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

    • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 21:02

      I've actually broken two of these.

  • Youfah Mizzum on 22/03/2017 - 18:51

    Tap King beer dispenser. Ridiculous waste of space. No wonder it died a quiet death.

    • altomic on 23/03/2017 - 08:31
      +1

      Taking were offering a $30 refund for those taps. They'd send you a prepaid envelope to send it back to them.

      • Youfah Mizzum on 23/03/2017 - 12:10

        Ya kidding? Got mine free at the local Liquorland. Didn't hear about any refund tho. Oh well, win some lose some.

  • Godric on 22/03/2017 - 19:08

    Glasses & Cups, i tend to just drink out of the bottle

    • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 21:01
      +1

      Do you use a bottle opener or just smash the bottle on the table.

  • partymix on 22/03/2017 - 22:49
    +1

    I saw a pizza maker in the bargain section of Kmart for $15 (like one of these http://www.myshopping.com.au/ZM--1282282687_Homemaker_Red_Pi…)

    We used it for a week and it's been collecting dust since.

    • altomic on 22/03/2017 - 23:06
      +2

      yeah, I bought one from this deal in july 2012 for $29. as I wrote in the deal "got one for the office. (combined with the regular $3 specials on Dr Oetkers pizza then it makes for an inexpensive lunch)"

      Used it once. it barely cooked the pizza. plus the heating element was too low so that, except for the flattest pizzas, so as it rotated the pizza then cheese and toppings would catch on it. it's been sitting in a box under my desk ever since.

      I ended up folding the Dr Oetkers pizzas in half and then putting them in the sandwich press - like a calzone/ pannini

      • partymix on 22/03/2017 - 23:08
        +1

        That's how I heat leftover pizza now, in the sandwich press!!

  • whoopdeedoo on 23/03/2017 - 00:17

    bought a pressure cooker recently. havent touched it
    bought a juicer 3 years ago. used it once
    thanks ozbargain!

  • altomic on 23/03/2017 - 08:29

    A blanching pan for dodo's.

  • blonky on 23/03/2017 - 12:14
    +1

    Egg rings

    • sparkles on 27/03/2017 - 00:42
      +1

      Egg rings are surprisingly handy if you cook "fried" eggs on an electric sandwich style grill bringing the top down. They stop the egg getting squooshed. I use silicone ones.

  • mooboy on 23/03/2017 - 12:32

    Decor Microwave Egg Poacher. Got pretty gross results.

    • try2bhelpful on 23/03/2017 - 14:18

      Yeah, I have one of those. I fill it with water and microwave it with my wheat heat pillow for my stiff neck; it ensures there is enough moisture in the microwave.

      • mooboy on 23/03/2017 - 14:28

        Interesting use. Did you ever have any luck with eggs?

        • try2bhelpful on 23/03/2017 - 14:31
          +2

          no they were completely rubbery - I think I could've played squash with them.

    • sparkles on 27/03/2017 - 00:40

      I think all microwave egg gadgets are epic failures. Never found one that works well.

  • bluesky on 23/03/2017 - 16:48

    I think it is the oil/fat separator. I found out it is easier to just cool the stock/gravy in the fridge, then scoop out the solidified fat on top.

    • try2bhelpful on 23/03/2017 - 18:13
      +1

      My mum used to collect the lamb fat and store it in a container in the fridge. Oh man, you haven't lived until you've had deepfried roast potatoes and chips done in lamb fat.

      • bluesky on 23/03/2017 - 20:37

        Can say the same with duck fat too, also just as heavenly :-)

        • BuyoTheCat on 24/03/2017 - 16:05
          +1

          Oh yeah! I get a few ducks for braising everytime they go on special at coles.
          I have a nice collection of duck fat.

          Unfortunately my oven is broken.

        • bluesky on 24/03/2017 - 16:26

          @BuyoTheCat: +1 duck fat.

          Re oven, to one of the most useful gadgets … the small round convection ovens. Picked up for like $50 from Aldi a few years ago. Prefer using this for small to medium sized roasts/dishes, than the built-in oven (which is not fan-forced). The important thing is not to get a halogen one, since the red light is annoyingly bright.

        • BuyoTheCat on 24/03/2017 - 16:29

          @bluesky:

          Noted. Will keep my eye on Aldi.

  • Praeto on 23/03/2017 - 17:56

    I bought a cheap meat tenderiser (that didn't come with any instructions or information). Used it once and threw it in the dishwasher. Apparently not dishwasher safe, and oxidised.

    Also have a Tefal rice cooker that has never been used.

    • try2bhelpful on 23/03/2017 - 18:04

      Yeah, the Tefal multicooker thing. I'm on the fence about that one at the moment. If I could get the smell to go away between uses I might be more impressed. However, it does make Yogurt for me and I do like the way it does stew; however, not so much the Rice/Risotto cooker part of it. Might be time to start a low carb diet.

  • ozzguy on 23/03/2017 - 18:02

    The George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grill Machine. Was given one for a housewarming gift. It's in the back of the cupboard somewhere now.

  • unyilusro on 23/03/2017 - 20:42
    +1

    cheese slicer, it's easier slicing cheese with a knife.

  • Cleremy on 23/03/2017 - 23:56

    A flimsy garlic press, and more recently, a clamp-like lemon juicer from Aldi that looked good but didn't extract much juice.

  • BuyoTheCat on 24/03/2017 - 16:17

    Silicon egg poacher thingy.

    The ex loved poached eggs on sourdough and she has it whenever we go out for breakfast.
    She bought one of those silicon egg poacher and the same weekend sat morning she got out of bed early, excitingly declaring we were going to have awesome poached eggs on toast for breakfast.

    I got to the table expecting somewhat ok poached eggs. I met a bowl egg soup at the table. I ate it no question asked. She could have at least seasoned the soup.

    • try2bhelpful on 25/03/2017 - 09:59

      I have a set of those, have't even used them. Sounds like they might sit in the draw a bit longer.

      • BuyoTheCat on 25/03/2017 - 10:45

        I have used it a few times. They are alright. Not as pretty as cafe ones. The kitchen is just not her place.

  • LKJ899 on 24/03/2017 - 19:11

    Daiso dumpling mould.

    U put round dumpling skin into the mould, put the filling and press the mould together.

    It only allows you to put very little filling.

  • OzTightArse on 25/03/2017 - 05:00

    Apple skin peeler :)

  • tzar on 25/03/2017 - 10:59

    Pressure cooker.. turns out I'd need to be some kind of wizard and convert recipes to pressure cooker ones intuitively

    Also those ice block moulds that you fill + freeze. Used it once

    • try2bhelpful on 25/03/2017 - 11:48

      Ahh yes, the Pressure cooker - I tend to agree that putting the pressure on and off does make it difficult. I wonder if anyone who has a Cook4me could comment on if this is better. I think the device is meant to streamline the process better than a standard Pressure Cooker.

  • DarthAntz on 11/04/2017 - 09:50

    my vegetable spiral slicer (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Vegetable-Fruit-Spiral-Shred…) arrived yesterday, and i couldnt wait to post here about how useless it is. When something advertises saying 'knife is too much trouble', then you know theyre wrong. Knife is all you need for vegetables.

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