Our kitchens have become hotbeds of innovation, packed with high-powered air fryers, countertop smokers and other impressive tools designed to make cooking easier. But not every gadget deserves a spot on your counter -- some are better off in the trash with the food scraps.
Rather than falling for every shiny new trend, it's wiser to invest in reliable, versatile gear that can actually make life easier. To help separate the helpful from the hype, we asked chefs and kitchen pros to weigh in on the tools they think are overrated -- and the ones worth holding onto. If you're looking to cut clutter and boost efficiency, knowing what not to buy can be just as valuable as knowing what to keep.
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.
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."
What to try instead: Mac 8-inch Japanese chef knife.
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