TikTok has made countless recipes and cooking techniques mainstream, and it's also made finding cooking-related products easier than ever.
Throughout the app, users are promoted with products that they claim will make tasks in the kitchen easier than ever, but food experts say this isn't true for all gadgets.
Here are five trending kitchen gadgets that food experts say aren't worth the money.
Egg cookers “offer nothing new”
Some home cooks, including Insider's Gaby Shaw, are raving about the much-talked-about Dash Egg Cooker, which the company claims can make poached, scrambled, or boiled eggs “in less time than it takes to boil water on the stove.”
“I wonder why I didn't buy this sooner,” TikTok user @beachgrl_gettinfit wrote in a video showcasing the product in 2022.
But Nora Clark, a hotel and restaurant chef who's been featured in Bon Appétit and Delish, thinks egg cookers, which typically sell for $20 to $30, are a waste of money — she doesn't think their functionality alone is enough to justify buying an entirely new product.
“While it may seem convenient, it doesn't offer any significant benefits over traditional stovetop cooking, plus it takes up valuable counter space and adds another piece of cooking equipment to your kitchen,” she told Insider.
Spiralizers are likely underutilized
“Spiralizing veggies is so much fun!” TikTok user @gkcookin commented on a video of the product, which turns vegetables into noodles.
But Jasmine Golden, owner and chef of Golden Truffles, believes spiralizers are overrated and underused. Prices for the equipment range from $10 to $80, depending on the brand and quality of the model.
“Spiralizers are great for making unique and interesting dishes, like zucchini noodles or sweet potato spirals, but other than the novelty factor, they may not be worth the money if you don't use them often,” she said.
“This is the type of product that you'll be excited about the first few times you use it, but then you'll quickly lose interest and never use it again. I think you can still create creative recipes without a spiralizer — a simple vegetable peeler would work just as well,” she continued.
Electric vegetable chopper can be replaced with a knife
According to this video from @blossom, the popular veggie chopper has one purpose: to make chopping easy.
Like spiralizers, another tool that's likely underused is an electric vegetable chopper, which resembles a small food processor and typically sells for about $20, Golden said.
“If you have a good pair of kitchen scissors or a sharp knife, you should be able to do the same job,” Golden says.
You don't need a special corn peeler to peel corn.
Corn peelers, which cost less than $10, have become popular on TikTok because they can be used to remove whole kernels from the cob.
But according to Zahid Adnan, founder and former owner of Rockin' Crepes in Huntington Beach, California, and owner of The Plant Bible, “many chefs claim that a sharp knife can achieve the same results with less effort and expense.”
Avocado slicers are often more tedious than useful
TikTok user @tourdelust said the avocado slicer, which can cut, slice, and remove the seed from avocados, is “an essential tool for any avocado lover,” and typically costs between $8 and $15.
But Adnan told Insider, “You can get the same results with less cost and waste by using a sharp knife and spoon.”
Other food-specific tools, such as garlic peelers or pancake batter dispensers, can be a waste of money for similar reasons, Adnan added.
“While these tools may seem convenient and useful, they often require more time and effort to clean and maintain than traditional kitchen tools,” he said.
“As a chef, I would advise individuals to focus on investing in quality, versatile kitchen tools that can be used for a variety of tasks,” Adnan said. “For example, a sharp chef's knife, a durable cutting board, and a sturdy set of cookware can go a long way in helping you create delicious, healthy meals at home.”
