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Wouldn't it be great to have a specific machine or gadget for every task in the kitchen? When you're improvising this may seem like the ideal, but it is really not.
There are a couple of kitchen electronics we use every day (coffee maker and toaster) while the rest are used occasionally. Our condo has the smallest kitchen we've ever had making counter and cupboard space a premium and only for the must-haves.
Then there is the cost factor. $20-$50 sounds inexpensive until you multiply it by number of appliances. Of course, the price could be even higher depending on features and brand.
Least Used Kitchen Appliances
Here are ten items I've had or considered that were eventually deemed unnecessary. Most likely, you don't need them either.
1. Baked Potato Cooker. We got this as a Christmas gift. I appreciate the thought but we never used it and finally donated it after storing for a couple of years. I prefer the taste of oven-baked potatoes. If we don't have the time or want to heat the kitchen, I just microwave them.
2. Electric Wok. At one time, I used the wok every 3-4 weeks, but the footprint of it required a lot of storage space so it was downsized along with our home. Now, I use a large multi-purpose skillet and it works just fine.
3. Cappuchino Maker. My oldest son wanted one of these for a holiday present years ago. We gave it to him and I think it got used a handful of times. He liked the drinks but wasn't willing to go to the trouble to make them regularly. Not too much later, it was at a garage sale.
4. Ice Cream Maker. This may be the most controversial machine on the list. I remember how much time electric makers saved homemade ice cream lovers when they first came out. However, most households just don't use them enough to justify the storage space.
5. Rotisserie. Chicken broiled on a rotisserie is one of my favorite meals. I get a 3-4 pound broiled chicken for only $5 at the nearby big box store. Just the thought of cleaning the machine, let alone paying for and storing it, turns me off!
6. Sandwich Press. Who doesn't love a grilled sandwich or panini? But you don't need a separate machine. I have a counter-top grill with 5 types of inserts so I can make hot sandwiches, waffles and grill meat all with the same appliance.
7. Wine Opener. If you open a bottle of wine nightly, then maybe this gadget wouldn't be a bad deal. For box wine or infrequent drinkers, a manual corkscrew is just fine.
8. Ice Shaver. Hawaiian shaved ices are refreshing on a hot summer day. What do you do with the machine the rest of the year? I think it's cheaper in the long run to buy the occasional shaved ice instead of getting the machine and ingredients.
9. Egg Cooker. When I think about the hundreds of years people have been cooking eggs, an electric egg cooker seems very unnecessary. Don't limit yourself to cooking them one or two styles. Use a skillet or pot (for boiled eggs) and follow a good cook book. You'll be making perfect eggs in no time.
10. Quesadilla Maker. We love quesadillas, but it seems silly to have machine just to make them and warm tortillas. That multi-purpose skillet is the perfect size for burrito size tortillas and my husband makes a mean chicken quesadilla!
Take a critical look at your kitchen? Do you have machines and gadgets that are rarely used? Lighten the load and sell or donate them. What is the kitchen appliance you never use?
