Kitchen Hacks
8 Ridiculous Kitchen Gadgets I Definitely Don’t Need, but Absolutely Must Have
Yes, that includes a hands-free automatic pot stirrer.
Even though it seems every single person on the planet (yes, even me) is Marie Kondo-ing their life and tossing perfectly good clothes, books, and the like in trash bags to be carted off to donation centers, there is one type of thing I would happily cram into my newly cleansed cabinets any day of the week. I'm talking kitchen gadgets.
From the useful (potato ricer) to the, er, less practical (garlic press, avocado slicer, you name it), I am a consistent sucker for any type of tool cookware makers can dream up—and on Amazon, there are many, many dreamers.
While my kitchen (despite my Kondo cleanse) is still quite full of such trinkets and tools, there are sooo many others I'm tempted to drop in my cart. Here are just eight of the ridiculous kitchen gadgets I definitely don't need, but absolutely want to have (even if I only use them once).
1. Hands-Free Automatic Stirrer
While the lazy way is often not the best way to achieve, well, anything, I think I can make an exception for this hands-free automatic stirrer designed to fit pots and pans of all sizes. Though on the pricier side, I can just envision it stirring my favorite winter soup to bubbling perfection while I curl up on the couch and watch The Bachelor.
2. Instant 1-Button Electric Aeration and Decanter Wine Pourer
Speaking of lazy, I now find my life (and television viewing routine) totally incomplete without this do-it-all wine gadget. In the press of a button, it not aerates and decants my wine, but also pours it tap-style into my glass. Cheers to that!
3. Snap 'N Strain Strainer
When straining your pasta into a separate colander is just too much, you can use this snazzy Snap 'N Strain Strainer instead. Do I need it? Of course not. But it's so small and storage-friendly (it'll tuck right in to the corner of my cabinet perfectly) that I want it. Now.
4. Onion Holder for Slicing
Chopping an onion in slices is hard. Chopping an onion in perfect, even slices (without losing a finger) is even harder. This handy little onion holder (which is also great for tomatoes, potatoes, meat, and anything else your imagination will allow) makes that, and in turn, my culinary dreams, possible—without any phalangeal danger.
5. Handheld Spiralizer
Until recently, I considered spiralized vegetables just an attempt to fool me into thinking that zucchini (and the like) was pasta. But this tiny, compact, handheld (no clunky cranks here) spiralizer is luring me to eat more vegetables this year with its clever cuteness.
6. One-Click Stick Butter Cutter
I have been and will always be butter's number-one fan. As part of my memorabilia collection, I own a butter keeper, multiple butter knives, and a butter churner (because the best butter is homemade butter), but I'm thinking that this brilliant one-click stick butter cutter needs to join the party. After stumbling upon it, I can't imagine buttering my toast or pancakes any other way.
7. Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker
No matter how hard I try, I am a hot mess in the morning (13 times hitting the snooze button? Oh yeah, that's me), meaning a proper breakfast is always a rushed afterthought. I think this all-in-one breakfast sandwich maker might solve all my problems (even ones that have nothing do with breakfast), since it takes care of every step in the process—minus cracking the eggs.
8. Stainless Steel Ravioli Mould
Do I make fresh pasta regularly? Or empanadas? Or dumplings? No, no, and no. But that's because I don't have this adorable ravioli/empanada/dumpling/any-doughy-pocket mould. And if I did ever decide to be that person who makes homemade ravioli for a fabulous dinner party, this would really, really help.
What are some "useless" kitchen tools you absolutely can't live without? Tell us in the comments below!
Written By: Erin Alexander
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