What is Your Most useless Kitchen Gadget?

[dlaboriel]

I bought a gadget for measuring spaghetti for 1/2 portion up to 4 portions. I've never used the thing and would you believe someone sent me another as a free gift:D

What gadget do you have that you consider useless?

[jennanne]

It has to be the plastic "shield" that comes with the Kitchen Aid mixer. I used it once and it was definitely more trouble than it was worth. The shoot is cumbersome and it is so much work to snap it onto the mixer.

It is so much easier and faster to dump the ingredients in.

I know there must be other gadgets that are useless. I always see those avocado scooper and I think they look ludicrous.

[Misconduct]

hmmm so far: garlic peeler(plastic tube, put clove in, roll on countertop), lemon juicer ( much easier to use a fork and the plam of my hands)... a pie bird: ceramic bird to put in the middle of double crusted pies...I rarely make these and when I did, I just cut a slit in the top. An adjustable measuring cup: you keep pouring ingredients and the tube slides to readjust each time, hard to explain but they are around...

[oceanjasper]

I have to agree with the spaghetti measurer. I just gave mine to the thrift shop, because I never used it. I also have one of those garlic peelers and have only used it once to test it out.

Good to know that I am not the only one to question the plastic shield on the KA! I tried to use it when making some pumpkin bread and it actually got caught on the paddle while mixing sending orange dough all over the wall. It's back in the box.

The only other thing I have in my drawer that I never use, is one of those gadgets that you stick in a pop bottle and then pump it up, so that the pop doesn't go flat. I also have one that fits on a pop can to seal it up. Never use it either.

[SusanL]

my dad was cleaning out the kitchen after my mom died and he found the spaghetti measurer, he gave it to me because he said my mom loved it as a scraper when cleaning the dishes. I don't think she used it and I haven't either;)
My juicer is still in the cabinet waiting to make carrot juice, what were we thinking?

[gabbyh]

Now you're all REALLY going to crack up...I have also rec'd a few of those spaghetti measuring devices over the years and NEVER used a one...last week I was ripping through my drawers going: "Where the heck is that measuring disk", as I wanted to try it :D

Of course I never did...

~Gail

[Jazzmatazz49]

I have a stainless steel thing shaped like a bar of soap. You're supposed to rub it to remove the garlic smell from your hands. You can use a stainless sink if you really want to do that.

Have they changed the KA chutes recently?
Mine just slides on, no problem. I sometimes use it, sometimes not, but it's no trouble. I've got a new Accolade mixer, so maybe they've changed them due to complaints.

[biondetta]

I used my KA shield twice yesterday. I don't use it every time, but when I'm adding flour or powdered sugar while mixing, it's definitely saved me from some messes.

I actually use everything, except the ricer and the melon baller, and I would use the melon baller if I made any recipes that needed it. The ricer I just don't bother with. If I'm making mashed potatoes, I prefer my old hand masher like my great-grandmother had. It's a good stress reliever to just get in there and mash the potatoes by hand!

[Paris M]

It's not a gadget per se, but MIL gave me a gorgeous Le Creuset piece that is supposedly a "lasagna for two" dish. It's very long and narrow, and completely useless but gorgeous. If I am going to make lasagna it will be a full pan so I can freeze the leftovers. :p

[oceanjasper]

Originally posted by Jazzmatazz49
I have a stainless steel thing shaped like a bar of soap. You're supposed to rub it to remove the garlic smell from your hands. You can use a stainless sink if you really want to do that.

I have one of those too! It was a gift. It's under my sink and I have never used it.

[sneezles]

Stainless Steel Bar-received it as a gift from DH...he didn't know that I just use the faucet but I have used the bar a couple of times (DH was in the kitchen ;) )

Wooden Toaster Tongs-I bought them but can never remember to find them the odd time I make toast and the bread isn't tall enough.

Metal teabag squeezer-I'm sure there's a more technical name but it's fairly useless trying to fish the teabags out of the pot but it does OK for a cup but it's easier to use the spoon.

I use my KA shield all the time. I use to have the Tupperware spaghetti keeper that had the measure thingie that sat at the top. Still have the container but no clue as to where the measure disk went to...

[Canice]

I dislike gadgets so I can't say that I have anything I don't use -- I stick to AB's "no one-trick ponies" rule. But I've been interested in the KA shields comments as I'd considered getting one but didn't know if it was appreciably better than using a sheet of wax paper...?

[HejazSunKat]

Originally posted by Misconduct
An adjustable measuring cup: you keep pouring ingredients and the tube slides to readjust each time, hard to explain but they are around...

I hate those things! Pampered Chef sells something similar (though you had to adjust it by hand). I think I ended up pitching it out in disgust.

[annagins]

My mandoline. I bought it a few months ago and haven't even taken it out of the box. Sushi making kit comes in second. The third one I just gave to Goodwill -- a rack-type thing which you set bread loaves on and use as a slicing guide. What a waste.

[madpots]

I think they have changed the KA shields. I have an old mixer - 20 years- and I had to have the shield. But it is in 2 pieces and hard to put on and I still spill the flour so I don't use it. But I have seen the newer ones and they seem to be deeper and looks like they are only one piece.
My latest 'useless' gadget is the Alligator onion chopper. I thought how great to be able to dice onions in one easy swoop! The first time I tried it,it was great. But I don't know if the blades get dull, but now its all I can do to push it through the onion...I cut them in half. It mades beautiful dices, but I will stick to my uneven ones!

[sneezles]

Originally posted by annagins
a rack-type thing which you set bread loaves on and use as a slicing guide. What a waste.

Oh, I have one of those! One of the boys gave it to me for Christmas one year. Mine is plastic and folds flat but I couldn't tell you where it is right now.

I also have 3 copper bowls that nest together and do not sit flat on the counter. I got them at a ridiculously cheap price but I've only ever used one of them once...and then there's the pot rack that displays all the copper pans...pretty but way too much trouble to clean and use all the time (now they just get dusted).

and madpots, my KA is only 4 years old and the shield is in two pieces.

[mbrogier]

garlic mincer--I hate cleaning that thing out, more garlic gets stuck inside the mincer than actually comes out. I have better luck with a microplane.

As for those stainless "rocks", my husband and I laugh every time we see those.I use a stainless board scraper to scrape garlic and vegetables into my pan. I just rub that on my hands when washing them. I sometimes use a knife, but obviously you have to be really careful.

I am constantly getting little gadgets, mostly from my MIL. If they are one trick ponies, or I don't use them a lot I give them away. I don't like a lot of clutter in my kitchen...if I don't use it all the time, it goes in storage or I get rid of it.

[AndreaU]

I also despise those sliding measuring spoons/cups.

I've had a jar opener for a while that has never worked. Not one of those rubber grippy things- that actually works! The one I'm talking about has two "jaws" that open sideways to grip the jar lid... I don't know how it's supposed to work, but it doesn't. In fact, this thread has just prompted me to chuck it! Yeah! One less thing in the drawer. :D

[Curleytop]

Another dissenter of the plastic shield for the KA. My Artisan is only 1 year old, and it still has the 2 piece shield.
Here is a new problem: I was making chocolate chip cookies, lifted up the flat beater to take out the bowl, and BEHOLD, part of the coating on the white beater had broken off and disappeared into the cookie dough!
Rather than take a chance I dumped it, and immediatly called KA and told them what happened. She had me put a dime into the bowl and attach the beater and see if it just nudges it when you turn it on. Well it did, THIS WAS NORMAL, thank goodness, and they are replacing the beater free. I am expecting it this week.
Has anyone else have this happen. I still have the attachments from my old K45 and it also has the white coating and I never had a problem, but they told me not to use it with the new machine.

[jennanne]

Originally posted by madpots
I think they have changed the KA shields. I have an old mixer - 20 years- and I had to have the shield. But it is in 2 pieces and hard to put on and I still spill the flour so I don't use it.

This is just like mine! What a pain in the tush!!!

[annagins]

Wow. I was just whipping some cream today in my KA and wishing I had a splatter shield. Good thing I don't! I think I had one, but lost it.

Susan, that bread divider thing makes a good cooling rack. I just didn't have room for it and already have other cooling racks.

[Jewel]

The stainless steel 'trumpet' that I just had to have for juicing lemons. Twist the bad boy into the lemon, squeeze and pour...yeah, right. :rolleyes: I still fork my lemons.

[deniseannsc]

My most useless gadget would be the shrimp deveiner that I bought. A sharp knife works much much better! The other thing would be a flavor injector. The injector might be a good gadget, but I've never tried it.

[mbrogier]

I'll second the shrimp deveiner! You can hurt yourself with that thing, too. Mine looked like a big long red shrimp. :rolleyes: I haven't had a deveiner for years.

One "one trick pony" you MUST have for seafood is an oyster knife. It is really hard to crack open oysters without one...unless you really WANT to go to the ER. :o

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who gets fed up and trashes something in a fit of desperation. :D

[moonbeam]

I too have a drawer full of useless gadgets-most of which were gifts. The ceramic pie bird, various plastic strainers that are supposed to keep peas in the pot while you are draining water, and anything that comes from the dollar store.

I do like the adjustable measuring cup, but I use it only for sticky things like corn syrup, molasses and peanut butter. I do have to say that after 5+ years of being cleaned in the dishwasher, it has started to slide.

Kim

[Tally]

I think I have one of each of the gadgets listed above, and they all went in the Goodwill box when we moved this weekend. :) There's nothing like packing to make one prioritze gadgets. However, I had to convince my DH that we didn't really need the the box of unmatched, cheap silverware that we haven't opened for 5 years.

[Ohioan]

I have one of those wooden dippers on a stick for honey, which I've never used since my first attempt. It's impossible to clean, and a spoon works just as well.

I also can't remember the last time I used my mandoline(s) or my lemon zester.

And I seem to have a few things in my gadget drawer that are so old and probably useless that I can't even remember what they were supposed to be used for. :o

I hesitate to throw out any of this clutter, though, because "you never know when you'll need X" -- one of my quirks which should have gone in the "kitchen/food quirks" thread. :rolleyes:

Cheers,
Phoebe

[Gracie]

I have something that hasn't been mentioned yet - the tuna press. I've never used it but thought it was pretty neat when I saw it in the store. :rolleyes: The lid of the can works just as well! :D

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00020BFSY.01-A3DRKN6SKDIOQJ._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Loren

[shihtzux2]

My most worthless gadget would have to be the battery-operated cookie gun I bought last fall. Unwieldy and could not get a decent cookie out of it to save my life. I actually yearned for the 1950s era manual "gun" my mom has.

Close runner up would be the "pie crust circles" -- plastic rings to roll out pie dough within.

Followed by the plastic circles that are supposed to cut little heart shapes or lattice into top pie crusts. Can't get these to work.

Coming soon to an online auction near you...

[doggerham]

Easy.

DH.

[dianer]

however I just got the Accolade KA mixer and one piece shield and like using it. Oh, and I like the push tube measuring cup. I pull it out for marinades that have honey in them and cake frostings that call for shortening, stuff that sticks in regular cups. That garlic skinner sits there now that I know a good whack is all it takes. Mostly I toss what I don't use but I buy stuff at garage sales so I'm not spending a whole lot to start with. One thing I'd like to get rid of is a spinning tower of spices. Most of the spices are old now and it takes up counter space. Because I don't go fishing anymore my smoker sits unused out in the garage. A couple of things are out in the garage on their way to the dump; a bread maker that can't make a decent loaf and my old mixer that has a broken plastic piece off of a beater and a semi melted spinning plate. My rice maker isn't used very much any more but if it were non-stick I think that would change and I use it for steaming artichokes too so it would be better if non-reactive. Alton Brown has a good approach by avoiding one task gadgets. My pasta server has the measuring holes in the handle, even if I don't use them it still rakes up the noodles nicely.

[sneezles]

Originally posted by doggerham
Easy.

DH.

LOL! And mine's always in the way! :p

[hlao23]

Originally posted by annagins
My mandoline. I bought it a few months ago and haven't even taken it out of the box.

oooh...try it out. Mine sat in the box for over a year. Now that I've tried it I LOVE it!

My ginger grater (think it's called something else) isn't so useful. I also have a salad spinner that never gets touched. I think I've used it once.

[Jewel]

Originally posted by Gracie
I have something that hasn't been mentioned yet - the tuna press. I've never used it but thought it was pretty neat when I saw it in the store. :rolleyes: The lid of the can works just as well! :D

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00020BFSY.01-A3DRKN6SKDIOQJ._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Loren

Oh Loren, I'll disagree with you on that one! I use mine three or four times per week! ;) I eat a lot of tuna for lunch and that thing has saved my fingers a few times! I also turn it over and use it for draining canned vegetables. If you flip it it fits just perfect on the lip of the can so I can turn the can over and shake a few times, and the Niblets corn is ready to roll! :)

[deniseannsc]

Originally posted by hlao23


oooh...try it out. Mine sat in the box for over a year. Now that I've tried it I LOVE it!

My ginger grater (think it's called something else) isn't so useful. I also have a salad spinner that never gets touched. I think I've used it once.

I love my salad spinner. I use it all the time.

[Sami]

My ricer which I have no idea why I bought. It's still in the original box.

My plastic mandoline, which I have never used. Rather cut the veggies with a knife.

My KA mixer is about 10 years old and the shield is 1 piece. I only use it when I whip cream or egg whites.

Sami

[BeckyM]

This is fun reading. It's interesting to see what people use and what they don't.

I too use my adjustable measuring cups from Pampered Chef anytime I have to measure honey, molasses, peanut butter, sour cream, or anything else that is gooey and somewhat difficult to get out of a regular measuring cup. I also use my adjustable measuring spoons lots for dry ingredients. When I need 1/2 tsp. of one thing, 1/4 tsp. of another, and 1 tsp. of another, I just use the same spoon for them all and don't have to wash three different measuring spoons!

My useless things include a Kitchen Aid pasta maker attachment for my KA mixer -- I don't think I have EVER used it. I keep thinking I should give it away, but it is up so high in my pantry that I always forget about it when it's time to gather things for charity. I also have never had an egg/mushroom slicer that I liked, though I've bought and been given several. They seem to work about three times max, and then the wires break, and they don't cut anymore.

[madpots]

Originally posted by BeckyM
. I also have never had an egg/mushroom slicer that I liked, though I've bought and been given several. They seem to work about three times max, and then the wires break, and they don't cut anymore.
I used to go through one quite often, but my daughter gave me a really good one with thin blades rather than wires and I have had it about 7 years. I like it for slicing strawberries as well as eggs and mushrooms. Makes such pretty, even slices.

[wrwom]

My mother gave me one of those tong things that looks like a flat whisk and supposedly picks up anything. I tried it a couple of times and found that it will pick up virtually nothing.


Someone mentioned a ricer, I use mine to press the water out of frozen spinach after I have thawed in the microwave, works great but be sure to hold it down in the sink or you will get a shower.

[Gail]

Am still trying to fathom the banana hanger I was given a few years back. If I wanted my bananas to look silly, I'd hang them from a string in the entry hall.:rolleyes:

[gertdog]

Originally posted by sneezles
[b] I used to have the Tupperware spaghetti keeper that had the measure thingie that sat at the top. Still have the container but no clue as to where the measure disk went to...

Ha! Ditto. The stupid measuring disk didn't fit properly into my container anyway.

My garlic peeler is useless, as is the garlic slicer gadget. It does produce lovely thin slices of garlic but is such a PITA to clean I don't ever use it.

The fresh herb mill- you put a handful of herbs into the hopper and turn a handle, and a bunch of rotating blades are supposed to churn out nicely minced herbs. Bah. It mostly mashes them and it is also a PITA to clean all those spiky blades.

I would like to mention that all of the above were gifts, not purchases I made on my own. :D

However, I can think of two things I loathe that I can't blame anyone else for.

One is the aforementioned KA pouring shield. It gets in the way, it falls off, it's awful. Mine is two pieces that don't fit together well.

The other is my cherry pitter. It gets juice everywhere- the aftermath of making a cherry pie is gruesome. I could use it for olives, but it's so much faster to just smash those with the side of a chef's knife...

[sapphirestar]

We eat a lot of bagels, so my DH had bought this bagel slicer, basically a u-shaped plastic gripper on a handle with a very sharp knife blade in the middle. The problem was, if you have any kind of topping on your bagel (we love everything bagels), then the grippers would scrape the topping off while you cut the bagel. Also, if you just tossed it in your utensil drawer and didn't remember to put it blade-side down, it was actually quite dangerous. So that utensil ended up in the garbage, and we just slice our bagels with a knife.

We have an egg slicer that's going on two-decades now--- I didn't realize until reading these posts that that is remarkable. It has wires, not blades, and we mostly use it for eggs. Maybe they used to make them stronger?

[mrswaz]

I have a whole storage tote full of gadgets that "I might use sometime". Of course most of them happened to be PC gadgets from the scads of parties I've been to.

Let's see, here's the box- oh yes.
Salad Tongs that operate backwards (They open when you squeeze the handle- very awkward to use, especially for guests)
The Press and Seal (makes little pocket sandwiches- maybe the kids would eat sandwiches then? Ah...not quite)
A 2-liter bottle de-fizzer (who uses 2-liter bottles!)
Apple-peeler-corer-slicer (I end up having to peel half the apple myself anyway)
PC rotary cheese grater (PITA to clean)
A crinkle cutter that rocks back and forth (supposedly for saftey purposes)
The Egg-slicer (I actually bought it for slicing kiwi for DD)
Not 1 but 2 of those plastic spaghetti measuring devices
A plastic bench knife
The random pieces to my cappucino maker. I simply don't have the counter space to keep that puppy out, so it would be a useless gadget at this time.