5 Kitchen Gadgets That Aren't Worth the Price
Expensive wine openers
Being a wine maker and wine judge, I have owned just about every style and size of wine opener on the planet. Friends and family seem to think they make the perfect gift for me. Some of them cost upwards of $75 which makes me cringe. Nothing has ever worked better than my one-armed wine pull I still have from my days as a bartender. It's 25 years old and cost a few dollars. I'll probably pass it down to my grandchildren.
Margarita maker
To be fair to me, I was young when I bought it and it was on sale. Ads for margarita makers make you picture yourself throwing fabulous parties for all your friends and whipping up these frozen concoctions in an instant. The fact is that I've never made enough margaritas so far in my life to justify the cost. It is a glorified blender but without the power of a real blender so it really can't be used for much else. I sold my dream of being a party hostess to someone else at a long ago yard sale.
Juicer
I don't just have one juicer. I have two. I rarely used the first one so I thought the second one would do the trick. They are both a pain to set up and use and an even worse pain to try to clean. If you make 30 gallons of raw juice a week, they might be worth the cost but, by the time I get everything ready to juice, I no longer have the desire for it. Both juicers are hiding at the back of my cupboard, ignored and unloved.
Anything I ever bought at a home sales party
You have likely attended at least one of these. Your friend or a friend of a friend hosts a party and someone comes and gets everyone a little tipsy on wine and then sells you a whole bunch of really expensive kitchen gadgets. I can't even count the number of kitchen tools I've purchased under the influence of a couple of glasses of Chardonnay. Most of them are useful and I do use them regularly. However, you can find almost all of them at your local kitchenware store for about a third of the price.
Hamburger patty maker
I've owned several of these over the years because they always seem like such a good idea. Having beautiful, uniform patties appeals to me. The reality is, however, that they are difficult to use, hard to extract the patties from and a pain to clean properly. Using them raises my blood pressure to the point that I am ready to toss them in the garbage immediately. I have done just that on occasion.
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Published by Angie Mohr CA CMA - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance
Angie Mohr is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Management Accountant who has worked with thousands of business clients from home-based entrepreneurs to rock bands to celebrity chefs. She is also the auth... View profile
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15 Comments
Post a CommentDidn't even know they made patty makers.
But I have been really thinking of buying a juicer. Hmmmm, now I have doubts.
As I was standing in line to pay for my $120 juicer, the lady in front of me said, "You'll never use that." I looked at her really finny and didn't know what to say. She was right. 'Wish I had listened.
I have a hamburger patty press that I use all the time. I put wax paper in between it and the meat, but other than that, it works great. Good article.
i too have learned the hard lesson on fancy kitchen gadgets. i learned that it's just another thing to wash and store. my parents have a hamburger patty maker and they've had it for years. they use it all the time and love it. of course, i'm sure it's nothing like the ones you see in the stores today. you know, "they just don't make things like they used to". one thing i absolutely love is my slap chopper. it's loud and i hate having to wash it every time i use it but at least i dont cry over my onions anymore!
That hamburger patty maker is a complete waste of money. I tossed mine out on the first try.
How true! I have one of those juices too, and I love fresh vegetable juice,especially carrot and celery together, tons of pulp left very little juice and a pain in the ass to set up and clean!
LOL, the truth with a sense of humor, thanks Angie!
I really want a juicer, but even my blender is annoying for me to clean.. hmm! :) thanks!
I agree with you on everything except the hamburger patty maker. I use one regularly to make the fish and rice mixture I feed my dogs into uniformed, easy to store and freeze patties. I wouldn't bother using it for burgers though.
Very funny and good writing to boot.