Pro Chefs Say These Are the 20 Most Useless Kitchen Gadgets

From mandolins to onion goggles, these are the tools chefs say you should avoid buying.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:56am

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Some kitchen tools are essential, but many gadgets are simply taking up space in your drawers and cupboards. We asked career chefs to share the kitchen tools and gadgets they wish we'd all stop buying, from mandolins and onion holders to Bluetooth meat thermometers and electric can openers.

Why it matters

Sticking to the basics and mastering essential kitchen skills can save you money and storage space that would otherwise be wasted on gimmicky, single-use gadgets. Relying too much on specialized tools can actually hold you back from developing real technique.

The details

Chefs like Masaharu Morimoto, Eric Rowse, Peter Som, Richard Ingraham, and Jackie Carnesi shared their picks for the most overrated and useless kitchen tools. Some of the biggest offenders include mandolins, onion holders and goggles, metal and glass cutting boards, Bluetooth meat thermometers, electric can openers, and specialized tools for tasks like slicing avocados, separating eggs, and cutting bagels.

  • The article was published on April 2, 2026.

The players

Masaharu Morimoto

A celebrity chef and restaurateur.

Eric Rowse

A lead chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles.

Peter Som

A cookbook author and lifestyle expert.

Richard Ingraham

A personal chef to Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, and the author of "Love: My Love Expressed Through Food".

Jackie Carnesi

The executive chef at Kellogg's Diner.

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What they’re saying

“While it brings good slices, mastering proper knife skills gives you more control, precision and safety in the long run. Mandolins can be bulky, hard to clean and risky if you're not extremely careful.”

— Masaharu Morimoto, Celebrity chef, restaurateur

“These look like a weapon for Wolverine wannabes; it's meant to help you hold a whole onion and "chop" it. Instead, cut the onion in half to create a flat surface so it won't roll away.”

— Eric Rowse, Lead chef-instructor, Institute of Culinary Education, Los Angeles

“Most of us grew up with an electric can opener permanently stationed on the kitchen counter, like it was a vital appliance. But truthfully, they're more nostalgia than necessity.”

— Peter Som, Cookbook author and lifestyle expert

“A tool just for separating yolks is unnecessary for most home cooks.”

— Richard Ingraham, Personal chef to Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, author of "Love: My Love Expressed Through Food"

“Oven mitts are the most useless item in a home kitchen. A sturdy kitchen towel does the same job, and odds are, it's more likely to be washed regularly.”

— Jackie Carnesi, Executive chef, Kellogg's Diner

The takeaway

By sticking to the essentials and mastering fundamental kitchen skills, home cooks can save money and storage space that would otherwise be wasted on single-use gadgets. Relying too heavily on specialized tools can actually hinder the development of important techniques.