1. Pineapple Corer
A pineapple corer is designed to remove the core and slice the fruit quickly. But the tool is bulky and can be awkward to twist into tough pineapple skin. A sharp knife can achieve the same result without the extra effort. Many find the corer more intimidating than convenient.
Cleaning it afterward can also be tedious, with sticky pineapple juice seeping into grooves. It’s a seasonal gadget at best, rarely used throughout the year. Its promise of effortless pineapple prep doesn’t match everyday practicality. Over time, it often collects dust.
2. Banana Slicer
This tiny plastic gadget promises a quick way to slice bananas evenly, ideal for cereal or desserts. In reality, most people find it slower than just using a knife. The grooves only fit certain banana sizes, making it frustrating to use consistently. Many end up sticking it in a drawer and forgetting it exists.
The appeal is mostly aesthetic—perfectly uniform slices that look “professional.” But let’s be honest: who really notices banana slice perfection in a bowl of cereal? It’s cute, but it doesn’t improve flavor or texture. Most home cooks quickly move on to more functional tools.
3. Egg Separator
This little contraption is designed to separate yolks from whites in seconds. But the truth is, a clean hand or basic spoon often does the job faster and with less cleanup. Egg separators tend to slip or clog, frustrating even careful cooks. As a result, it often gets relegated to the bottom of the utensil drawer.
People buy it thinking it will make baking easier, but it rarely changes the process significantly. It’s also an extra item to wash, which can feel like overkill when you’re in the middle of cooking. For those who bake occasionally, it’s mostly decorative. Its utility just doesn’t justify its shelf space.
4. Herb Scissors
These are scissors with multiple blades meant for quickly chopping herbs. In practice, they’re harder to clean than a knife, and the results can be uneven. The blades often get clogged with sticky herbs like basil. Most home cooks find that a simple chef’s knife is more precise and versatile.
Herb scissors might look impressive in a cooking video, but they rarely become part of a daily routine. Herbs are delicate, and using scissors can bruise them, affecting flavor. It’s a tool that promises speed but delivers extra hassle. Over time, it usually gets abandoned in favor of traditional chopping methods.
5. Corn Stripper
This gadget is meant to remove kernels from a cob in seconds. Yet it often leaves messy bits behind and struggles with smaller or irregular cobs. A sharp knife usually works faster and with less cleanup. For occasional corn eaters, the corn stripper becomes a drawer ornament rather than a necessity.
It’s also awkward to store, taking up more space than a knife would. Many people buy it for the novelty and then realize it’s a one-trick pony. Corn season is short, so it doesn’t get frequent use. Over time, it’s forgotten among other single-use gadgets.
6. Melon Baller
Melon ballers promise perfectly round spheres for fruit salads or garnishes. But unless you’re hosting a fancy brunch every week, they’re rarely needed. Scooping melons with a regular spoon is almost as effective. The little balls also don’t add flavor, just aesthetics, which doesn’t justify constant use.
Cleaning them can be fiddly, especially if the melon is juicy. The handle is often tiny and awkward to grip for prolonged use. They shine in Instagram-worthy presentations but fail in day-to-day practicality. Most end up back in the drawer after one or two tries.
7. Garlic Press
A garlic press is marketed as a time-saving miracle for mincing garlic cloves. But it can be tricky to clean, especially with small leftover pieces sticking inside. Crushing with a knife or smashing with a flat blade often feels just as fast. Many cooks find that the press is more effort than it’s worth.
Additionally, garlic presses can alter the texture of garlic, sometimes creating a paste that’s too strong. They’re handy in theory but not essential. Over time, the promise of convenience doesn’t outweigh the cleaning hassle. Many home cooks ditch it entirely.
8. Butter Cutter
This gadget slices butter into perfect pats or cubes. Sounds convenient, right? But it’s limited in use, only working for cold butter. Soft butter or margarine won’t cooperate, and the device itself is another piece to wash.
Most cooks find a regular knife works just fine. You can control slice thickness and speed without extra fuss. It’s one of those items that seems necessary for a “gourmet” kitchen but ends up rarely used. Often, it sits idle until spring cleaning.
9. Cherry Pitter
This is supposed to remove pits from cherries in a single motion. But cherries vary in size and firmness, making the device inconsistent. A knife or even fingers can do the same job efficiently. Many people find the pitter more frustrating than helpful, leaving it on the shelf.
Cherry season is short, so the tool’s use is limited. Storing it takes space, and cleanup can be tricky with sticky juice. It’s perfect for someone making cherry pies every week, but not for casual cooks. The gadget often outlives its usefulness.
10. Avocado Slicer
We all love avocado toast, but the avocado slicer often sits in the back of the drawer, untouched. It promises perfectly uniform slices and an effortless pit removal, but a simple knife often does the job just as well. Many people find cleaning it more trouble than it’s worth. Plus, avocados come in different sizes, and the slicer doesn’t always adapt.
It’s also not particularly versatile. You can’t use it on other fruits or vegetables without risking damage. The novelty of it wears off after a few uses, leaving it to collect dust. It’s one of those tools that seems essential in theory but fails in practice.
11. Egg Cubes Mold
Egg cube molds promise perfectly shaped hard-boiled eggs for meal prep or bento boxes. They sound cute, but the results are often underwhelming. Eggs can stick or crack, and the shapes rarely come out uniform. Most cooks resort to slicing eggs the traditional way.
They’re more novelty than necessity. Cleaning tiny molds can be fiddly and time-consuming. The time spent using them often outweighs the visual payoff. These molds usually get ignored after a few attempts.
12. Oil Mister
An oil mister claims to evenly coat pans or salads with a fine mist. In reality, the mist is often inconsistent, and some sprays clog over time. Measuring oil with a spoon or drizzling by hand is more precise. The mister promises convenience but often fails to deliver.
Refilling it can be messy, and storage takes up extra cabinet space. It’s a nice idea for low-oil cooking, but the novelty fades quickly. Many home cooks find it easier to stick to bottles they already have. The mister ends up as a decorative but unused item.
13. Strawberry Huller
This tiny gadget removes stems from strawberries in seconds. However, it works inconsistently depending on berry size and ripeness. A small paring knife can do the same job efficiently and with more control. Many users find the huller fiddly and unnecessary.
Cleaning it can be tedious, and it’s limited to a single fruit. Its charm is mostly aesthetic rather than practical. For casual cooking, it’s one of those tools that’s quickly forgotten. Most home cooks opt for knife skill over novelty.
This post 13 “Gourmet” Kitchen Tools That Never See the Light of Day was first published on Greenhouse Black.
