I'd like to take a moment to continue our discussion about kitchen essentials. Of course, we all need to be practical and use what we have -- so I don't suggest you go out and buy tons of new stuff just to accommodate your cooking and baking. (That's what bridal showers, birthdays, and other holidays are for!) Anyway, you can stock your kitchen with everything you need to eat healthy and well with things from the Dollar Store AND higher-end joints. But the best approach to take when shopping is to take time to pick out the gadgets and useless appliances from the basics -- the tried-and-true things that make our meals masterpieces.
OK. And these are real-life examples. Things that we -- the (never home)makers -- own, use (at least on occasion), and can TELL you are so very unnecessary. (PS: All photos come from Target.com.)
SILLY GADGET: Avocado Slicer
You may have noticed during our detox days that we are in love with the slimy green fruit so much that we were consuming it daily. And because we love avocados, someone gave us an avocado slicer. Seems to make sense. Yes. It's only $6 . . . But, really? That's a thing? Use that money to buy more avocados! USE INSTEAD: A butter knife and spoon. You have many of them. Right there in the drawer next to the hot-shot slicer -- just waiting to be put to use.
USELESS APPLIANCE: Panini Press
Pressed sandwiches are so much fun. And it seems like it's easy enough to pull out the corded contraption whenever we get the urge for some grilled PB and J . . . but the thing is $40. USE INSTEAD: Your stove top. And a nice fry pan. That stove is what you paid in excess of $1,000 for. So, again, use it.
SILLY GADGET: Garlic (etc.) Chopper
A tedious task most times, chopping garlic by hand can indeed be a pain. But now they make gizmos -- for $15 -- to not only peel, but also chop. But -- and Stephen is the one who contributed this entry -- have you ever tried to CLEAN one of those things if you don't have a dishwasher? What a pain! USE INSTEAD: A plain old knife. You'll be able to transfer those skills to other areas in the kitchen . . . and you won't be picking stiff, stale garlic off the chopper for the rest of your life.
USELESS APPLIANCE: Bread Maker
Bread baking is a passion. Indeed, all that kneading and rising isn't for the impatient baker. So, a bread maker might seem like the perfect match for everyone who's in between those two extremes. But lugging that huge machine out from its hiding place in our kitchen cabinets is such a hassle. Quite honestly, no bread that's ever been baked in it has been particularly fantastic. Mediocre at best, really. USE INSTEAD: Your hands. Bake bread from scratch and take the time it takes to make it yourself. Not only will it taste better, but you'll feel more satisfied having created it yourself. Bread makers cost on average $150. Making it by hand? Priceless.
SILLY GADGET: Electric Can Opener
Some cans are bigger than others. That's what she said. Some can openers make you work harder than others. But is it so difficult to open a can by hand? And the one above will set you back $20. USE INSTEAD: A manual one.You can get one for half the price of its electric counterpart.
USELESS APPLIANCE: Margarita Maker
Sorry mom and dad! We do indeed use ours that you gave us a couple years ago. But, really. What does this thing DO that a regular blender can't? I don't get it. USE INSTEAD: A blender. Seriously, people. Why spend $200 on the appliance you see above when a regular blender costs like $35?
Overall, these items represent $431 of useless kitchen nonsense. Save your money for something splurge-worthy (like a Le Creuset dutch oven)! However, maybe you disagree with what we deem useless. Have anything to add to this list? Leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker@gmail.com!
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18 comments:
I'm a great loather of useless kitchen gadgets (who has the money OR the space?!) but I disagree about the panini press. We just got a mini George Foreman grill ($23) that does the same thing, and we LOVE it! We use it for sandwiches, quesadillas, burritos, vegetables, tofu... I like not having to flip the food (especially quesadillas; they always fall apart on me), I like how it makes the burritos crispy, and I like how quickly it works on veggies and tofu.
Love your blog, by the way! I started subscribing a week ago and I can't stop sharing your posts with my partner and friends. We made the Veggie Bohemoth and loved, loved, loved it!
I have no use for anything on the list but the garlic chopper, because we use it to chop everything and anything we don't want to spend the time mincing, and it does indeed save a lot of time. The key to washing is to do it immediately after use and never put in a dishwasher.
Jes
Hi Ashley, Great post! BTW, is that an "ohm" symbol tattooed on your arm? I do not have any tattoos, but have thought if I ever do get one that might be the one I would get!! Peace, Stephanie
Ok,ok... i also beg to differ. I agree with all of the above EXCEPT the panini press! We have the cuisinart one (that costs over a $100, it was a wedding gift) that turns into a griddle and WE LOVE IT, it makes a panini better than a fry pan (which i am familiar with because its how we made them before) and better than broiling a sandwich in the oven. Plus clean up is a breeze and once in a while we even use it to make pancakes on the weekends. Cut the panini press some slack...
peasandcukes: yeah. the panini is something i waver on. like i said, we own all these things . . . so we also use them at times. and sometimes it is nice to use. but i guess i just mean if you don't already have it -- you can save some cash. but you seem to have found a deal! so glad you like the blog :)
jessica: ahhh! so there's a trick to it! i'll have to let stephen know! thanks.
stephanie: it's not an "ohm" symbol. it's actually the ampersand from all the wedding design stuff i did for stephen & me. :) so, it's special in that way. but it's pretty similar to that symbol. go for it!
heidi: hmmm. maybe i'm just not using mine correctly. we always use broil or use the stove top. but PANCAKES?! ok. i'm going to try it out now. thanks for your thoughts. you've given me some stuff to mull over.
<3 Ashley
Now, for our shower, I got a chopper, like the garlic one. I find the thing useless and a pain. I never use it anymore and it just collects dust.
I agree on the panini press.... I have a cheaper George Foreman, too and use it for tons of stuff. I can't work a frying pan whatsoever when it comes to flipping things.
Something I think is entirely useless, and in the same family as the panini press is the quesadilla maker. STUPID. Requires TWO tortillas per quesadilla, which is okay I guess if you are cooking for more than 1 person.. but for one? Come on. Also, if you want to put a lot of yummies in it, most of them will tend to squeeze out the sides. Idiot contraption. Here's a link: http://www.target.com/El-Paso-Quesadilla-Maker/dp/B000I0QDG2
Also, I'd say the Keureg. I don't even know how to spell it I hate it so much. I work in specialty coffee roasting, so that is like the ultimate, overpriced blasphemy.
We (fortunately) only have the garlic chopper thingy and we never use it. In fact, my husband scoffs if I use our actual garlic press because he once heard Alton Brown say that if an appliance only has one use, it's worthless. And he's a big Alton fan.
I'd warn against the $35 blender for making margs, though... My cheapo blender sucks at chopping ice. I splurged on a $100 model and it chops ice (and frozen fruit for smoothies) like a charm. No marg maker necessary.
Also to add to your list? Hot cocoa maker. I have two, and while they were thoughtful gifts (I *heart* hot cocoa), they just heat water. Like your stove already does.
Danielle -- YES! Useless!
animalfreelife -- Yikes! I didn't even realize there was such a thing (quesadilla maker). I won't be picking up one of those . . EVER.
Jen -- I also adore Alton, and very much agree with him on this point. And you are so right. I forgot to include how you need to invest in an ice crushing one. Good call. The hot cocoa maker is added to the list of things I didn't even know were "things"!
I am on board with everything on your list EXCEPT the bread maker but I do have a caveat. I am gluten intolerant and making bread with non-wheat flour is a messy affair. I tend to use packaged mixes and I've tried "kneading" them by hand but they are more like marshmallow soup than dough, it's not pretty. My bread maker has saved my sanity. Instead of eating freezer-burned g-free breads from the store I make my own bread (and croutons, and bread pudding, breadcrumbs, etc.) at home and enjoy it warm and fresh. I tell all newly diagnosed gluten avoiders that it's a must have.
PS LOVE your apron! Where is it from?
Callie Anne -- Ah, good point -- and you've made me think about doing my own messy bread machine experiment! I guess I'm learning that at least a couple of these seemingly useless things actually do have purpose for many!
The apron is from Target (last year). But I think they always have cute ones around :) It's the best place ever.
First off - I love your blog (just found it over the weekend)! But eek - I have to disagree about the bread machine. My husband and I are on our third one (a cuisinart model which we just purchased off of craigslist for $20 this evening). We always buy kitchen appliances that we aren't so sure about on craigslist, if we find we are using it all the time, then we upgrade to a better model (if necessary). This keeps the start-up costs low and we don't feel too guilty if we only use the appliance once since we can usually sell it on craigslist for exactly what we paid for it!
I'm with Steve and Juliana - I found your blog through The Flipping Couple, and I'm so glad I did! But like many of the people here, I have to disagree. My issue: the garlic chopper. The key in this gadget is to check how many removable pieces there are before you get it. Our "garlic chopper" only has 3 parts... not too much to wash. And for chopping onions, nothing is better. I actually also own a garlic press, with no removable parts, so it's really no harder than washing a knife.
But as a wedding gift, someone gave the hubs and I a huge mandolin with TWELVE removable parts! UGH!
Agreed... pricey kitchen appliances just rob you of savings. Although, for some of this equipment, if you just really have to have it, buy it used. I am a Celiac, so I have to have home made bread, and my bread maker is essential. I make a loaf a week at least, and that would be far too much work without this champ of a machine. But... I didn't pay $150 for it... I paid $5.30 for it at a thrift store. Fun post ;-D
We have two bread machines.
My mother got one for Christmas in maybe 2001 or 2002. She then liked it so much she bought the exact same one again. Then she stopped making bread, and then I fell in love with bread-making, so I'm the only one who really makes bread nowadays.
I hate those machines. I really do. I've never made a good loaf with them and I rather like getting my hands into it. It's understandable if you work a lot but still want homemade bread, or if you have to make gluten-free breads. But I just can't stand looking at the two of them just sitting there collecting dust, not having been used in ages. o.O
To some of the gadgets, I find them weird, but the others are useful than ever.
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