Expert Advice from Top Chefs: Ditch the Gadgets and Stick with Essentials

Kitchen gadgets come in all shapes and sizes, but that doesn't mean all of them are actually useful. While essential kitchen utensils get used constantly and can speed up your cooking process, some options are just going to take up space and end up collecting dust. Choosing versatile options like a quality knife or kitchen shears means that you'll build skills and ensure those tools get used on a regular basis.

Instead of chasing every buzzy new appliance, it pays to stick with gear that's functional, reliable, and actually makes your life easier. To help you sort the essentials from the excess, we asked chefs and kitchen pros which gadgets are worth the hype -- and which ones are better left behind. When decluttering your kitchen, knowing what not to buy is just as important as knowing what to keep.

Masaharu Morimoto's Pick for the Most Overrated Kitchen Tool

Chef Masaharu Morimoto shared his pick for the most overrated kitchen tool: the mandolin. While it can bring 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," says Morimoto. "Relying too much on a mandolin or tools like a two-in-one apple cutter or 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."

Eric Rowse's Warning Against Gimmicky Kitchen Tools

Lead chef-instructor of the Institute of Culinary Education, Los Angeles, Eric Rowse knows a gimmicky kitchen tool when he sees one. He warns against onion goggles, which are meant to help you cut onions but often end up making things worse.

"These look like a weapon for Wolverine wannabes; it's meant to help you hold a whole onion and 'chop' it," says Rowse. "Instead, cut the onion in half to create a flat surface so it won't roll away. If you're trying to cut rings, save the $14 and stick a fork in the root and hold the fork."

Other Chefs' Worst Nightmare: A Slice of Onion-Inducing Panic

Cookbook author Peter Butler shares his own experience with onion goggles, which left him feeling frustrated and defeated.

"A waste of money, as they don't form a great seal around the eyes to prevent the sulfur compounds from getting to your eyes and making you cry," says Butler. "Keep your knife sharp and open a window or turn on a fan instead."

The Verdict: What to Try Instead

Our list of the best cutting boards features plenty of knife-safe options, so ditch those glass, metal, stone, and acrylic cutting boards for wood or poly. And if you're looking for a tool devoted to shredding chicken, two forks will do the trick.

Instant read meat probes may be convenient, but they can be expensive and prone to breaking. ThermoPro's Lightning Instant Read Thermometer is a great alternative. A manual can opener is cheaper, works great, and is less likely to break than those electric monstrosities.

The Bottom Line

Remember, choosing versatile options like a quality knife or kitchen shears means that you'll build skills and ensure those tools get used on a regular basis. Stick with gear that's functional, reliable, and actually makes your life easier, and don't waste your money on gimmicky gadgets.