16 Kitchen Tools Everyone Owned But Rarely Used
This article explores 16 kitchen tools that almost everyone bought but rarely ever used.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Kitchens often end up filled with gadgets that promise convenience but sit unused in drawers. Many of these tools seemed clever at first yet proved unnecessary for everyday cooking. These 16 examples highlight the items people owned but hardly ever reached for.
1. Banana slicer
jonsson on Wikimedia Commons
This tool was designed to slice bananas into even pieces quickly. However, a regular knife can do the same job just as fast, if not faster. Most people used it once before tucking it away, realizing it was more of a novelty than a necessity.
2. Egg separator
Manuel Menal on Wikimedia Commons
An egg separator promises to separate yolks from whites cleanly. However, many people discovered that using the eggshell works just as well. After a few uses, the gadget was left untouched in a kitchen drawer. It ended up being more unnecessary than useful.
3. Garlic press
Lee Kindness on Wikimedia Commons
Garlic presses were created to crush cloves quickly without the need for chopping. However, many people found them difficult to clean, with bits of garlic often stuck in the small holes. Since a knife or grater could do the same job just as well, the tool lost its appeal. Over time, most garlic presses ended up forgotten at the back of a drawer.
4. Apple corer
MBatthish on Wikimedia Commons
Apple corers are designed to remove the core in one quick motion, but they’re rarely used. Many people found that a simple knife could slice and core an apple just as fast. The tool often jammed or left bits of the core behind, making it more trouble than it was worth. In the end, it seemed helpful but was soon left unused.
5. Egg slicer
Manfred Heyde on Wikimedia Commons
An egg slicer is designed to cut boiled eggs into even slices. While it works neatly, it’s only useful for eggs and occasionally strawberries. For most kitchens, that limited purpose didn’t justify keeping it around. Eventually, many egg slicers were stored away and forgotten.
6. Pizza scissors
Ken Mayer on Wikimedia Commons
This tool combines scissors with a flat spatula to cut and lift pizza slices in one motion. While it looked clever, many found it awkward to use compared to a regular pizza cutter. Cleaning it was also inconvenient and time-consuming. As a result, it never became a regular tool in most households.
7. Popcorn maker
JethroElfman on Wikimedia Commons
Standalone popcorn makers were once quite popular for home use. However, many people soon realized that popcorn could be made just as easily in a pan or microwave. The bulky machine took up too much counter space and saw little use over time. Eventually, most of them ended up tucked away in storage.
8. Salad spinner
Lymantria on Wikimedia Commons
A salad spinner dries lettuce by spinning it inside a plastic bowl. While some people enjoyed using it, many found it too bulky and difficult to store. Towels worked just as well for drying greens with less hassle. Over time, the spinner often sat untouched in the cupboard.
9. Panini press
Breville USA on Wikimedia Commons
A panini press is designed to make grilled sandwiches with perfect grill marks. At first, it felt like a fun and useful kitchen gadget. However, it was bulky, heavy, and difficult to clean. Since a simple pan or skillet produced nearly the same results, it soon became a rarely used appliance.
10. Fondue set
Studio Alijn on Wikimedia Commons
Fondue sets were once trendy for entertaining guests. However, they required special fuel, careful preparation, and tedious cleanup. Most people only used them once or twice for parties before losing interest. After that, the sets stayed packed away in cupboards, rarely seeing the light of day.
11. Avocado slicer
Kyokyoyaaaaa on Wikimedia Commons
This tool was designed to cut, pit, and slice avocados with ease. In reality, a simple knife did the job faster and was much easier to clean. The slicer often broke or became dull after a few uses. Before long, it ended up as just another forgotten kitchen gadget.
12. Bread maker
edvvc on Wikimedia Commons
Bread makers promised the joy of fresh, homemade bread with minimal effort. While a few people used them regularly, most found them too bulky and time-consuming. Store-bought bread turned out to be cheaper, faster, and more convenient. After a few attempts, many bread makers ended up stored away and forgotten.
13. Spiralizer
jessica mullen on Wikimedia Commons
Spiralizers were designed to turn vegetables into fun, noodle-like shapes. At first, they seemed exciting for making healthy meals and creative dishes. However, the setup and cleaning quickly became tedious. Before long, many spiralizers ended up unused after just a few tries.
14. Crepe maker
Janine on Wikimedia Commons
Crepe makers were advertised as the secret to perfect thin pancakes. However, most people found that a regular pan worked just as well, making the gadget unnecessary. The machine also took up valuable counter space and was inconvenient to store. As a result, many were rarely used beyond the first try.
15. Electric carving knife
Raimond Spekking on Wikimedia Commons
This tool was marketed as a way to cut meat smoothly and effortlessly. While it did work, it was noisy, awkward to handle, and difficult to clean. In the end, a sharp knife proved to be faster and simpler. Like many holiday gadgets, it eventually stayed tucked away in its box.
16. Ice cream maker
Liana Green on Wikimedia Commons
Ice cream makers gave people the chance to create homemade frozen desserts. However, they required advance planning, special ingredients, and long freezing times. Most people used them only once or twice before losing interest. In the end, store-bought ice cream proved to be far more convenient.