Image source: Unsplash
The average kitchen drawer is a museum of impulse buys. Corn peelers, banana slicers, avocado cutters—all promises of convenience that, more often than not, sit unused and gather dust. These single-use gadgets may seem helpful at first, but over time, they end up clogging your drawers, wasting money, and collecting grime.
As 2025 approaches, there’s no better time to take a hard look at what’s in your kitchen. The space you save and the functionality you gain by eliminating one-trick tools is well worth the effort. Even better, today’s market offers clever, compact alternatives that do the work of several devices in one.
Here are 10 single-use kitchen items that need to go and the multi-task marvels you should be using instead.
1. Garlic Presses
Garlic presses seem like a no-brainer. Just drop in a clove and squeeze, right? In reality, they’re a pain to clean, often leave behind valuable garlic oils, and are limited to just one function. Most people don’t even realize how much flavor they’re missing out on by pressing instead of mincing or grating.
In 2025, ditch the garlic press and opt for a microplane or fine grater. Not only can it turn garlic into a paste, but it can also zest citrus, shred nutmeg, and finely grate cheese. It rinses clean in seconds and earns its place in your drawer.
2. Avocado Slicers
Avocado slicers, with their oddly shaped plastic blades and seed-removal tools, are the definition of kitchen overkill. They take up space and solve a problem that a knife and spoon have handled perfectly well for decades.
You can easily slice, dice, and scoop avocados with a simple chef’s knife and a tablespoon. Want more efficiency? Use a utility knife and a paring knife combo. These basic tools handle dozens of other ingredients, too, so there’s no need to devote space to something with such a narrow focus.
3. Egg Separators
Egg separators are marketed as the solution to a slippery, sticky task, but they’re actually more cumbersome than helpful. Most people still end up with some yolk in their whites and then have to clean a plastic tool on top of it.
The truth is, your hands or the eggshell itself work just as well. And if you want a neater alternative, a slotted spoon can do double duty for separating eggs, draining blanched veggies, and serving pasta. Why waste drawer space on a gadget that only does one thing?
4. Popcorn Makers
Dedicated popcorn machines seem fun until you realize how much space they occupy for something used, maybe once or twice a month. Countertop or electric models are bulky, hard to clean, and require storage space you probably don’t have.
Instead, switch to a heavy-bottomed saucepan with a lid. Not only does it pop corn just as efficiently, but it can also be used for sauces, soups, boiling pasta, and more. Add a metal mesh splatter screen if you want more ventilation and fewer stray kernels.
5. Herb Scissors
Herb scissors with five blades may look impressive, but they rarely deliver clean cuts and tend to mash tender herbs. Cleaning between the blades is also a chore, and they only work for a narrow range of ingredients.
A sharp chef’s knife and a cutting board are faster, neater, and far more versatile. With proper technique, you can chiffonade basil, mince parsley, and even chop hardier herbs like rosemary without dragging out a specialty tool. You’ll also save time on cleanup and eliminate another gadget from your drawer.
6. Strawberry Hollowers
Strawberry hullers are supposed to save you time, but they often leave behind half the berry or struggle to remove the green tops cleanly. They don’t store easily and offer zero utility for anything else.
A simple paring knife removes strawberry tops, cores tomatoes, and trims mushrooms with ease. It fits in your drawer, lasts for years, and doesn’t require multiple attempts to get the job done. Single-use hullers, on the other hand, just add unnecessary clutter.
7. Electric Can Openers
Unless you have a medical condition that limits hand strength, an electric can opener is rarely necessary. They’re noisy, require frequent cleaning, and occupy valuable counter space. Worst of all, many of them break within a couple of years.
A well-designed manual can opener does the job just as fast, and it fits in a drawer, needs no power, and often lasts for decades. Look for models with smooth-edge cutting wheels and ergonomic handles. You’ll save space, reduce waste, and still open cans with ease.
Image source: Unsplash
8. Single-Use Coffee Pod Machines
Coffee pod machines might seem convenient, but they’re among the most wasteful kitchen devices out there. The cost per cup is astronomical compared to ground beans, and the environmental impact of the pods is troubling. Plus, you’re locked into using a specific type of pod system.
A French press or pour-over system not only gives you fresher, better-tasting coffee but can also be used to brew tea or infuse water. They’re affordable, compact, and create far less waste. If you need speed, electric kettles now heat water in under two minutes—faster than most pod machines.
9. Rice Cookers
Rice cookers may have been a staple of the early 2000s, but in 2025, there are better multi-use appliances that deserve your counter space. Standard rice cookers do just that—cook rice. And sometimes, not even very well.
An Instant Pot or similar electric pressure cooker can handle rice, but it can also make yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, pulled pork, soups, stews, pasta, and steamed vegetables. That kind of versatility makes it a kitchen powerhouse. There’s no reason to keep a one-note rice cooker when so many better options exist.
10. Yogurt Makers
Dedicated yogurt makers seem like a smart buy for health-conscious families, but they tend to be limited in function, finicky in process, and take up shelf space you could use more effectively.
Multi-cookers or Instant Pots with yogurt settings eliminate the need for a stand-alone device. They allow you to make yogurt, ferment dough, and prepare slow-cook meals, as well as an entire week’s worth of lunches. The result is better value and less clutter in your kitchen.
How to Make the Switch
Start with a simple audit. Empty one kitchen drawer or cabinet and ask yourself how often you use each item. If it hasn’t been touched in six months and only serves one function, it’s probably time to let it go.
Replace rarely used gadgets with tools that serve multiple roles. Look for high-quality knives, cast iron pans, silicone spatulas, and small appliances with multiple cooking modes. You’ll not only gain back space but also improve the flow and function of your cooking routine. The best kitchen tools aren’t the ones that promise to do one thing better. They’re the ones that let you do more, faster, with fewer obstacles in the way.
Declutter for Better Cooking
2025 is the perfect year to reclaim your kitchen. With better-designed, multi-purpose tools available at every price point, there’s no reason to keep drawers full of novelty gadgets and broken promises. Let go of the one-hit wonders and invest in kitchen essentials that truly earn their keep.
A cleaner, more efficient kitchen means more enjoyable cooking, fewer frustrating messes, and less money wasted on impulse buys. Don’t let your tools control your space. Choose ones that serve you well and often.
Which single-use gadget do you regret buying, and which multi-use tool has earned a permanent place in your kitchen?
Read More:
What Kitchen Renovations Bring the Most ROI in 2025?
Here Are the Most Useful Kitchen Gadgets Under $10 on Amazon
Riley is an Arizona native with over nine years of writing experience. From personal finance to travel to digital marketing to pop culture, she’s written about everything under the sun. When she’s not writing, she’s spending her time outside, reading, or cuddling with her two corgis.
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