Most Useless Kitchen Gadget You Have Bought

try2bhelpful on 20/03/2017 - 16:05

I've been looking at some of the postings here, and looking in my own kitchen, and wondered what was the most useless kitchen gadget someone had actually bought.

In my case it was the Jamie Oliver Flavour shaker - I used it once and then went back to shaking my dressing in jars. I also bought an Alligator chopper, which I would also have put in this bucket, if I hadn't discover this is great for chopping up the asparagus, mushrooms, capsicum and tomatoes for my omelets. You still need to prep the veggies to make them small enough for the chopper, but it does actually save time and it isn't that bad to wash up.

OK people, bring out your dead.

Home & Garden

Comments

        • mataeka on 23/03/2017 - 16:08

          @LockieF: I microwave mine using a similar method - Stopped using my rice cooker and have since failed trying to sell it - there is no interest.

      • buckster on 22/03/2017 - 16:02

        @try2bhelpful Best comment of the month, had a good laugh

  • hellbound on 21/03/2017 - 12:48
    +2

    Dutch Pancake Maker. Used it exactly twice, is an absolute pain and usually ends in arguments. Pancakes are so much easier.

  • goosegog on 21/03/2017 - 13:03
    +2

    Easy onion chopper - almost breaks your wrist trying to turn the handle. For some reason I still have it in the cupboard.Think it came from Red Dot.
    Also the robo vacuum - which is the most total piece of crap I have ever been stupid enough to spend almost $300 on. Bought on line from BDirect - definitely a company to steer well clear of - should have been put out of business years ago.

  • goosegog on 21/03/2017 - 13:15
    +4

    Forgot to mention, everything made by Kogan. We have a $5000 large screen TV sat on the wall in the meals area of the kitchen which has never worked properly - Kogan didn't want to know. Also one of their coffee machines which cost $500 & is so big & cumbersome ( advertised as never need to pay for barista style coffee again - will do the same job as a professional machine costing 4 x the price ) WTF - it rattles around & finally spits out Luke warm undrinkable stuff - can't even fit a proper size coffee cup under the spout. Rant over - but it feels good to share it all with you !

    • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 13:18

      You will probably save someone else money by going "wait a minute".

    • mick123 on 21/03/2017 - 14:10
      +4

      Is that you Gerry?

      • HN Professional on 22/03/2017 - 19:56
        +2

        Gerry trembling too much in a corner awaiting Amazon.

  • IMFrugl on 21/03/2017 - 13:17
    +2

    Chill Factor slushy maker. Seeing hundreds on clearance should have been a warning sign…

  • sandshrew on 21/03/2017 - 14:02
    +3

    For me it was a $30 cheese slicer/guillotine and storage.

    Super hard to clean and my cheese just got mouldy sitting in that container T_T

    • HN Professional on 22/03/2017 - 19:58

      If it's the Chef'n brand, I've had the same thing happen to me (& my cousin too) - seems to be a thing.

      • sandshrew on 22/03/2017 - 21:47

        Yes that is the one! Silly me thought it was such a great idea. Slice and store my cheese using the one contraption. Can do away with having to clean the ol' knife and chopping board each time I wanted a ham and cheese sandwich.

        What a schmuck. Should have just bought the sliced variety

  • weezlebub on 21/03/2017 - 14:06
    +2

    Everything I had before I moved in with my ex … turns out not just the kitchen, but all of my furniture & most of my clothes were useless and had to be thrown out :)

    • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 14:19
      +2

      ahhh, you would be a bloke then. It does tend to happen, it just depends on whether it bothers you. Both of us are geeks so we share on the technology purchases but he refuses to make a decision on anything else in the house. Fortunately he likes what I buy, or he is sensible enough to tell me he does :) The only bone of contention is the kitchen; he is beginning to put me on a "one in one out" policy. Fortunately when I designed the kitchen with the builder's missus we put in a LOT of storage so this is a relatively recent issue. However, I do have to undertake a cull - there is a fair bit of stuff there I haven't used for a while. The problem is you buy something for a reason and you always think you might get around to using it someday.

      If it helps after a while nobody's original stuff is likely to be in the house; unless it is a family heirloom.

    • BuyoTheCat on 21/03/2017 - 15:01
      +2

      Then finally….you?

  • zqipz on 21/03/2017 - 14:24

    Fairy Floss machine as present, used once for the lulz.

    • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 14:26

      I wondered about those. It sort of ranks up there with the chocolate fountain as something that should have been walked away from - quickly.

      • zqipz on 21/03/2017 - 14:28
        +3

        There's also skill involved, don't expect a massive puffy bouffant floss on a stick. It's more like a vacuum cleaner salesman's comb-over.

        • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 14:29
          +2

          you mean a "Donald Trump". That genuinely made me LOL.

  • johninmelb on 21/03/2017 - 15:12

    Anyone in Melbourne (preferably south-east) who has a "useless" but working breadmaker in good condition, sitting in the back of the cupboard they don't want, I would be happy to take it off your hands. Basically would like one for kneading as my hands don't work properly any more.

  • Youfah Mizzum on 21/03/2017 - 15:42
    +9

    Honey dipper.
    What a useless piece of wood.

    • SupeNintendoChalmers on 22/03/2017 - 15:44

      should've tried this Honey Dip

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsBkefC6rgY

    • LKJ899 on 24/03/2017 - 18:58

      Hahaha I always wonder why would ppl need that

    • tzar on 25/03/2017 - 22:14
      +1

      Oh god.. Got one recently - not sure what I expected it to do. It doesn't hold honey well in the jar, it all falls off before you transfer it, and what's left won't come off onto what I want it on. Then wtf do I do with it afterwards, now I have a sticky honey-locked piece of wood and I want to put the lid back on the honey

      • try2bhelpful on 28/03/2017 - 09:39
        +2

        People should look at the upside down honey squeeze bottles - there are some decent companies that have them nowdays. However, you do need to stand them in a takeway container to avoid getting any sticky shelves.

  • frewer on 21/03/2017 - 15:56
    +3

    I got suck into buy a stoneware/coasting fry pan … never again. Wok FTW

    • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 16:06

      Interesting, I use my Scanpan "wok" all the time and hardly touch my (2) real woks. I also use my scanpan frying pan for omelets and crepes. I've used the scanpan ones for ages and haven't seen any deterioration of the surfaces. However, I do also use oil and butter and not just depend on the non stick surfaces.

      • frewer on 21/03/2017 - 21:57

        The 2 woks (none seasoning) we bought from ALDI work like a charm, they do need to re-coating from time to time. The stoneware fry pan from Big W is a piece of scrap metal now, the as-seen-on-tv fry pan.

        • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 23:42
          +1

          Yeah, don't get a cheap non stick fry pan - the non stick stuff tends to come off. I don't tend to use my Scan pan as a Wok fryer, it is more of a saute pan, so I don't put it on my wok burner. I don't think I would subject it to high heat.

        • frewer on 22/03/2017 - 13:23

          @try2bhelpful: Yeah, I couldn't agree more, it was one of these. We did use it a fair bit, however I didn't expect it to become a piece of rubbish that soon. What is this Scan pan that you are talking about ?

        • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 15:21
          +1

          @frewer: Scanpan. Hangover from last Fridays DA cryptic crossword.

        • sparkles on 27/03/2017 - 00:48
          +1

          @frewer: It's a brand of cookware from Denmark. Reasonably expensive. Look for the Scanpan Classic range. They have woks and saute pans of various sizes.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2017 - 16:29
    +1
    1. Pasta maker - spent more time cleaning the bench top then it take to eat the bloody thing.
      Even though it tastes way better I just started buying the more expensive pasta and you can tell the difference.
    2. Slushy maker - well it was a gift but also to use at a party. Made slushy as per the instructions but I didnt really enjoy it.
    3. Baby food maker - really isnt a bad kit, its a small blender and steamer in one unit but thw only time you need it is when you have a baby…. so I blew the dust off the baby food make and trimmed the bushes and hey presto its now sitting on our benchtop again for out bubs.
    4. Electric wok - woks well but hardly use it.

    I could go on but I realised the wife loves this shit and well if it keeps her happy in their at least im not going to be poisoned yet.

    • retiredfeline on 21/03/2017 - 16:31

      Baby food maker

      Don't worry, it will be a proper food maker when it grows up. :)

      • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2017 - 18:46
        +2

        Said the wife to the husband.

    • frewer on 21/03/2017 - 22:58

      My pasta maker starting to get some rust around the shaft and corner, it's a pain to clean up.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2017 - 23:10
        +1

        My wifes cost her errr me $160 and hasnt seen the light of day for about 5 years.

    • montorola on 23/03/2017 - 14:24

      I just started buying the more expensive pasta and you can tell the difference.

      I usually buy those packet ones that you have to cook yourself. Do you buy the already made ones that are available in the cold section?

      • [Deactivated] on 23/03/2017 - 16:32

        If its a spag that the wifes making ill go out and get the dry egg type pasta thats in the boxes in the isle or if its the parcel filled type ill go thw cold section.

        So easy to clean up after.

    • LKJ899 on 24/03/2017 - 19:00

      I think electric wok would work well when going camping

  • KaTst3R on 21/03/2017 - 16:33
    +2

    A measuring cup with no lines to indicate multiple volume except for the line at the top of the cup which says "1 Cup"….duhhhh…

    • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 16:36

      LOL - that is a good one. I think there is a guy earlier who was looking to buy a single teaspoon measurer that might be interested in this manufacturer.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2017 - 18:49
      +2

      Wife has a set which go from a teaspoon to cup and are on a key chain… shit went crazy whwn I replaced them with another brand which had imperial measurements only.

  • ozbjunkie on 21/03/2017 - 16:35
    +6

    Soda stream.

    They're not bad… But I just don't use it.

    PS carbonated chocolate milk is nasty.

    • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 16:39

      yeah, but it would go well with your chocolate coated Pringles.

      Have you tried just using it for carbonated water - Lune, my current addiction for croissants, has a carbonated water tap instead of plain tap water and it tastes delicious compared to flat tap water.

      • ozbjunkie on 21/03/2017 - 16:52

        Yes water is the way to go. I was trying to b silly… And u were trying to be helpful.

        Namechecksout

        • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 16:54

          Not a problem. Actually I am interested in how well that works. I've been tempted to get a sodastream just to do carbonated water. Don't want to buy the plastic bottles all the time for mineral water. BTW - Chocolate coated Pringles are a thing - and they taste every bit as bad as you think they would.

        • mooboy on 23/03/2017 - 12:29

          I recently acquired a soda stream and am very happy with it. (Never tried the flavour packets - just making carbonated water).

        • fenric on 26/03/2017 - 19:07

          @try2bhelpful: Sodastreams are pretty good. Costings work out roughly similar to buying the 70c generic bottles.
          Positives - thousands of plastic bottles not used.
          Negatives - No upper body workout carrying your thousands of bottles back from the shops.

      • boredrandom on 21/03/2017 - 17:09

        Since you're in Melbourne, Mork Chocolate Brew House also provide carbonated water with a little bit of vanilla in it, which is quite refreshing too. Their hot chocolates are also amazingggg.
        Although I wouldn't recommend their carbonated chocolate milk either haha.

        • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 17:10

          Sounds like it is worth a visit. Now if they only had the Lune Croissants as well.

  • aussieprepper on 21/03/2017 - 17:38
    +3

    My ex wife :P

    • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2017 - 18:49
      +1

      Oh snap.

  • srr on 21/03/2017 - 17:51
    +1

    dehydrator. Useless!

    • lainey13 on 21/03/2017 - 22:17
      +1

      You could start a placenta dehydration business and make … money! Or art using said dehydrated placenta. Yes this is an actual thing.

    • BuyoTheCat on 21/03/2017 - 23:52
      +2

      I use mine a fair bit.
      I dry apple slices into apple chips
      I also use it to make jerky
      I dry ragout for hiking food.

      • weezlebub on 22/03/2017 - 10:42

        +1 for dehydrator for jerky

  • horice on 21/03/2017 - 19:43

    Not so much a purchase as it came as a bonus on a vac
    Slicer Dicer plus
    Missus was pretty happy
    Used it once and to the back of the cupboard it has remained

  • sillyguy on 21/03/2017 - 19:47

    Vitamix

    • spersephone on 21/03/2017 - 22:08

      I have a Thermomix that I adore. I still believe the Vitamix is better for smoothies though. Quicker and even easier to clean, although the Thermomix is pretty close.

      • sillyguy on 22/03/2017 - 00:20

        I was joking, love my Vitamix!

    • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 23:38

      My Vitamix gets a fair amount of use, however, it is a very expensive doorstop if you dont use it.

      • sillyguy on 22/03/2017 - 00:21

        I was joking, love my Vitamix!

        • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 00:25

          Good, as I said it, would be an expensive doorstop if you didn't.

  • partymix on 21/03/2017 - 20:14
    +2

    My mum is notorious for buying useless kitchen appliances. Things like a penguin waffle maker (makes waffles shaped like penguins with an indented belly for a scoop of ice cream, used 2 times), a waffle cone maker (have NEVER used it), cupcake maker etc etc.

    Also, I feel like this could almost turn into a thread where one person's trash is someone else's treasure and you could offload your "useless" kitchen appliance for a price someone else is willing to pay for it hahaha… Have seen a few "useless" items listed that I would be happy to take off your hands if the price was right.

    • madseason on 22/03/2017 - 09:03
      +1

      Hahaha I also have "Woddles" the waffle maker. Never made a penguin shaped waffle but it still sits there…

      • HansieSYD on 24/03/2017 - 13:46

        are you selling it?

        • madseason on 24/03/2017 - 16:06

          umm hadn't thought of it. You interested?

    • prinsenhof on 23/03/2017 - 18:31

      I loved that waffle maker until my wife decided it wasnt needed and threw it away.

      The stomach of the penguin held the melted icecream and maple syrup so well.

  • RobVH on 21/03/2017 - 20:29
    -1

    Wife, Only works half the time

  • nickeveli on 21/03/2017 - 21:38
    +1

    Foodsaver.

    Makes ground beef texture really gross after vacuum sealing.

    Vegetables need to be blanched before sealing. As if I'm going to do that.

    Fruits need to be frozen on a tray and then transferred to a vacuum bag and sealed. Yeah right!

    Really the only thing its food for is vac sealing coffee beans and sealing leftover wine…although the latter is a rarity!

    • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 23:40

      Sounds like you need a Sous Vide.

  • TurkishDelight on 21/03/2017 - 23:22

    Broken Microwave, its literally just sitting there after I've bought a new one. (No pun intended)

  • msmhw on 22/03/2017 - 01:24
    +1

    Chocolate fountain. Was worst idea ever. Hard to clean and when we decide to use it, it make a miss. I wish I can have my $10 back.

  • Archi on 22/03/2017 - 08:58
    +2

    cheese fondue, not sure how if differs from a chocolate one. but I'll let you know if I ever decide to take it out of the box from the shed.

  • lddv04 on 22/03/2017 - 09:26

    Aldi had a meat grinder / sausage maker marked down so we snapped it up! It sat in the cupboard for 3 years unopened until my son "borrowed" it to make homemade hamburgers. I havn't seen the grinder since (or a hamburger for that mater!)

    • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 09:36
      +4

      has he been growing any "tomato" plants lately.

  • kawinuyo on 22/03/2017 - 10:22
    +1

    I bought this car looking garlic mincer, you pop the garlic in and drive the car around and as the wheels turn it moved the bladed to mince the garlic… Looked fun… But it took so long to drive cause you needed so much strength and a pain to wash, used once and it's just been sitting there

  • akashra on 22/03/2017 - 11:09

    When I bought my new house, we also bought tons of furniture, kitchenware, pots and pans etc. That was four years ago. One of the things my parents would use on occasion was an electric frypan - so I bought one thinking it would get used.
    We discovered it in the pantry a few months ago - still in its box. We also discovered a waffle maker that had never been used, tucked behind the bread maker that got used maybe a dozen times. I also don't think I've used my milkshake maker once since moving in, and the popcorn maker has been completely unused since we discovered microwave butterd popcorn.

  • Biance on 22/03/2017 - 11:46

    My housemate's parents gifted her a Cadbury hot chocolate maker. It was an enormous contraption which could only heat milk. We tried it out once and the milk badly burnt to the bottom and we couldn't clean it off the element.

    http://searchizm.com.au/upload/listing/E1b21hHXPZ_products.i…

  • blehgg on 22/03/2017 - 15:12
    +1

    2 words - avacado saver

    my wife bought two of them…. now my kid uses them as toy shoes

    • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 15:19
      +2

      At least they are being used.

  • Brouw3r on 22/03/2017 - 15:25
    +2

    One of these when they were going for $5 at big W, all it did was mush raw egg into an english muffin and make it soggy - I could make the same thing faster in a frying pan and it would be 10 time better. Also it couldn't cook bacon so it only really worked with ham.

    • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 15:33

      That is a truly heroic waste of bench space. Congratulations.

    • prinsenhof on 22/03/2017 - 17:54
      +1

      My parents bought me one for xmas, when i found it didnt do bacon i just told them it was completely shit and to return it and get their money back. Usually i accept gifts because its very rude to say you dont like it, but this was an exception. It was just too crap.

    • HN Professional on 22/03/2017 - 20:09
      +2

      Even before I clicked it, I knew what it was!

    • partymix on 22/03/2017 - 22:47

      Omg I saw this in Big W too and thought, who in their right mind signed off on the development of this product@!!!

  • FittyFitty on 22/03/2017 - 15:38
    +1

    Tossing up between a salad tosser and a meat beater…

    • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 15:48

      I see what you've done there.

      • FittyFitty on 22/03/2017 - 15:52
        +1

        Haven't finished yet; still to come…

    • retiredfeline on 22/03/2017 - 15:48

      Keep the one that has a happy ending.

      • FittyFitty on 22/03/2017 - 15:53

        Both hindered by the nut cracker.

    • FittyFitty on 22/03/2017 - 15:54

      …may just settle for a ham boner spit roaster.

  • cnrmlj on 22/03/2017 - 15:56

    Bread maker
    Popcorn maker
    Wok
    Ice cream maker

    • mataeka on 23/03/2017 - 16:17

      I have and like 3 of those 4 - popcorn maker is silly, just use a saucepan

  • prinsenhof on 22/03/2017 - 17:51
    +1

    Avocado peeler - the plastic thing that tries to pre-slice the avocado into strips while spooning it out.

    Avos are rarely the shape of the peeler, so its annoying and gets avocado crap in your slices. Also, a knife or spoon does just fine

  • [Deactivated] on 22/03/2017 - 18:44
    +1

    This thing: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZJMTDNFDL… supposed to be for cheese, clocks up if you put the sealed block on the bench beside it.

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