10 Kitchen Tools & Gadgets We Deeply Regret Giving Away

We talk a lot about essential gadgets that we can’t live without and useless gadgets to toss in the Goodwill bin, but we rarely talk about the ones that got away. Those gadgets that we purged from our kitchens in fits of “tidying” and then almost immediately regretted. Deep, everlasting regret.

I’ll tell you mine, if you’ll tell me yours.

I most regret the loss of my potato masher. It was one of those old-school, non-fancy ones with a wooden handle attached to a grill-like masher — the one in the picture above is a slightly nicer-looking version of the one I had. I used it once a year, maybe, but it was only after I handed it over to Goodwill that I realized how handy it actually was. Yes, a potato masher has essentially one job — to mash potatoes, and occasionally other things — but it really does that one job very well. A dinner fork simply does not have the same smashing power.

Seeking company in my mourning, I asked some of my fellow Kitchn editors and food writer friends if they felt similar feelings of deep regret over the loss of any particular gadget or kitchen tool. Here’s what they had to share:

The Kitchen Gadgets That Got Away

I got rid of my box grater because it took up too much space, but then I discovered that none of my Microplanes or my food processor really did the job quite as well. They just don’t replace the basic ease and function of my old box grater. - Faith Durand, Executive Editor for The Kitchn

I regret getting rid of my microwave rice cooker. Sometimes I just want to cook a small amount of rice, and it was so easy and quick to do — totally hands-off. I do have a more elaborate Japanese electric rice cooker now, but the microwave one was great to use in dorm rooms or hotel rooms when traveling! -Christine Gallary, Food Editor for The Kitchn

My (relatively new) immersion blender blew a fuse and never worked again after that. I read through the warranty but there was so much red tape around getting a replacement that I just tossed it instead. I thought I could get by with my regular blender, but every time I make soup, or want to blitz a sauce really quickly to thin it out, I miss my old immersion blender — it just got the job done so efficiently! No mess or hassle of puréeing in batches. - Lauren Kodiak, Production Editor for The Kitchn

I thought that between my rasp and the shredding disk on my food processor, I would be fine without a box grater. But while the rasp takes care of a lot of the smaller, finer shreds, it’s really a pain to haul out and clean the food processor for a cup of grated cheese. - Dana Velden, Kitchn Contributor and Author of Finding Yourself in the Kitchen

My husband had a very heavy-duty electric waffle iron/grill when we got married. Really old and icky looking, so I tried to get rid of it. Then I purchased a new one, which never got hot enough! I now worship the old one. And he won’t let me forget it. - Nathalie Dupree, chef and cooking show host, and author of Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking

A citrus juicer. I had a citrus reamer already and really thought that would be enough. It seemed frivolous to have both. But all those times when I’m picking the seeds out of the squeezed lemon or lime juice — I really regret tossing my juicer. It also has made me dread citrus juicing altogether, which I don’t think was the case before. - Andrea Lynn, food writer and author of Queens: A Culinary Passport

I had a terrific toaster in grad school. It made perfect toast every time. When I got a roommate who also had a toaster, I figured I would get rid of mine. It never worked nearly as well as my old one. I’ve mourned that toaster ever since. - Jeanne Sauvage, food writer and author of Gluten-Free Baking for the Holidays

I often wish I hadn’t given my sister my salad shooter (mostly when I’m washing lettuce). But I think when I had it, I missed the cabinet space more than I miss it now. - Emily Farris, blogger at Pyrex and Pennies and editor-in-chief at Feed Me KC

I didn’t get rid of it on purpose (as it mysteriously disappeared) but I spent the entire winter pining for my tiny citrus peeler. It sounds a bit ridiculous but it really does make peeling oranges much easier. - Mary Helen Leonard, blogger at Mary Makes Good and author of The Natural Beauty Solution

More from The Kitchn:

The 10 Essential Kitchen Tools

The 10 Commandments of a Clutter-Free Kitchen

Why You’ll Never Again Throw Away Vegetable Peels

My Essential Baking Tool: Half Sheet Pans