Home Kitchen Gadgets: To Buy or Not to Buy

Kitchen Gadgets: To Buy or Not to Buy

There are various factors to consider before spending money on the latest kitchen gadgets. Here’s a helpful guide for regret-free decisions.

Kitchen gadgets are all the rage these days…and for good reason! If you’re like most people, you’ve spent a significant amount of time researching what’s new in kitchen gadgets. In addition, you may be assessing your alternatives. Further, you may be making decisions about the next few purchases that will help you update your kitchen.
Here are some suggestions to help you decide.

1. Take into consideration how a gadget will complement your culinary technique.

Every single one of us approaches cooking in a unique manner. Some people like to consume primarily fried or grilled foods. Other people prefer to steam, bake, or boil their food rather than fry or grill it.
No matter how much you enjoy cooking, it’s guaranteed that some kitchen gadgets will be a waste of money. Always consider whether or not you aren’t going to use them on a consistent basis.
Think about a veggie spiralizer, for example.
It is unlikely to be used effectively unless you enjoy producing zucchini noodles on a regular basis. If you are not vegan or vegetarian, a vegetable spiralizer is unlikely to be effective. In addition, it’s also reasonable to assume that you will not receive value for your money if you purchase a food thermometer which is mostly used for cooking meat. This may be true if you are following a planned diet.
Therefore, before you make a new purchase, consider your lifestyle. Furthermore, think about whether or not you will be using your new kitchen gadget on a regular basis. This will determine whether or not your purchase is a worthwhile investment.

2. Consider the following question: How many different ways can I utilize this gadget?

As previously stated, the goal of this post is to guide you through the process of selecting useful kitchen gadgets. In addition, it’s to help you stay within your budget.
It’s for this reason that we couldn’t resist mentioning this next thing. That is, some of the ostensibly must-have kitchen gadgets aren’t actually necessary. If you can’t use them in more than one way they are probably not worth your money.
Take, for instance, a pomegranate deseeder. Certainly, it’s a low-cost kitchen accessory. However, how many pomegranates do you consume in a year? Suppose you are lucky enough to have a pomegranate orchard in your backyard. Well, this would surely be a purchase that would fall under the category of useful kitchen gadgets. If not, however, purchasing one would most likely be considered frivolous. That is because it is literally designed to perform only one thing.
A smart blender, on the other hand, can help you make any number of things. It can make anything from smoothies to sauces. In addition, it can even make baby food with relative ease.
Furthermore, with a meatball master, you can create perfectly formed meatballs. In addition, you can also freeze cookie dough and create flavored gourmet butter. Still more, you can make pesto with herbs and you can even make specialty chocolates.
You see the difference, don’t you?

3. Consider how much space you have for new kitchen gadgets.

In terms of how much space they take up, it’s tempting to dismiss little kitchen gadgets as unimportant.
However, believe us when we tell you that clutter can quickly mount. The last thing you want to do is go on a shopping spree.
For example, you might go around scooping up fancy kitchen gadgets or silicone forms that appear to be small and take up little space. After that, however, you return home and discover that you have absolutely no place to put them away.
The same is true for any kitchen gadgets you might wish to purchase in the future. Little items add up over time.
However, larger kitchen appliances can take up a significant amount of valuable counter space. That counter space could otherwise be used for cooking or storing other kitchen equipment or spices. You certainly don’t want to take up all your counter space with kitchen gadgets. You still need to have room to move around and cook.

Conclusion

It’s true that some of us like to have the ability to be one step ahead of the competition. We like owning the latest and greatest kitchen gadgets. For some, this is always appealing.
However, you need to be aware of a few factors that will make life a little easier. It’s important to distinguish between what makes a sensible purchase and what defines an impulse purchase.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Brad Anderson
Editor

Brad is the former editor who oversaw contributed content at ReadWrite.com. He previously worked as an editor at PayPal and Crunchbase.

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