Kitchen gadgets are designed to make cooking easier, but with so many products on the market, it’s easy to end up with a cluttered kitchen full of tools you rarely use. While some gadgets can genuinely save time and effort, others might just take up valuable drawer space. FamilyCookbookProject.com explores some common kitchen gadgets, evaluate whether they’re worth the investment, and provide practical alternatives that you likely already have in your kitchen.

Garlic Press

The Gadget : A garlic press is designed to crush garlic cloves quickly without the need to mince them by hand.

Is It Worth It? : If you cook with garlic often and want to avoid the time and mess of chopping, a garlic press can be useful. However, many argue that it can leave behind some garlic in the press, wasting part of the clove. Plus, cleaning the gadget can be tricky.

Alternative :  Chef’s Knife . Simply mince garlic with a sharp knife, pressing the clove with the flat side first to crush it slightly before chopping. With practice, you can chop garlic just as quickly as using a press, and a knife is much easier to clean.

Avocado Slicer

The Gadget : An avocado slicer is a multi-functional tool designed to split, pit, and slice an avocado with ease.

Is It Worth It? : While it can be helpful for frequent avocado eaters, it’s somewhat of a one-trick pony and takes up space in your drawer for something that a knife can accomplish.

Alternative :  Chef’s Knife and Spoon . Cut the avocado in half with a sharp knife, remove the pit with the edge of the knife, and scoop out the flesh using a spoon. This method works just as well without the need for a single-use gadget.

 Egg Separator

The Gadget : An egg separator is designed to separate egg yolks from egg whites with minimal mess.

Is It Worth It? : Egg separators can be helpful if you separate eggs often or want a mess-free process. However, they can be bulky, and cleaning them can be a hassle.

Alternative :  Your Hands or the Eggshell . Simply crack the egg and gently pass the yolk back and forth between the two halves of the eggshell, allowing the whites to fall into a bowl. Or, crack the egg into your hand and let the whites run through your fingers while holding onto the yolk.

 Mandoline Slicer

The Gadget : A mandoline slicer provides uniform, thin slices of vegetables, making it popular for dishes like gratins, salads, or chips.

Is It Worth It? : If you prepare a lot of salads, potato dishes, or recipes requiring precise slices, a mandoline can be a great investment. However, it’s a bit dangerous to use without proper safety precautions, and it can be a hassle to clean.

Alternative :  Sharp Knife and Cutting Board . While a knife won’t give you as precise slices as quickly as a mandoline, with a little practice, you can achieve nearly the same results using a good quality chef’s knife. Plus, it’s safer and easier to clean.

Spiralizer

The Gadget : A spiralizer creates long, curly ribbons or “noodles” from vegetables like zucchini, carrots, or sweet potatoes, often used for low-carb meals.

Is It Worth It? : If you’re committed to making veggie noodles frequently, a spiralizer can be a great tool. However, if it’s something you’ll only use occasionally, it’s probably not worth the space it takes up.

Alternative :  Vegetable Peeler . While you won’t get the same exact noodle shape, you can use a vegetable peeler to create thin, ribbon-like strips of zucchini or other vegetables for a similar effect in salads or stir-fries.

 Citrus Juicer

The Gadget : A citrus juicer is designed to extract juice from lemons, limes, and oranges with ease, minimizing pulp and seeds.

Is It Worth It? : If you use a lot of citrus juice in your cooking or cocktails, a juicer can save time and ensure you get the most juice out of each fruit. However, for occasional use, it might not be necessary.

Alternative :  Your Hands . Simply cut the citrus fruit in half and squeeze the juice out with your hands. You can also use a fork to help extract more juice by inserting it into the fruit and twisting as you squeeze.

 Salad Spinner

The Gadget : A salad spinner dries leafy greens after washing, making them crisp and ready for use in salads.

Is It Worth It? : If you eat a lot of salads and prefer your greens crisp, a salad spinner can be useful. However, it takes up a lot of space and might not be worth it for small kitchens.

Alternative :  Clean Kitchen Towel . After washing your greens, lay them out on a clean towel and gently pat them dry. You can also wrap the towel around the greens and give it a shake to remove excess moisture.

Milk Frother

The Gadget : A milk frother is designed to create foamed milk for lattes, cappuccinos, or other coffee drinks at home.

Is It Worth It? : For coffee enthusiasts who love a homemade latte, a frother can be a fun and useful tool. However, it’s not necessary if you don’t make specialty coffee drinks often.

Alternative :  Whisk or Jar with Lid . To froth milk without a gadget, heat the milk slightly and use a whisk to vigorously whip it until foamy. Alternatively, pour the heated milk into a jar with a lid and shake it vigorously to create foam.

Cherry Pitter

The Gadget : A cherry pitter removes the pits from cherries without damaging the fruit.

Is It Worth It? : If you frequently bake pies or make jams with fresh cherries, this gadget can save a lot of time. However, it’s a single-purpose tool that might not see much use in your kitchen otherwise.

Alternative :  Paperclip or Chopstick . You can use a sturdy paperclip or chopstick to push the pit out of the cherry. It takes a bit more time but eliminates the need for a dedicated pitting tool.

Electric Can Opener

The Gadget : An electric can opener automatically opens cans with little effort.

Is It Worth It? : For those with arthritis or limited hand strength, an electric can opener can be a lifesaver. However, it’s a bulky gadget that takes up counter space and may not be necessary for most people.

Alternative :  Manual Can Opener . A manual can opener takes up minimal space, works reliably, and can easily open cans with just a bit of effort.

Are Kitchen Gadgets Worth It?

When it comes to kitchen gadgets, the key is evaluating how often you’ll use them and whether they offer real value in your daily cooking routine. Many gadgets are convenient but come with the trade-off of taking up space in your kitchen. Often, the tools you already have—like a sharp knife, whisk, or spoon—can perform the same tasks as specialized gadgets.

Before investing in a new kitchen tool, consider whether you already have an alternative that can do the job just as well. If you find yourself reaching for a gadget regularly and it simplifies your life in the kitchen, it’s probably worth the investment. Otherwise, stick to the basics and save your kitchen space for the essentials.

 

Bill Rice is Founder and Co-Publisher of the Family Cookbook Project, a website that helps families and individuals collect, preserve and share food memories by creating their own printed personal cookbooks. He is the author of The Wellfleet Oyster Cookbook and the Cape Cod Cocktail Cookbook (Available on Amazon), both created using FamilyCookbookProject.com. He is also editor of the Donovan Family Cookbook, now it’s third printing and is an avid genealogist tracing his family back to the 1600’s.

Follow Family Cookbook Project on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest!