Nothing injects a special dash of excitement into cooking like a fancy new kitchen gadget. Who can resist the allure of the almighty egg cuber, or the fun they’ll have Sunday morning whipping out that pancake pen? Odds are you already have a few hyperspecialized tools stashed in your cabinets and are itching to add one or three more.

“This category of small kitchen appliances and tools is hard for people to resist,” points out Pamela O’Brien, interior decorator at Pamela Hope Designs.

Alas, the thrill you’ll feel using that carrot sharpener or condiment gun is bound to be short-lived, at which point you’ll be cramming it into stuffed drawers and regretting this impulse purchase.

That’s why we’re here to stage an intervention and let you know whether your kitchen gadget habit is out of control. See if you recognize your own kitchen choices in any of these red flags below— and if so, it might be high time to start purging rather than adding to your collection.

1. You have kitchen tools you can’t identify

Photo by Studio Dearborn 

Spatula, ladle, ice cream scoop. But what’s the small, pink, plastic doohickey for? If you can’t name the gadget you bought last year (hello, it’s a strawberry huller), then odds are razor-slim you’ll be using it anytime soon.

In fact, many single-use tools (apple slicer, pickle fork, cake tester) taking up room in your drawers actually go by other names: knife, regular fork, toothpick. You’re welcome.

2. It’s an aspirational gadget you think you should use, but don’t

Photo by The French Tradition 

Healthy eating is a worthy goal, but if you don’t like smoothies, that juicer isn’t doing you any good. Ditto for the air popper for popcorn when you secretly hate those nasty, dry kernels.

If you find yourself reaching for that good ol’ saucepan and some vegetable oil for your next Netflix binge snack, take a hard look at your small appliance collection and weed out the ones you bought for the better self you’ll never become.

3. You bought it purely because it’s popular or majorly on sale

Photo by Haile Kitchen & Bath LLC 

Just because it’s a hot item and all your friends and neighbors seem to have one—and they were practically giving them away on Black Friday—it does not mean you should own a bread maker/home rotisserie/pressure cooker. No matter how great a deal it is, make sure it’s something you’ll actually use, since the only person who uses your kitchen is, well, you.

4. You bought a mini version of a gadget you already have

Honestly, did you really need that mini waffle maker to sit alongside that regular-sized waffle maker you barely use?

We know mini appliances are so cute and all the rage this year—mini rice cookers, mini blenders, mini air fryers, etc.—but resist if you can. Same goes for doubling up via “smart” versions of appliances you already have and can operate just fine (because seriously, how smart can a smart toaster truly be?) and even holiday-themed appliances. A waffle imprinted with a snowman loses its thrill fast.

5. Your storage is so stuffed, you can’t find the gadget when you need it

Sure, you want to be prepared when you’re cooking meals for the family, but if your counters are groaning and there’s nary a nook in your closet for one more item, it’s time to pare down.

“The kitchen is the gathering space in most homes, and keeping it tidy and minimal makes it more aesthetically appealing,” says Lindsay Roselle, a podcaster and design coach.

Can’t decide which one to part with? Here’s some advice from O’Brien: “A best practice is the ‘one in, one out’ rule.”

So if you get a new toaster, the old one (if it’s in good working order) should be free-cycled or donated to a good cause. Consider a local shelter or after-school program at school.

6. You bought the gadget purely as countertop decor

We get it, you’re trying to add “pops of color” to your otherwise monochromatic kitchen. But we’re urging you to consider dish towels or a fruit bowl for this idea, rather than another tea kettle. A kitchen is a workhorse room that must remain functional and clutter-free.

“Gadgets as decor, like a standing mixer, are a big no,” says Roselle. These occasional items belong in a cabinet.

7. You keep it on the counter for lack of out-of-sight storage space

Katie McCann, the organizing professional at Haven, says, “even if you use something once a week, you can just pull it out from the shelf and put it back in its home when you’re done to save space.”

And if you lack cabinet space to store it? Then there’s a problem.

O’Brien suggests creating a coffee or similar beverage station in tucked-away corners of the kitchen such as a butler’s pantry or closet, which “is great for families who are whipping up multiple smoothies and coffee drinks on busy mornings.”

This way, you can close the door on your small gadget and not have to view it all the time. Phew!

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