Most Kitchen Gadgets Are a Waste of Space. These Aren’t.

Kitchen Items That Actually Earn Their Spot (And the Ones I Don’t Keep)

If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you probably know this about me already: I am picky about what I keep in my home. Everything has to earn its spot, and that is especially true in the kitchen.

Because if there’s one place where clutter sneaks in fast, it’s kitchen gadgets.  Those fun, “this will change my life” tools that you use once… maybe twice… and then they sit there taking up space.

So today, I want to walk you through the items that have truly earned their spot in my kitchen. These are things I use regularly, rely on, and would hate to live without. I’ll also share a few popular items I don’t keep at all, and a couple things I’d declutter if I had to downsize.  To find out what makes the cut for me and what doesn't, keep reading, or watch the video here!

This isn’t about telling you what you should have. It’s about helping you think more clearly about what you actually use.

The Standard: It Has to Earn Its Spot

Before we get into specific items, here’s the filter I use for everything in my kitchen:

• Do I use this regularly?
• Does it make something noticeably easier or better?
• Is it worth the space it takes up?

If the answer isn’t clearly yes, it’s probably not staying.

Small Items I Use All the Time

Some of the most valuable items in my kitchen are actually the simplest ones because they get used constantly.

One of the newest additions that quickly earned its spot is my oil sprayer. It’s glass, easy to refill, and I use it multiple times a week. I like that I can use my own oil (I usually go with avocado oil), and I don’t have to deal with those aerosol cans. It also helps me take better care of my cookware, which was the original reason I bought it.

Another one that surprises people is my kitchen scale. I actually have two, and we really do use them. Between baking, making smoothies, and occasionally tracking portions, this is something we reach for almost daily. It’s faster, more accurate, and honestly just easier than measuring cups once you get used to it.

And then there are a few items that live out on my counter, which is saying a lot because I don’t like things on my counters.

Those include:

• Salt and pepper grinders (easy, always accessible, and used daily)
• A paper towel holder (purely for convenience and avoiding the “where are they?” problem)

That last one was a bit of a mindset shift for me. I resisted it for a long time, but constantly searching for paper towels was worse than having them visible.

The Tools That Changed How We Cook

Some items don’t just make things easier—they actually change your habits.

One of those for us is a multi-purpose hand tool that we primarily use for shredding cheese. If you’ve only ever used pre-shredded cheese, this is a big upgrade. Freshly shredded cheese tastes better, melts better, and doesn’t have that coating that bagged cheese does.

What made the difference for me wasn’t just the result—it was how easy it became.

• It shreds quickly
• It feels safe to use
• It’s easy to clean

That combination is what made it stick. Before that, I knew block cheese was better, but I avoided it because the process was annoying.

We also use a French fry cutter regularly, mostly to make our own fries at home. It’s compact, easy to use, and doesn’t require electricity. That said, this is one I’m honest about—it’s not daily use.

If I were really tight on space, this is probably one I could let go of.

The High-Use Appliances That Earn Their Space

Now let’s talk about the bigger items, because this is where things can really get out of control if you’re not careful.

The key difference is usage.

If something is large but used constantly, it earns its spot. If it’s large and rarely used, it becomes clutter.

For me, these are the ones that make the cut:

Slow Cooker

I’ve used slow cookers my entire life, and this is still a staple. I keep mine simple—no fancy features, no digital extras. I just need it to turn on and do its job.

We use it for things like:

• Batch cooking chicken for the week
• Soups and easy meals
• Hands-off cooking where dinner is done hours in advance

It’s not flashy, but it’s reliable and gets used regularly.

Air Fryer

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This is probably our most-used appliance. We use it every single day, often multiple times a day.

It replaces a lot:

• Toaster
• Toaster oven
• Reheating leftovers
• Quick meals and snacks

It heats food evenly and makes things taste fresh again, which is a huge win. Even though I don’t love having things on the counter, this one is worth it.

Blender + Food Processor System

This is definitely a space investment, but it replaces multiple appliances.

We use it for:

• Smoothies
• Sauces
• Food prep and batch cooking

The biggest win here is that it uses one base for everything, so you’re not storing three separate machines. It’s also easy to clean, which matters more than people think.

Stand Mixer

I’ve had a stand mixer since college, and I still use one regularly for baking. What matters most to me here isn’t the brand—it’s:

• Ease of use
• Easy cleanup
• Manageable weight

If something is hard to pull out and use, you’ll use it less. That’s true for any appliance.

A Rare Exception: The “One-Use” Tool That Stays

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Usually, I recommend avoiding single-purpose tools.

But there are exceptions.

For us, that’s meat shredders for chicken. We cook chicken in bulk once or twice a week, and these make the process incredibly fast and easy.

• They take up very little space
• They’re easy to clean
• They save time every single week

That’s the kind of exception that makes sense.

Popular Items I Don’t Keep

Now this is just as important as what I do keep.

Because sometimes what you don’t have says more about your system than what you do.

Instant Pot

I tried it. I really did.

But for me, it was more complicated than helpful. Between figuring out timing, pressure release, and the overall process, I just didn’t enjoy using it. And anything I made in it, I preferred making in the slow cooker.

So I got rid of it and haven’t missed it.

Toaster or Toaster Oven

We don’t have one.

The air fryer does everything we need, and I don’t want another bulky appliance on the counter. Bread, bagels, waffles—it all goes in the air fryer.

Electric Skillet

This is one I used to have, but it didn’t make the cut.

• It was bulky
• It didn’t cook evenly
• It wore out quickly

I prefer using a regular skillet on the stove. Simpler, more reliable, and easier to store.

The Bottom Line

This isn’t about having the “perfect” kitchen setup.

It’s about being honest about what you actually use.

• Keep what you reach for regularly
• Let go of what sounds good but sits unused
• Don’t keep something just because it’s popular

Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to have more tools.

It’s to make your kitchen easier to use.

And when everything in your kitchen has truly earned its spot, that’s exactly what happens.