+10 Pointless Kitchen Appliances You’re Wasting Money On

In the vast realm of kitchen contraptions, an array of seemingly indispensable gadgets promises to revolutionize culinary tasks. While some streamline food preparation, others merely deplete your funds and occupy precious storage real estate. Ranging from deceptively practical to outright absurd, here’s a compilation of 20 frivolous purchases your kitchen can certainly do without—along with a glimpse of the financial respite you’ll enjoy by steering clear of them.

1. Asparagus Steamer

Potential Savings: $30–$50

To justify the acquisition of an asparagus-exclusive vessel—meticulously designed with a wire cradle to keep each spear upright—you’d need to harbor an unwavering devotion to this particular vegetable. For the rest of us, a standard steaming basket will suffice. Alternatively, roasting these verdant stalks until they achieve a delicate crispness or sizzling them in a pan with fragrant garlic and velvety butter offers a far more sensible (and mouthwatering) approach.

2. Banana Slicer

Potential Savings: $6

The Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer has become an internet sensation, not for its ingenuity, but for the sheer amusement it brings via its comically absurd reviews. While it promises uniform banana slices with minimal effort, a simple knife accomplishes the task with just as much precision—minus the redundancy. Unless your culinary aspirations demand absolute geometric perfection in fruit segmentation, spare yourself the expense. (The same logic applies to other overly specific kitchen gadgets: hot dog slicers, strawberry segmenters, avocado dividers—you name it.)

3. Bread Maker

Potential Savings: $95–$340

Before surrendering valuable kitchen real estate to an appliance dedicated solely to crafting loaves, consider this: your oven is already an exceptional bread-making contraption. Instead of investing in a cumbersome, high-priced machine, explore the simplicity of a no-knead bread recipe, such as the legendary one popularized by Jim Lahey of Sullivan Street Bakery. With just a handful of pantry staples and patience, you can achieve artisanal-quality bread—without the financial and spatial burden of yet another specialized device.

4. Meat-Shredding Claws

Potential Savings: $7-$20

These contraptions certainly evoke a primal allure, as though you’re about to embark on a ferocious culinary adventure or transform into Wolverine. However, unless you find yourself orchestrating frequent, grand-scale barbecues or slow-roasting entire pigs in your backyard, these gadgets are more novelty than necessity. A trusty pair of forks will effortlessly dismantle that slow-cooked delicacy, saving you both cash and drawer space.

5. Popcorn Machine

Potential Savings: $30-$330

Crunching the numbers to justify a personal popcorn machine is an exercise in futility. Instead of surrendering precious counter space to an oversized device, embrace the simplicity of a stovetop method. A bag of Jiffy Pop will do the trick, or, for an even thriftier approach, toss some raw kernels into a brown paper bag and let the microwave work its magic. Elevate your movie-night experience by infusing the popcorn with a medley of pantry staples—paprika for a smoky kick, curry powder for a hint of warmth, or an aromatic Italian seasoning blend.

6. Corn Kernel Stripper

Potential Savings: $7-$25

Since we’re talking about corn, let’s address another superfluous kitchen contraption. Various gizmos claim to liberate kernels from the cob in record time, but in doing so, they rob you of the simple pleasure of devouring a butter-drenched ear of corn, followed by the obligatory post-meal kernel retrieval mission. A sharp knife and a steady hand will accomplish the task just as efficiently—The Kitchn even has a few clever hacks to make the process smoother sans gimmicky tools.

7. Pasta Maker

Potential Savings: $30-$285

Unless you’re laboring over fresh pasta dough on a nightly basis, a pasta maker is a purchase best left unmade. The effort required to operate one is considerable, and the cleanup is a chore in itself. Besides, store-bought dried pasta is dirt cheap, and countless simple pasta recipes exist that don’t necessitate the hassle of a machine. For generations, Italian nonnas have been crafting divine homemade pasta with nothing more than their hands, semolina flour, and water. If it worked for them, it’ll work for you.

8. Magic Tap

Savings: $21

Abracadabra! And just like that, your hard-earned $21 has vanished into the ether, courtesy of the Magic Tap. This so-called innovation spares you the grueling effort of tilting a jug to pour your drink—because we’ve all been yearning for such a liberation. Unless you’re routinely wrestling with warehouse-club-sized beverage containers that could double as gym weights, it might be wiser to keep your arm muscles engaged the good old-fashioned way—by actually pouring your juice.

9. Electric Wine Opener

Savings: $13–$50

Granted, for wine aficionados who struggle with dexterity or grip strength, an automatic cork extractor might be a godsend. But for the rest of us? It’s a bulky, overpriced, one-trick pony that hogs precious counter space and demands an electrical outlet as tribute. A traditional corkscrew, on the other hand, is compact, reliable, and comes with an unspoken badge of honor among wine lovers. Stick with the classic, and you’ll not only save cash but also maintain your sommelier street cred.

10. Pie Bird

Savings: $6–$28

If you’re already acquainted with the enigmatic pie bird, chances are you own one—or have admired its whimsical presence in a baker’s kitchen. For the uninitiated, this quaint ceramic figure perches atop your pie, allegedly ensuring steam vents properly and preventing unsightly spills. Charming? Absolutely. Essential? Hardly. Skilled bakers have been crafting delectable, golden-crusted pies without this avian assistant for generations. At best, it’s a decorative relic; at worst, it’s just another trinket gathering dust in a kitchen drawer.

11. Deep Fryer

Potential Savings: $40 – $1,068

The allure of crispy, golden onion rings and delicate funnel cakes might tempt you into purchasing a deep fryer, but reality paints a different picture. This bulky contraption demands counter space, racks up an unnecessary expense, and involves arduous cleanup. Instead, opt for a sturdy medium-to-large pot or a versatile wok paired with a reliable kitchen thermometer. Mastering the art of deep-frying doesn’t require an appliance that will collect dust—Serious Eats provides comprehensive guidance to help you achieve restaurant-quality results with just the basics.

12. Tuna Press

Potential Savings: $ 15 

The true canned tuna aficionado, a tuna press might seem like a quirky yet practical addition to the kitchen arsenal. This fish-shaped, perforated colander claims to simplify draining liquids from canned seafood, beans, or vegetables. However, a simple technique—carefully pressing the can’s lid while tilting out excess liquid—achieves the same result without costing a dime. Unless you have an unwavering desire for bone-dry tuna, this gadget is just another single-purpose tool masquerading as a necessity.

13. Microwave S’mores Maker

Potential Savings: $14

Few treats are as intertwined with experience as s’mores—gooey, fire-roasted marshmallows, slightly singed by an open flame, sandwiched between crisp graham crackers and rich chocolate. Yet, for those eager to strip away the nostalgic joy of an outdoor bonfire, a microwave s’mores maker offers a lackluster shortcut. This awkward, counter-hogging device replaces a cherished ritual with mechanical precision, leaving you with a sterile imitation of the real thing. If convenience trumps tradition in your book, go ahead—but know that some pleasures are best left unaltered.

14. Quesadilla Maker

Potential savings: $25-$37

Crafting a quesadilla is a simple affair—lay a tortilla on a lightly greased pan, sprinkle with cheese and any additional toppings, then fold and flip after a few moments. It’s the perfect balance of crispiness outside with a warm, melty interior. You don’t require specialized gadgets for this delightful Mexican treat—just a sauté pan and a spatula. But after repeatedly struggling with stuck cheese remnants in the nooks and crannies of a quesadilla maker, it’s not long before it’s relegated to the forgotten corner of your kitchen, joining other one-trick gadgets gathering dust.

15. Taco Holder

Potential savings: $7-$29

While taco holders might promise a more dignified taco experience, helping the home cook assemble each taco beforehand and keep everything in place when served, we remain skeptical. To save both money and precious kitchen space, we’ll happily embrace the rustic method—assembling our tacos in the moment and finishing any stray toppings with a fork and a contented grin.

16. Countertop Pizza Oven

Potential savings: $49-$569

Despite claims that pizza-specific countertop ovens conserve energy and cook more evenly, these compact devices aren’t quite as small as they seem. They demand ample cabinet or counter space, and for what? A once-a-week indulgence (unless you’re passionately devoted to frozen pizza). The real marvel is the oven you already own: it can handle everything, including your pizza needs.

17. Omelet Maker

Potential savings: $20-$35

For most of us, crafting the perfect omelet typically involves a trusty nonstick skillet and a stovetop. Some may even relish the challenge of flipping the omelet just at the right moment. However, if flipping is not your forte (or perhaps you prefer a more hands-off approach), you can now embrace the absurdity of an electric omelet maker. While it does promise convenience, don’t expect a speedy outcome — in fact, it may double the time it takes to prepare your omelet, even with the machine preheated.

18. Fondue Set

Potential savings: $30-$100

The ’70s have dialed in, requesting the return of its fondue set. There’s a reason this culinary trend hasn’t quite staged a revival: It’s the epitome of single-use kitchenware, often relegated to collecting dust either in a forgotten drawer or at a local secondhand store. If you’re seeking a vintage charm for your kitchen, consider investing in a sturdy cast-iron pan instead. And if fondue still calls to you, why not indulge in an evening at The Melting Pot instead of trying to recreate the experience at home?

19. Warming Ice Cream Scoop

Potential savings: $7-$25

Ice cream is a universal treat, yet some seem far more impatient with the frozen delight than others. Enter the so-called “self-warming” ice cream scoop, which claims to swiftly soften even the most stubborn scoops through some mysterious thermodynamic sorcery. An intriguing concept, indeed. However, for the traditionalist, a few seconds under warm water for the standard scoop, or simply allowing the ice cream to soften on the countertop, remains the more practical approach.

20. Electric Can Opener

Potential savings: $15-$50

A perfect example of a kitchen gadget that occupies valuable counter space without truly enhancing your culinary experience, the electric can opener adds little to the process. It doesn’t save you time, nor does it elevate your meals. Should it break, it only becomes a costly inconvenience to repair or replace. Unless you suffer from arthritis or a similar condition that genuinely requires an electric can opener, the manual variety will suffice.