Countertop real estate is valuable, and when you're short on space, every inch counts. That's why it's frustrating when drawers get crowded with gadgets that looked fun at first but quickly collect dust. Whether it's an avocado cuber, a corn kernel stripper or a specialty peeler you forgot you even owned, these single-use tools often take up more room than they're worth.
Instead of giving in to gimmicks, it's smarter to build your kitchen around dependable, multifunctional gear. We asked chefs and kitchen pros which gadgets they consider totally unnecessary-and which tools actually pull their weight. If you're ready to declutter and streamline your space, knowing what not to buy is just as important as knowing what to keep.
To find out which kitchen tools aren't worth the space they occupy, I turned to five professional chefs. These career cooks are the ultimate authority on which kitchen gadgets should get the boot -- especially when cupboard, counter and drawer space is limited. Each one listed their least favorite kitchen tools and offered their preferred method or tool for completing the cooking task that they're meant to do.
Here's what they said.
Masaharu Morimoto
Celebrity chef, restauranteur
Masaharu Morimoto shared his pick for the most overrated kitchen tool. Dave Kotinsky/Stringer/Getty
1. Mandolin
Chef Morimoto encourages beefing up your knife skills to make thin and uniform vegetable slices. Milk Street
Why: "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. Relying too much on a mandolin, or tools like a two-in-one apple cutter or a tomato corer can hold you back from developing real technique. Taking the time to learn how to handle a sharp chef's knife or Japanese blade will help you in almost every recipe."
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