Decluttering the kitchen is one of the most satisfying tasks you can ever accomplish. It’s been tough for me, but the more I do it, the easier it is to discard the kitchen gadgets I once thought I needed to be a better cook and to keep from going out to eat all the time. It turns out that I need very little to enjoy my three squares a day.

Many kitchen gadgets seem cool at first, but after a while, they lose their appeal and then sit on your counter or in your drawer. It’s not likely they’ll see the light of day again unless you decide to move or hold a garage sale.

As a result of my kitchen decluttering efforts, I’ve created a list of kitchen gadgets that you probably don’t need. Some of these items I’ve bought, and recently have thrown out. As for the other things, I had the good sense not to buy them in the first place.

16-Piece Knife Set

Back in college, I bought a cheap 16-piece knife set, and I think I’ve only used the steak knives, and not even for steak. When it comes to food prep, you only need three knives–a paring knife, a chef’s knife, and a serrated bread knife. When am I going to need the boning knife? I don’t even know which one it is.

Banana Slicer

Yes, the banana slicer is really a thing. Can’t you take your paring knife–even a dull dinner knife–and hack up that banana? Also, you can’t guarantee that every banana is going to fit perfectly in that specifically-shaped thing. Don’t waste your hard-earned money on this kitchen gadget.

Itty Bitty Tiny Cutting Board

Yeah, it’s cute, and it might be fun to have on your counter to cut limes for friends on margarita night (hopefully not during a COVID lock-down). But you can’t do much else on that tiny slab. Just grab one of your regular cutting boards, slice up those limes, lemons, or whatever you use to garnish your drinks.

Meat-Shredding Claws

If you need these meat claws to do cosplay as a grizzly, then sure, I can see it. Just be safe. But unless you have a spit in your backyard on which you roast a pig every week, cross these claws off your wish list.

Tuna Press

The bad thing about canned tuna is that nasty-smelling water or oil that gets all over your hands. However, instead of a single-use tuna press, suck it up and use the can’s lid to drain that tuna. It’s not that bad. Besides, your tuna salad won’t taste as good if the tuna is completely dry.

Fondue Set

I got rid of my fondue set months ago. I got tired of taking it out of my cupboard to dust it. Like most of the items on this list, the fondue pot is another single-use kitchen gadget. If you’re trying to scale back on your belongings or want to do full-time RVing, give away the fondue set.

Ice Cream Maker

Whether it looks old-timey or spaceage, an ice cream maker can seem fun at first. After a while, however, it’s joining the other small appliances way back in the cupboard collecting dust. If you’re craving ice cream, don’t buy it. Make it! Click here for a simple recipe I use all the time.

Rethink Your Kitchen Gadgets

If you have at least one of these gadgets, think back to the last time you used it. If it was at least six months ago, consider putting it in your giveaway pile. Yeah, you already spent money on it, but you’ll get more space, or even leave room for something you really need to buy.

Do agree with this list? What would you add? Be sure to add your comment below.