Chef 12-cup Food Processor
KitchenAid 7-cup Food Processor in Matte BlackIntuitive design for chopping, shredding, pureÉeing, and slicing.$79.95 at Amazon$99.99Save $20.04Shop NowShop Now$79.95 at Amazon$99.99Save $20.04## The bagel slicer: a joy or a necessity?
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The bagel slicer, also known as the "bagel guillotine," is an unusual creation that's supposed to replace a knife in cutting bagels. It's a chunky, two-part gadget; the inner part holds the bagel, while the outer part has a triangular blade. But is it really an improvement or just an unnecessary gadget? It's alright. Really, it's only alright.
This contraption is a space hog. Don't get me wrong, it functions perfectly fine, especially if you're handling multiple bagels. As a person with a confined kitchen and limited storage, I'm not a huge fan of its bulky nature.
The blade's durability is another issue. While it may work just fine initially, you're out of luck after a while. The blade within the bagel cutter can't be sharpened like a regular knife. After a year or so of use, you'll notice the blade gets blunt, and instead of slicing, the bagels start getting squished.
Another issue is that it only works with one size. Similar to the avocado slicer, this gadget cannot be adjusted to suit different sizes. Thinner or smaller bagels may lean and slice at an inconvenient angle, while the thicker, larger New York City bagels won't even fit inside the holder.
Obviously, those who struggle with bagel cutting might appreciate this tool. I understand the value it brings, but comfortably learning basic horizontal cuts is not very challenging or time-consuming.
Before you clutter your kitchen with unnecessary gadgets, consider what tasks you can perform with a knife. It may take some practice, but mastering knife skills and taking care of it is worthwhile in the long run.
Read also:
- A kitchen scale is a crucial item in any kitchen for precise measurements of ingredients.
- Top Kitchen Gadgets with No Cords to Purchase
- Important Factors in Choosing a Food Processor
- Advanced Techs Elevate Bird Viewing Experience
Source: lifehacker.com
