5 Popular Kitchen Utensils and Gadgets That Chefs Consider a Waste of Money

A few years ago, zucchini noodles became fashionable, which led to the growing popularity of various devices for cutting fruits, vegetables and herbs. But according to chef Manuel Hewitt, they’re not worth the price and only take up space in your kitchen drawer.

“Choppers can be useful for people with limited mobility, but if you know how to use a knife, you’ll eventually come back to them. So there is no need to clutter the kitchen with unnecessary waste,” explains Manuel.

Chef Scott Smith believes there is no point in having a tool that only serves one function. Smith also believes that when using a garlic press, the garlic comes out the edges and makes a mess, and cleaning the garlic press takes more time than it saves on cutting.

Instead of purchasing a press, Smith recommends simply mincing the garlic, then crushing it into a paste with the side of a knife. “And if you add a pinch of coarse salt when you crush the garlic, you will get a less lumpy and much more flavorful paste,” he adds.

According to chef and cookbook author Jason Goldstein, pressure cookers work like magic: it is very satisfying to see how tough cuts of meat transform into a dish that simply melts in your mouth in just a few minutes. However, according to Jason, there’s no magic in stovetop pressure cookers.

“They are more difficult to use than you think. If you don’t set the temperature correctly, you will spoil the food. If you don’t secure the lid correctly, you could get hurt,” says Jason. He advises choosing the electric version of the device, which can also work in multicooker mode.

“Cooked, boiled, fried, steamed, baked and even suitable for serving” is how universal frying pans are usually described. However, according to chef Kevin Ashton, it’s not all rosy: most all-in-one models don’t distribute heat well and some aren’t oven safe.

“If I need cookware suitable for any dish and cooking method, then I’ll get a good old cast iron pan. It’s versatile, durable, great for any recipe, and adds fantastic flavor to almost any food,” says Kevin.

Experts generally frown on items designed to perform a single kitchen task: in their opinion, they only contribute to chaos and lack of space in the kitchen. According to chef Glenn Rolnick, a good example of such gadgets is the sandwich maker.

“It’s easier and cheaper to buy a grill press and use it with a nonstick grill pan. It works on all kinds of sandwiches, French toast, and even roasted vegetables like carrots, asparagus, green beans, and zucchini,” says Rolnick.

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