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

  • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 16:11
    +13

    I got a spaghetti portion measurer as a present. It was just a piece of plastic with holes.

    • try2bhelpful on 20/03/2017 - 16:12
      +2

      so what did you do to annoy the person who gave it to you?

      • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 16:18
        +18

        I had thanked them for the salad spinner the year before.

        • gimli on 21/03/2017 - 07:46
          +5

          salad spinner is useful if you eat alot of washed grass.

        • D6C1 on 21/03/2017 - 13:38
          +1

          @Gimli: Who doesn't wash their grass?

        • partymix on 21/03/2017 - 20:03
          +4

          @Gimli: I LOVE my salad spinners (both of them!!)

        • RedSky on 21/03/2017 - 22:48
          +2

          I have so many I've given mine names.

        • SupeNintendoChalmers on 22/03/2017 - 15:15
          +2

          @sparathecat: Most people in the western world call them tassels.

        • Ausbob on 24/03/2017 - 12:16

          These are fun as to use and watch. I'd almost eat salad more just to watch it spin.
          Do you have the button one?

    • Skramit on 20/03/2017 - 16:47
      +4

      That's funny. i use mine all the time. I hate making way too much pasta for my wife and I or worse…Or not enough.

      • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2017 - 16:56
        +9

        You probably have corn cob holders/handles then, too :p

        • Skramit on 20/03/2017 - 17:27
          +19

          Yes I do….. best invention ever.

        • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 13:03
          +2

          @Kangal: That is seriously messed up.

        • D6C1 on 21/03/2017 - 13:40

          @try2bhelpful: I lauughed. Am I a horrible person?

        • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 14:24

          @D6C1: It depends on if it was the sort of shocked laugh when someone hits themselves in the nuts, or if it was a genuinely amused laugh. That could've gone seriously wrong and she could've been badly injured. Not trying to come down on you, just trying to discourage copy cats.

        • D6C1 on 21/03/2017 - 16:06
          +3

          @try2bhelpful: its okay i get it. You are just trying to be helpful

        • prinsenhof on 22/03/2017 - 17:47
          +1

          @Kangal:

          I dont recommend using the cordless drill from the garage, i used mine to turn a hand whisk into an electric beater when whipping cream. Although i cleaned it, metal shards still ended up in my food.

          Although i still ate it and didnt get sick, so i maybe it was a win.

        • edwardcr on 23/03/2017 - 01:37

          @Skramit:

          Much prefer the butter all over my fingers.

        • nikey2k27 on 23/03/2017 - 07:20

          @Kangal: https://youtu.be/GLay3xY-8zk?t=19s This one cooler

        • try2bhelpful on 23/03/2017 - 14:49

          @prinsenhof: So has anyone done the "turn a drill into a scrubbing brush for the shower" trick. I was wondering if it is worth exploring or if I'm just going to remove all the glaze from my tiles.

          https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/11/scrub-your-bathtub-and…

    • Shwayne on 21/03/2017 - 19:58
      +2

      Most spaghetti servers have a 1 serving hole in them. S:

    • geoffellis on 21/03/2017 - 22:01
      +5

      You know those serving spoons for spaghetti? They have a whole in the middle… yeah… use it for portioning…

  • joelmuzz on 20/03/2017 - 16:13
    +41

    A housemate who bargained that they would cook dinner every night in exchange for reduced rent.
    There were no dinners, just complaining.

  • JetLi on 20/03/2017 - 16:17
    +1

    salad spinner, bought in on special but never opened it. I mainly buy the pre-washed stuff. If I do have to wash it, i just use my hands and fling it a few times to dry it off.

    • try2bhelpful on 20/03/2017 - 16:19
      +3

      wrap the leaves in a tea towel and pretend you are a hammer thrower.

    • partymix on 21/03/2017 - 20:04
      +9

      I still wash all the pre-washed stuff… just to be safe.

      • try2bhelpful on 22/03/2017 - 15:42
        +2

        You want to wash those leaves really carefully.

        http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/salmonella-rap…

        • Dpkmax on 23/03/2017 - 10:21

          Thanks good piece of information

      • compingqueen on 22/03/2017 - 15:53

        Agreed, same

      • JetLi on 22/03/2017 - 16:21

        fair call, but would washing it with water make any difference if it did have salmonella?

        • partymix on 22/03/2017 - 22:41
          +3

          It definitely reduces the risk of it. I just don't trust what they've "pre-washed" it in. I wash and spin my salad 2-3 times in fresh water each time. I also try to pick the packs with the most recent 'best before' date (yes, I'm one of THOSE people) and I wash the salads on the day of purchase before they go in the fridge. Same with all my fruits and vegies. I find that everything lasts longer if cleaned, prepped and stored correctly (eg, wrapping cucumbers and capsicums in paper towels). Less food wastage!

          p.s. I also buy my paper towels in bulk. Still have 2x 8-packs of the Viva towels that were on sale for $6 at Woolies a few months ago ha ha

        • sparkles on 23/03/2017 - 10:40

          @sparathecat: I recently discovered Tuffy paper towel by Quilton which is only stocked at Woolworths. Best paper towel ever! No more Viva for me.

        • partymix on 23/03/2017 - 10:46

          @sparkles: Thanks, I'll look at trying it when I run out

        • try2bhelpful on 23/03/2017 - 11:06

          @sparathecat: With the capsicums does the paper towels work once you've cut them. That is my bugbear - you cut them then the edges go soft. I keep them in the green bags.

        • Trojan on 23/03/2017 - 13:39
          +1

          @sparathecat:
          Use old newspaper … it does the same job.

        • partymix on 23/03/2017 - 23:09

          @try2bhelpful: Yep! Paper towel and then wrapped in cling wrap (the paper towel in this case stops it from getting slimey)

        • try2bhelpful on 24/03/2017 - 09:17

          @sparathecat: thanks

  • BuyoTheCat on 20/03/2017 - 16:18
    +2

    A hand cranked mincer/pasta maker that does not mince very well.

    • JTTheMan on 23/03/2017 - 08:07
      +1

      We got one of these as a wedding gift 12years ago.
      It's still in the box!

      I'm just waiting til the need arises and will machine through the delicious pasta. Any day now.

  • retiredfeline on 20/03/2017 - 16:28
    +6

    Garlic press

    • Kangal on 20/03/2017 - 19:07
      +1

      They're okay.

      I do prefer the stone/mortar smashing them.
      Just make sure you put some salt inside, it gives the garlic some texture and prevents them from flinging out of the mortar as easily.

    • Blahness on 21/03/2017 - 10:35
      +9

      really? this might be my most useful kitchen gadget!

      • retiredfeline on 21/03/2017 - 11:11
        +5

        You're welcome to mine, haven't used it in years. Holds a derisory number of cloves, is slower than using a knife. wastes garlic in the holes and another utensil to clean afterwards.

        • aerona on 21/03/2017 - 14:30
          +1

          It's not easy to clean either!

        • iDroid on 22/03/2017 - 15:32
          +2

          @aerona: Leave the "skin" on and it lifts straight out. The IKEA ones are very good.

        • Blahness on 23/03/2017 - 11:49

          I guess it is faster to use a knife if you only need a bit of garlic. But have you ever tried to make garlic butter for garlic bread? I have bad knife skills crushing that amount of garlic with a good garlic press and washing up takes 10th of the time.

        • tzar on 25/03/2017 - 00:39

          @iDroid: hah, the IKEA one is the worst I've ever used..

        • iDroid on 26/03/2017 - 14:15

          @tzar: Really? These: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00089163/

          I've used a tonne of garlic presses and use them almost daily and these are very good.

          What don't you like about them?

          • They are very strong.
          • They are simple to clean (unpeeled cloves pull straight out with no mess).
          • The crush well - uniform crush with minimal wastage.

          What's there not to like?

        • tzar on 27/03/2017 - 19:25

          @iDroid: aha, no, this one: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20152158/

          It has little leverage, you have to peel the garlic or it doesn't work (unlike the other type I'm used to), and it doesn't form a proper seal so half your garlic gets pushed up through the top instead of down through the bottom. It also doesn't fit much garlic - I'm used to doing 2-3 cloves at a time if I need to, often stacking the skin.

          For contrast, the one I'm very happy with is this which does all the above: http://www.victoriasbasement.com.au/Product/Details/92731/av…

          But glad to hear you have an IKEA one that works for you!

        • iDroid on 29/03/2017 - 13:37

          @tzar: Ahh, yeah that one does not look good at all. The design looks way over complicated.

          I too like to do 2-3 cloves at once (stuff as many in as I can) and stack skins.. The one I linked is only $3.80 and I've been using mine for about 5 years now and it's never missed a beat.

    • scandalous on 21/03/2017 - 17:36
      +2

      I found the garjet to be pretty good. http://www.kitchenwarehouse.com.au/Dreamfarm-Garject-Charcoa…

      • SupeNintendoChalmers on 22/03/2017 - 15:17

        you are my hero!

      • josepet on 22/03/2017 - 16:02
        +2

        $40 topkek

      • nayfon on 24/03/2017 - 18:17

        Can confirm, I use this nearly every time I cook. Much more sturdy than the zyliss one I had previously (I hulked out and broke the handle).

    • ribze1 on 21/03/2017 - 21:11
      +1

      Some are useless, i've had some shockers.

      I have and use this one all the time, never misses a beat and if you clean scrape the garlic out and wash not long after use then it's easy to clean.

      http://www.kitchenwarehouse.com.au/Zyliss-Jumbo-Garlic-Press

    • EmCKay on 21/03/2017 - 22:12
      +1

      I use mine to make Play-doh 'hair' with the kids!

    • anastasiastarz on 22/03/2017 - 04:22

      Mine was quite a workout to press! Supermarket brand.

      • Blahness on 23/03/2017 - 11:45
        +1

        Yes I had a cheapo one and threw it out after the first go. useless. Then I bought the Oxo Good Grips Garlic Press. Use it all the time!

    • Munki on 22/03/2017 - 13:23
      +1

      OMG definitely this. I used mine once and thought: 'this is the most useless piece of crap ever. I can't believe I paid money for this.'

    • bargdebarg on 22/03/2017 - 17:21

      I use mine about 50% of the time.
      https://www.google.com.au/search?q=good+grips+garlic+press
      Good unit

  • tomleonhart on 20/03/2017 - 16:39
    +57

    My lovely wife.

    P/S: Honey if you're reading this, I didn't meant to … awljk45h34nsdfna;sdfa1help53345sme2343/34@#$

    • try2bhelpful on 20/03/2017 - 16:40

      I was waiting for the "spouse" one.

    • railspider on 20/03/2017 - 16:40
      +12

      RIP

    • zqipz on 21/03/2017 - 14:17
      +3

      My wife's idea of cooking is ordering pizza… which isn't entirely useless.

      • syousef on 22/03/2017 - 11:01

        Mine gets in trouble if she doesn't check the OzB pizza codes first :P

        (But she can cook too…a little too well if you look at me)

  • railspider on 20/03/2017 - 16:40
    +3

    A veggie spiralizer. Thought I'd use it to make healthy zucchini and pumpkin pasta…but it ended up producing grated veggies rather than noodles.

    Still on the lookout for a reasonably priced spiralizer/noodle maker that actually works…

    • Geewhizz on 21/03/2017 - 07:09

      Same here.

    • MattBuzzy on 21/03/2017 - 09:24
      +4

      The Target one is fantastic and is much higher quality and actually works well compared to the more expensive ones funnily enough.

      https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/80927/47552/de04ms.jpg

      • MattBuzzy on 22/03/2017 - 14:08
        +1

        Wow, so I post a spiraliser that actually works and I have used on everything from zuchinni and carrot to pumpkin and brocolli stalks with proof, and is cheap, which is what railspider is looking for and some idiot tags it with stupid unrelated offensive tags and I get downvoted.

        If you have the Target one and it doesn't work for you, you're not using it right.

        GG Ozbargain, I get the message, won't help in the future.

        • Moderatorhamza23 on 22/03/2017 - 15:18

          I've uploaded your picture to the OzBargain File Uploader and replaced the link to get rid of those tags. You can do so here in the future if you prefer to avoid any undesirable behaviour.

          Thanks

        • MattBuzzy on 22/03/2017 - 15:56
          +2

          @hamza23:

          Thanks Hamza, I appreciate it.

        • try2bhelpful on 23/03/2017 - 11:10

          Thanks for posting. I don't know what gets into some people when all people are doing is try to help.

        • TheOneWhoKnocks on 23/03/2017 - 19:51

          What happened?

      • dashy1 on 23/03/2017 - 21:20

        Agree I have this one and use it a couple of nights a week

    • Praeto on 23/03/2017 - 17:54

      I bought an "Inspiralizer" and it actually works really well. Although I found that the smaller sweet potatoes I normally got were too small and I ended up with curly fries rather than noodles. :p

  • musun129 on 20/03/2017 - 16:41
    +2

    lemon squeezer. it doesn't spray as well as it looked on tv….

  • try2bhelpful on 20/03/2017 - 16:43
    +2

    I also bought one of those pump oil spray things - the ones that are meant to mean you use less oil - the thing gummed up, you couldn't pump, and it got consigned to the bin.

    • Geewhizz on 21/03/2017 - 07:09
      +3

      The decor one is actually quite good.

      • cantoangel on 22/03/2017 - 07:58
        +1

        I used my decor one for a while until the oil got a bit rancid. Tried washing it by putting in soapy water, got too lazy to rinse it and just threw it out!

    • spersephone on 21/03/2017 - 21:56

      I had a Weight Watchers one that lasted years before it finally died. I loved it. I have another one that isn't as good, although it works. I really like them (provided they work).

      • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 23:45

        it is the "provided they work" part that is the problem. Mine worked quite well until it just completely gummed up and stopped pumping. I tried to clean it up, but it just wouldn't pump after that.

    • danyboy on 29/03/2017 - 22:06

      Why would you wanna use less oil?

      • try2bhelpful on 29/03/2017 - 23:02

        ahh, the concept of less calories.

  • Skramit on 20/03/2017 - 16:45
    +17

    A dishwasher. Redundant after I got married.

    Could have bought $800 worth of eneloops for that.

    • ChickenTalon on 20/03/2017 - 16:52
      +28

      your husband really likes washing up?

      • Skramit on 20/03/2017 - 17:28
        +11

        Don't be racist.

        • ozbjunkie on 21/03/2017 - 16:16

          When will people learn that this is funny… Here, have an upvote.

        • Skramit on 21/03/2017 - 17:39

          @ozbjunkie:
          Heh at least one of you got it.

        • GregMonarch on 22/03/2017 - 02:58

          Look - it's the Australian version of Trigglepuff!

    • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 23:47
      -2

      Which the wife could've used for her husband replacement toy.

  • Nugs on 20/03/2017 - 16:58
    +2

    adjustable measuring spoon - used once

    stubborn to clean up
    stuff gets jammed in sliding bit.

    pet peeve, can't find individual spoons i.e. just teaspoon measure etc

  • lupiter on 20/03/2017 - 17:32

    Garlic crusher. I use minced garlic from the jar, or use it sliced.

    Pasta machine. I love homemade pasta but don't generally have the time/energy

    • try2bhelpful on 21/03/2017 - 08:25
      +1

      My biggest issue with the Pasta machine is separating out the strands and then drying them. If you don't they all seem to stick together when you cook them. The shops don't seem to need to do this with their fresh pasta. Does anyone know why this is?

      • partymix on 21/03/2017 - 20:07

        Try dusting the pasta sheet with flour before you put it through the bit that cuts it into strands, and make sure you sprinkle plenty of flour in that too, before you put the pasta sheet through!

      • bluesky on 23/03/2017 - 20:57

        I do not make pasta a lot anymore due to time/energy, as lupiter said. However, when I used to, I found a way to dry pasta after cutting them into strands without them sticking. You just hang them up on chopsticks, placed between two cereal boxes. Or use a clothes wire rack hanger (if making a lot).

        They do often split and break into two at the point of contact with the wire when they dry, so good to have a piece of cloth to catch them if/when they fall.

        This method is quite good, because you get dried pasta which can keep for a long time. And they look gorgeous when blended spinach etc is added into the pasta mix.

        • try2bhelpful on 23/03/2017 - 21:17
          +1

          yeah, I have a clothes airer I do it on, but it is very tedious separating them and you are correct about the strands breakding. Looking for a easier way to do this.

        • bluesky on 23/03/2017 - 21:22

          @try2bhelpful: Agree. That is why I gave up, and now just buy the angel hair pasta from woolworths (500g for $1). It is as fast as homemade pasta to cook (4 mins). Although one can argue, not as fresh.

      • srr on 03/12/2017 - 23:33

        Try drying sheets before cutting, then the strands won’t stick together. They have to be dry enough, but not overly, so you still can cut them.

        I normally dry excess on a towel.

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