1. The Automatic Electric Can Opener
When electric can openers first hit the scene, they seemed like the ultimate kitchen upgrade. Why strain your wrist cranking a manual one when this sleek little machine could do all the work for you? For a while, it felt like every household had one proudly perched on the counter, ready to tackle a tin of green beans at a moment’s notice. The hum and click as it spun around the can was oddly satisfying. But over time, the novelty faded, and so did the counter space says Good Housekeeping.
Most people found it easier to just grab the old-school handheld opener and be done with it. The electric version took up too much room, got gunky fast, and didn’t always open the can cleanly. Eventually, it was pushed to the back of a cabinet—or donated altogether adds Better Homes & Gardens. And yet, a lot of us kept it “just in case.”
2. The Fondue Set
There was a time when fondue felt like the pinnacle of sophistication. Whether it was cheese, chocolate, or hot oil for meat, a fondue night brought a little bit of European flair to your average Friday evening. The set came with all those tiny forks and a little burner underneath that never quite worked as smoothly as it should’ve. You’d light it, stir constantly, and hope no one dropped their bread cube into the pot shares Food & Wine.
After the first few uses, though, it mostly gathered dust in the cabinet above the fridge. Fondue is fun—once in a while—but it’s not exactly easy to clean up afterward. Plus, how often are you really hosting a fondue party? The effort just didn’t match the return says Eater.
3. The Electric Salt and Pepper Grinders
These sounded like such a time-saver. Just press a button and voilà—freshly ground salt and pepper with zero wrist action. They were especially trendy in the early 2000s, often sold as a fancy kitchen gift set. With their built-in lights and sleek metallic finishes, they looked like something from a sci-fi movie.
But let’s be honest: they never worked quite right for long. Batteries ran out quickly, the grinding mechanisms jammed, and refilling them was a hassle. After a few frustrating dinners of shaking them furiously over a plate, most people quietly switched back to the classic twist-top grinders. Less flash, way more reliable.
4. The Rotisserie Oven
The infomercials made it look so easy—“Set it and forget it!” The rotisserie oven was supposed to turn anyone into a home chef capable of juicy, golden chicken with minimal effort. It even came with skewers and trays so you could cook vegetables at the same time. For a while, it actually was kind of magical to watch that chicken rotate in its little glass chamber.
But it was huge. Cleaning it was a nightmare, with grease pooling in hard-to-reach places and parts that didn’t fit in the dishwasher. After the novelty wore off, most people realized they could get a decent rotisserie bird at the grocery store with no mess at all. Eventually, the whole thing went back into its box and into the garage.
5. The Bread Maker
Few things are more comforting than the smell of freshly baked bread at home. The bread maker promised exactly that—just toss in your ingredients, hit a button, and in a few hours, out comes a perfect loaf. For a brief period, people got very into experimenting with whole wheat, cinnamon raisin, and sourdough recipes. It even had a little window so you could watch the magic happen.
But then came the reality: the loaves were oddly shaped, the crust was often too thick, and the inside didn’t always cook evenly. Plus, it was a bulky machine that hogged precious counter space. Once the flour dust settled, the bread maker became one of those “special occasion” gadgets that rarely got pulled back out. Store-bought just started to seem simpler.
6. The Soda Maker
This one was a hit for a while, especially with people trying to cut back on canned soda. The idea of making your own fizzy drinks at home was fun, customizable, and felt just a little more eco-conscious. You’d pump that button, hear the satisfying hiss, and experiment with syrups or fruit infusions. It even became a bit of a party trick.
But maintaining it? Not so fun. The CO₂ cartridges ran out faster than expected, and the flavored syrups were often too sweet or just a bit off-tasting. Cleaning the bottles properly was also a bit of a chore. After the initial excitement, it was easier to just grab a seltzer at the store.
7. The Yogurt Maker
This one appealed to the health-conscious crowd and DIY enthusiasts alike. Making your own yogurt at home seemed like the perfect way to control ingredients and avoid preservatives. The process was fairly simple: heat the milk, add your cultures, pour into the machine, and wait. Some models even came with little glass jars that made the whole thing feel very wholesome.
But how often do most people really eat yogurt like that? Between heating, cooling, and incubating, the whole thing became more effort than reward. And if you didn’t get the temperature just right, you ended up with a runny, sour mess. For most, it quietly joined the ranks of “cool idea at the time” gadgets.
8. The Pasta Maker
There’s something romantic about the idea of making pasta from scratch. A pasta maker seemed like a must-have for anyone serious about Italian food. You mix your dough, flatten it, and crank it through the rollers for silky sheets or noodles. It’s a little messy but feels like a real culinary adventure.
The catch? That adventure gets old fast. The dough sticks, the cleanup is annoying, and the whole thing ends up being more of a project than a dinner solution. For all its charm, most people found themselves going back to the dried stuff in a box. The pasta maker? Back in the closet.
9. The Smart Fridge
This one was supposed to revolutionize the kitchen entirely. A fridge that could tell you what was inside, suggest recipes, and even show you the weather? It felt like the future. Some had touchscreens, cameras inside, or even let you order groceries with a tap.
But day-to-day, it didn’t change much. The apps were clunky, the cameras fogged up, and most people still opened the fridge to check what was inside. And when tech broke, repairs were expensive and annoying. A lot of folks just stopped using the smart features altogether and treated it like a regular fridge—with extra bells and whistles they didn’t need.
10. The Cupcake Maker
The cupcake craze of the early 2010s brought this gadget into a lot of homes. It was cute, compact, and promised quick, mess-free baking. Just pour your batter into the little molds, close the lid, and wait a few minutes. It even gave cupcakes that golden dome every baker dreams of.
But it couldn’t do much else. The size was limiting, and cleaning all the nooks was tedious. If you wanted more than a few cupcakes at once, you were better off using a traditional oven. Eventually, it joined the graveyard of single-purpose tools that just weren’t worth the space.
11. The Egg Cooker
This one felt like a tiny miracle at first. Pop in your eggs, add water, and it steams them to your preferred level of doneness. No watching a pot or guessing when to pull them out. Some even had trays for omelets or poached eggs, which made it seem super versatile.
But it didn’t always deliver consistent results. The plastic parts stained or warped over time, and it still required peeling, which remained a hassle. Most people found they weren’t eating enough eggs to justify keeping it on the counter. Back to the stovetop we went.
12. The Electric Wok
The electric wok looked like it could replace both your frying pan and your slow cooker. It heated up quickly, promised evenly cooked stir-fries, and seemed like a dream for anyone craving takeout-style dinners at home. Some even came with recipe booklets and nonstick coatings.
In practice, though, it was hard to clean and didn’t really outperform a basic skillet. The cord got in the way, and it took up more storage space than most people had to spare. After a few stir-fries, it just wasn’t worth the trouble. Most electric woks ended up in yard sales or dusty pantry corners.
13. The Ice Cream Maker
Who doesn’t want homemade ice cream? With endless flavor possibilities and that creamy texture, the ice cream maker had big appeal. You’d freeze the bowl overnight, prep your mix, and wait for it to churn into deliciousness. For summer parties, it was a real treat.
But you had to plan ahead, and the frozen bowl took up valuable freezer space. If you forgot to pre-freeze it, you were out of luck. And the cleanup wasn’t exactly easy, especially if things got sticky. After a few batches, it quietly slid to the back of the shelf, replaced by a pint of store-bought rocky road.