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What gimmicky gadget have you been sucked into recently?

(138 Posts)
Sago Thu 21-Mar-24 14:10:30

This morning I nearly bought a plastic scraper that would do a million things, then a lint roller that would restore my carpets, after lunch a foundation popped up on Instagram that would change my life.
I have resisted them all and saved about £60.
What gimmicky widgety stuff have you purchased and was it good?

NannyEm Sun 24-Mar-24 16:16:17

My grown up children call me Gadget Woman. I have most of the items mentioned here, some in a smaller size as well as normal, as there is just me to cook for. I get bored with eating the same things and enjoy cooking in different ways.
Every time I see a new cooking appliance on the shopping channel, I start to sweat, my heart beats faster and my eyes glaze over. I have seriously run out of room now but regularly use all the items I have. I have no trouble with George. I just wipe with paper towel while still hot (or reheat) and most of the grease and cooking bits wipe off straight away. I then use hot water and detergent on paper towel followed by clean hot water on paper towel in case of leftover detergent taste. This is followed by a wipe over to dry. It only takes a couple of minutes and can be put straight away.

win Sun 24-Mar-24 16:20:30

I gave away my Kenwood Mixer
My Yogurt maker
My vegetable chopper
2 egg slicers
a mini chopper
a chocolate fountain

I still have a garlic masher never used
a toaster I never use
and apart from a couple of vacuum cleaners and a steamer I thankfully have no more gadgets.
Oh yes a tyre pressure gadget that some kind sole uses for me when required, if that counts.

Julest Sun 24-Mar-24 16:26:21

Salti

Julest, my breadmaker is a Panasonic. I just use the recipes that came with it. It takes me under 5 minutes to dump the ingredients in it on a night. I usually then set it off on it's timer and wake up to the smell of fresh bread. However for some reason there are no new Panasonic breadmakers available anywhere at the moment so if you're not going to use it now might be a good time to sell it.

If it’s really that easy I should try it once to see if I think I would use it. If not I will give it to someone who would appreciate it

essjay Sun 24-Mar-24 16:50:28

my best "gagdet" is my air fryer, would not be without it and bought a crimpit for my sister which has been a godsend as she is not a very good eater due to health issues and this has got her eating, she finds eating wraps so much easier than a sandwich

Granmarderby10 Sun 24-Mar-24 17:15:05

Ooh I had a chocolate fountain it came free with a washing machine, I gave it to a charity shop unopened.
I have a garlic crusher- is that the same as a masher ?

nahsma Sun 24-Mar-24 17:18:48

Silvermite

The place to stay away from for small gadgets is Lakeland. It’s always full of things you never knew you needed.!

But my Lakeland Remoska is a wonderful thing! It started life in eastern Europe in cold war times seemingly, as you could plug it in to a light socket! It's big enough to roast a chicken, but small enough to cook dishes for one. I got our first one years ago to use when the kitchen was being replaced and when it eventually died I was bereft, and bought a new one! I rarely use the 'big' oven as the Remoska is both easy to clean and cheap.

HillyN Sun 24-Mar-24 17:20:03

I have got a popcorn maker, chocolate fountain and candy floss machine that rarely get used, but it is a real treat for the grandkids when we do, so I wouldn't get rid of them. We have recently bought this George Foreman grill and it gets used at least once a week for chops or steaks. It is really easy to clean and the bonus is my DH thinks it is an 'indoor barbecue' so he cooks the meat for me! grin

MaggsMcG Sun 24-Mar-24 18:32:34

I bought a 5 minute cooking gadget but it's too annoying to clean so it's in the cupboard. I bought a DAB Clock Radio but it doesn't do what my old electric clock radio did so it's relegated to the cupboard. I bought two round rubbery things that were supposed to collect fluff and hair from the washing - they didn't. I've got to stop being drawn in by these things that don't work.

NanaTuesday Sun 24-Mar-24 18:34:17

I’m not a gadget person at all but on the other hand my DH is a complete gadget geek .
Today he told me that , he would “ steam clean “ the floor ( tomorrow) unfortunately for him I told him I had retired that particular gadget !
The previous one , I have to my MIL . He also brought a Mop & bucket that was supposed to save me the job of wringing the water by a swishing mechanism, that didn’t last long !
I hid the monstrous Airfryer ( our 2nd/ I gave the 1st to my DD who passed it on to my GD ) he is now after another with 2 sections !
I can never with the TV on as I have no idea “which remote controls what “
And we have a trillion remote controls .
We h and he even brought one or two Window washing gadgets that he assured me he would reach the upstairs windows with . Alas that didn’t work .
He wanted to buy a Hoover just to vacuum the log burner , I stopped that one in its tracks .
Oh and I’ve lost count of the “ massaging “ gadgets , for backs , legs & backs @ legs !!
He would have a house full of gadgets

tictacnana Sun 24-Mar-24 18:51:25

A debobbler for jumpers - It’s addictive !

Patsytaylor Sun 24-Mar-24 19:56:45

I love my nutribullet, Instant Pot, Tefal 9 in 1. Used regularly. Pie maker used every now and again but would recommend

knspol Sun 24-Mar-24 20:33:41

At least 20 yrs ago I bought a small square of hard plastic tapered at one side and advertised as a scraper for scrambled egg pans. Although I now use a non stick pan if making scrambled eggs the 'device' has been in regular use for so many other things most recently for scraping labels off glass jars that I want to use for jam etc. No idea how much it cost but certainly value for money.

Callistemon21 Sun 24-Mar-24 22:43:14

tictacnana

A debobbler for jumpers - It’s addictive !

I need a good one, have you found an effective one, tictacnana?
We have two, neither of them are great.

Callistemon21 Sun 24-Mar-24 22:46:30

Today he told me that , he would “ steam clean “ the floor ( tomorrow)

The steam cleaner sits in the corner, unloved. The new floor mop which squirts cleaning fluid is equally out of favour.

The best floor mop was one with J cloth strands and came with a bucket.

Callistemon21 Sun 24-Mar-24 22:48:49

Granmarderby10

Ooh I had a chocolate fountain it came free with a washing machine, I gave it to a charity shop unopened.
I have a garlic crusher- is that the same as a masher ?

I use the garlic crusher but the potato ricer (looks like a large garlic crusher) rarely sees the light of day.

Grammaretto Sun 24-Mar-24 23:00:14

My DM was a gadget collector. She would buy the latest gimmick.
Thinking of a few of hers:
A book stand for recipe books
Electric tin opener
Metal disc you put in the milk pan to stop it burning.
A teasmaid, ofcourse.
She bought a microwave before anyone else and kept boasting how quickly you could scramble an egg in it!!
She had duvets before most people.
Electric blankets too.

I think I've rebelled.grin
I am having second thoughts about the chicken manure after your comments and may go for horse.

Ikiesgranma Sun 24-Mar-24 23:07:33

I bake at least twice a week and during lockdown I was desperate for a kitchen aid stand mixer. You couldn’t get one for love nor money. Last year I bought a used one from a very upmarket charity shop for £200. I loved the look of it and it was great for large bakes and took up a big space on the worktop. It’s so heavy you couldn’t put it away in a cupboard regularly. My youngest daughter is an amazing baker (she even made and decorated her own wedding cake) and I knew she coveted my mixer. It’s now at her house where it will probably stay. I have a Kenwood Chef that fits easily into a cupboard and is really light and I use it regularly.
Forgot about the spiraliser. In cupboard in unopened box
Soup maker, given away
Bread maker, given away
George Forman, in shed somewhere
Ninja, used almost daily
I put washed lettuce into clean tea towel, go outside and spin my arm like a madwoman so I don’t have to find space for a salad spinner.

Ikiesgranma Sun 24-Mar-24 23:15:33

Just remembered the pie maker that I won in a raffle. I gave it to my sister as it was a waste of time. And the yogurt maker that was used twice then donated somewhere.

LynW Sun 24-Mar-24 23:34:15

Callistemon21 - my ‘debobbler’ is from Must Have Ideas. I’m very pleased with it, particularly as it’s re-chargeable- it does the job. You have to empty out the fluff quite regularly, but it’s very easy to undo and clean out. I bought my d-i-l one. Beware of Must Have Ideas, though 🤣! Why? Because they sell thing one just Must Have! Great company to deal with, though, very helpful and good service.

CoolCoco Sun 24-Mar-24 23:51:52

The latest gadget I’ve bought is a milk frother which I use every day for my cappuccino. It heats and froths my barista oat milk in about half a minute. I think it’s a keeper but time will tell.

Catterygirl Sun 24-Mar-24 23:56:33

Certainly not an air fryer.
Last thing was probably tongs.

NotSpaghetti Mon 25-Mar-24 06:38:49

MissAdventure

Does anyone have a sandwich toaster still; the Breville one?

Yes.
...and my son wanted one but they don't make one grinf that quality" here now. Only in Australia.

Newer ones snap because they have either weak catches or weak hinges.
We eventually bought him a fairly ugly commercial one.

#extensiveresearch

karmalady Mon 25-Mar-24 06:57:23

I got rid of my remoskas, not used much but they got extremely dangerously hot. I had the large one for family and small one for me. Waste of money. I prefer my induction hob and le creuset pots or my small built in oven

I have an electric ritter slicer and use it regularly, every time I make bread. I wait overnight for the bread to mature and it easily cuts nice even slices, which I freeze. I make either XL loaf in my panasonic or 2 x 2lb cranks loaves

I got rid of my spiralizer. I have a borner mandoline, not used it much but it was invaluable when I was making hm sauerkraut. It does not take much room and is safe in a lidded container so I will keep them for a while longer

My cuisinart geletaria is over 40 years old and I have moved house with it several times. It is reliable for the nicest hm ice cream. I have been very methodical and have even the small parts for it

Rosiebee Mon 25-Mar-24 08:20:37

I bought a Breville sandwich press after seeing it used on Instagram. Really good toasties and panninis but it always seemed a faffe getting it out etc . Now though, on a Thursday when I do my vol stint it is proving to be worth its weight. Instead of coming home and having to rush around to get lunch on the go, I call DH to say "On my way" and he sorts it out and a delicious cheese and ham toastie is being plated as I get through the door. Worth it just for that.

Marmin Mon 25-Mar-24 08:24:56

I have a cherry pitter that is equally good on olives. Or do I have an olive pitter that stones cherries? I can never remember which.