Buying Kitchen Gadgets

For the person in your life who loves being in the kitchen, gadgets designed for that space are the ultimate toys. Items that make a job easier, make food look more luscious, or improve the overall efficiency of the kitchen are wonderful, and there’s certainly no shortage of supply. For the past 80 years or so a wide variety of companies have come out with a similarly wide variety of goodies for everything from grating to making sandwiches. So how do you go about choosing from the plethora of items available?

Food Processor Blender Combination by Cuisinart

Food Processors, Blenders and can Openers, how do you select them?

Well, first don’t watch too many info-commercials! They’re going to try to make even substandard items seem exciting and absolutely necessary. Instead, go online and check consumer reviews for the items you’re considering. Other users will tell you the truth about whether the item really makes the task easier or the food better.

Next, think long-term in your purchases. If the gadget requires a lot of maintenance, or it takes a long time to set up and clean up, you’re loosing a lot of value in person hours. When people discover these kinds of flaws, the item ends up being used less too (so it’s just taking up valuable storage space).

Third, ask yourself if you already have something that does the same task equally well? Most kitchens don’t have limitless counter and drawer space, so eliminate duplication from the get go. A herb grinder, for example, is wonderful but a coffee grinder does a similar job (you just have to clean it out afterward). Similarly a blender works fine for making smoothies so why get a separate appliance just for those beverages?

Food Processor by Cuisinart

Fourth, is the item season-sensitive (i.e. a Christmas tree shaped gelatin mold). While that choice makes a pretty dessert during December, the rest of the year it’s going to sit unused, again taking up valuable space. If you’ve got plenty of storage – no problem, but otherwise think long and hard before making these purchases.

Fifth, I think gadgets should be creative and fun – they should inspire you to play with your food. Nonetheless, cost is a factor here. A lot of niche items carry brand name pricing that pinches a frugal homemaker’s budget. Let’s face it, we did quite well with mechanical can openers (in fact, I still use one). Newer and flashier doesn’t always mean better or necessary. So, let your budget and sensibility guide you.

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