Ridiculous Products

[Melmac]

Oooh, I just remembered another gadget that made me laugh - my ex-BIL had a thing called a Hot-Diggety-Dogger - kind of like a hot dog and bun toaster. He loved that silly thing!! I wonder if he still has it.

Before I read this thread, I had never heard of a whoopie pie so I googled it and now I want one! They look so good!

I don't have much space for kitchen gadgets so I only have a few that I use on a regular basis: food processor, ice tea maker (for some reason, just boiling water makes the ice tea taste different Who knows.), toaster, electric kettle and steamer. We don't even have a coffee maker. I have been gifted over the years with a juicer, blender, magic chop, George Forman, etc. but these have all ended up in garage sales at one point or another.

However, as a kid, I would have loved to have owned the cupcake maker.

 

[Heidict]

I can see the allure of some of the gadgets out there. I have a few myself and of course, they are rarely used and just take up space, but boy, I had to have them when I saw them!

Here is one that I just can't figure out though. Talk about useless. I just can't imagine how this is easier then doing it the old fashioned way.

EZ Cracker. For everyone who just can't crack an egg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CB2MVZgt5Y

I love the over exaggerations they use. Yeah, I always try to crack my eggs by banging on them with a fork.

 

[maggiew]

Oooh, I just remembered another gadget that made me laugh - my ex-BIL had a thing called a Hot-Diggety-Dogger - kind of like a hot dog and bun toaster. He loved that silly thing!! I wonder if he still has it.

I thought about getting that for my DD. She LOVES hotdogs and could live off of them (try as I might to get her to eat other things). But she is just as happy popping the hotdog in the microwave for a few seconds.

I can see the allure of some of the gadgets out there. I have a few myself and of course, they are rarely used and just take up space, but boy, I had to have them when I saw them!

Here is one that I just can't figure out though. Talk about useless. I just can't imagine how this is easier then doing it the old fashioned way.

EZ Cracker. For everyone who just can't crack an egg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CB2MVZgt5Y

I love the over exaggerations they use. Yeah, I always try to crack my eggs by banging on them with a fork.

The only thing that I like about that gadget is that I wouldn't have to touch the egg. I am so worried about getting salmonella that I scrub my hands immediately after cracking eggs before I move on to the next step.

Maggie

 

[bardis]

Not a kitchen gadget but this is my favorite "I can't believe this thing exists" item:

 

[bardis]

http://reviews.skymall.com/5773/203...tion-solafeet-foot-tanner-reviews/reviews.htm

(Sorry for the separate posts -- I needed 10 to post a link.)

 

[jrmasm]

There are some silly products out there (and I've bought a few...). I think a quesadilla (sp) is one of the dumbest - all you need is a frying pan or oven. My gluten free dd eats them a lot!

I agree with this one! I received the quesadilla maker as a gift and used it only once. What a waste. The frying pan was quicker, easier, and made better quesadillas. Off to the yard sale for you, quesadilla maker machine!

DD uses our Quesadilla maker at least twice a week.

Oooh, I just remembered another gadget that made me laugh - my ex-BIL had a thing called a Hot-Diggety-Dogger - kind of like a hot dog and bun toaster. He loved that silly thing!! I wonder if he still has it.

That thing makes the BEST hot dogs. I've had one for years and it always survives a kitchen gadget purge.

 

[cluvsdisney]

http://reviews.skymall.com/5773/203...tion-solafeet-foot-tanner-reviews/reviews.htm

(Sorry for the separate posts -- I needed 10 to post a link.)

Now THIS is useful!!


I used to get so caught up in the gadget/appliance of the moment but now I try not to buy appliances with a single use if I can help it.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I have a love/hate relationship with kitchen gadgets. I love using them but I hate cleaning and storing them. The ones I've found to be worth the space/effort are as follows:

KitchenAid mixer - I wouldn't be the woman I am without it.
Crockpot w/ timer - This makes me Martha Stewart's second cousin once removed.
Rice Cooker/Steamer - Cuisinart stainless. Small. Can be left on the counter.
Vitamix Blender - If you ever need to get rid of a body, this little baby can pulverize anything. We love to make Starbucks and Jamba quality drinks at home. I am seriously considering sending my Cuisinart food processor to Catholic Charities because the Vitamix is easier to use and clean.
Digital Kitchen scale - When precise measuring counts... or if you're counting calories.
Toaster/Convection oven - GREAT for quickly broiling, toasting.
Stir Crazy Popcorn Maker - makes DIVINE popcorn... and roasts nuts.
Bialetti Mukka Express - real espresso and cappuccino. Stovetop.
Cuisinart stick/immersion blender - can't make black bean soup without it

Things I happily donated after one use:

Breadmaker
Fancy fryer
Pizza Oven
Ice cream maker
Ice Tea Maker
Triple tiered steamer
Juicer
Sandwich maker
Quesadilla maker
Ice Cream Sandwich maker


We don't have a cake pop maker (they don't make the currently popular cake balls that we love) but I did get DD a brownie maker for her birthday. She's made brownies and cake in it so far with great results.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

Electric can openers, good grief! But who doesn't love em?

Electric can openers are a must if you're a lefty!!! I had a manual, but don't have the same hand strength and coordination in my right hand that I do in my left, and so it's harder to open cans, and trying to do it whilst the arms are crossed over, nope, doesn't work so well!

Needless to say, I've got plenty of kitchen gadgets that I love, crepe maker (husband bought me this after we went to France), quesadilla maker (my mom bought me this one, even my DH can use it!), Disney shaped waffle maker (OK, getting the waffle out of the Goofy and Pluto holes is pretty hard, but they're so cute!), we've even got a Popeil Pasta Maker! Although we haven't used that one in years and years

 

[doclegler]

I have to completely agree that WE personally don't need ANY of those products! (I have enough kitchen messes!)
On a side note, my son just told me that just today his 5th grade teacher had them make advertisements.....for the most ridiculous "things" she could find in the Skymall magazines you find in airplanes! She cut off the name and price, and they had to make up an ad for those unnecessary products. He loved every minute of it!

 

[duffy]

My favorite useless kitchen gadget from years past was the onion blossom maker-anyone remember those? We bought one at a yard sale for a buck, tried it, made a colossal mess and threw it away! If I want an onion blossom, I'll get one from a restaurant.

My favorite useless general gadget is Mr. Steamy. I get the same results from wetting a small towel and tossing it in with my wrinkly laundry. I don't need to buy another gadget to do that.

 

[C.Ann]

I view it as we all have things that are well... useless to others. Right now on my wish list at Amazon is a cookie jar that looks like Dr. Who's Tardis. I am sure most people would look at that $30 cookie jar and wonder what on God's green earth I was thinking putting it as something I wanted to buy On the other hand, during our latest move my step-grandmother gave us many, many kitchen gadgets that went straight to the goodwill pile that she thought would be extremely useful. Worth is in the eyes of the beholder

I agree that what may seem useless to one person is very useful to another.. I have a Fry Daddy (remember those?).. That's what I use to make donuts; fried onion rings; deep-fried mushrooms and other veggies; fried scallops; etc.. I could do the exact seem thing on the stove - with a big pot of hot oil - but in my eyes, that's more of a fire hazard than the electrical Fry Daddy - yet I'm sure some would think it's just another "gadget"..

My mother thinks a dishwasher is a silly useless product... She uses hers for storage.

This would be me - LOL.. Don't like dishwashers - never have - and always wash the dishes by hand when I'm back at my DD's - even though they have a dishwasher right next to the sink..

I can think of one "gadget" I don't have, that I might be tempted to buy if I saw it dirt cheap.. That would be the hot dog/bun gizmo.. Although I don't eat hot dogs all that often, I have heard many, many people say how good they taste when they're made in that contraption..

A few years ago my DGD (now 12) wanted a Magic Bullet for Christmas.. (She loves to cook; make smoothies; bake; etc..) That was the only "big" thing she asked for.. Well - her mom bought it for her - her dad thought it would be just another "gadget" cluttering up the kitchen - but as it turns out, she used it so much she ended up wearing it out a few months ago.. Guess what she wants for her BD? Yep - another Magic Bullet..LOL..

It's nice to be able to have "choices".. Choosing to buy or not buy is fun - and definitely a personal choice.. Neither choice is wrong in my eyes..

 

[dntd]

I loved my iced tea machine. I wish I hadn't donated my popcorn popper because now I want one and they are $30. I do use my George Fourman quite a bit, easy grilled cheese. I used to have a sandwich maker...remember those? Oh and a Fry Baby and Fry Daddy.

Get a whirly pop maker for the stove, best investment yet! Cheap and efficient. I have even made candy popcorn in it. Those run under $20.

 

[karinbelle]

I just LOVE ridiculous kitchen gadgets...and the people who buy them....use them once or twice (or never) and then sell them to ME for a dollar at a tag sale when they clean house..... then I get to try the ridiculous item for a few weeks,and pass it along......
really,I do this all the time, just to try the item,then I goodwill it when I'm sick of it,kind of like a rental plan for unneeded gadgets....
the truth is most of these things are ridiculous,but fun for a little while,and while I wouldn't want to waste $$$ on them,I enjoy trying them temporarily

They do sound fun... I'm on the lookout at yardsale season for the cakepop maker.

 

[ceecee]

Get a whirly pop maker for the stove, best investment yet! Cheap and efficient. I have even made candy popcorn in it. Those run under $20.

Can it be made without oil? We're trying to get away from the high fat content.

 

[superme80]

I really want the donut maker!!!! But the cake pop makers??? I thought it was pretty useless too.

 

[Heidict]

I really want the donut maker!!!! But the cake pop makers??? I thought it was pretty useless too.

I don't know about that. I just googled cake pop maker because I had no idea what it was and now I want one!!

 

[Singleminnie]

I work part time at Kohl's and this weekend I saw several of the cake pops, and babycake machines go through my line. I remember when I was a kid (back in the early 80's0)0 we had a doughnut maker and we loved it. I would get one but I live in an apartment right now so I have no room!

 

[dntd]

Can it be made without oil? We're trying to get away from the high fat content.

I use olive oil, not much either for a large pot popped, just enough to coat the seeds. Olive oil is healthy but you could use coconut butter as that has a lot of health properties in it( some people eat that raw as a daily supplement). I find it tastes better then air popped.

 

[maggiew]

My favorite useless general gadget is Mr. Steamy. I get the same results from wetting a small towel and tossing it in with my wrinkly laundry. I don't need to buy another gadget to do that.

For some reason this reminds me of the Mr. Microphone ad: "Hey good-looking, We'll be back to pick you up later."

Maggie