How many kitchen gadgets do you have gathering dust in the back of a cupboard or drawer? If you’re short of space and need to declutter, rethink the items that you just don’t need. Here are the most unnecessary utensils and appliances.

Don’t waste space in your kitchen with a salad spinner, simply wash leaves in a bowl or under the tap and then gently roll in a clean towel to dry them instead.

Butter knives have curved edges so you don’t tear the bread while spreading. But if you can trust yourself to be gentle when buttering your toast, you shouldn’t have much need for these.

Cutting kernels off a corn on the cob can be quite a messy job, but you don’t need a special gadget. Hold the cob firm in an upside-down bundt cake tin instead and use a knife.

You don’t need a gadget to separate egg whites and egg yolks. You can easily do this by hand – read our tips on the best method. 

Get rid of your electric knife and invest in a knife sharpener instead. It will take up a fraction of the space and ensure your normal carving knives are always up to the job.

Not only do garlic crushers take up quite a bit of space in the utensil drawer but they’re also very annoying to clean. Watch our tips on chopping and crushing garlic with a knife instead.

Melted cheese toasties are delicious but you don’t need a bulky appliance to make one. Create those crispy edges by buttering the bread and lightly pan-frying instead. 

Rounded pizza cutters are useful, but pizza scissors aren't worth splashing out on. You'll find a pair of regular kitchen scissors will do the job just fine.

Cooking rice in a saucepan has a reputation for being tricky – but it’s easy once you know how. Read our tips on getting the perfect rice every time and free up your cupboard space.

Banana slicers might look cool, but they're almost completely pointless – just use a knife instead.

When was the last time you had a fondue party? These clunky sets are a hassle to store and probably aren’t used that often. Save space by warming up your cheese mix in saucepan, the microwave or a slow cooker instead.

What’s the point in a zester when a good food grater will work just as well? In a small kitchen, you really don’t need both.

Unless you have an extraordinary amount of herbs to cut, a five-blade herb slicer seems unnecessary. Normal scissors or a good old-fashioned knife will get the job done.

Electric steamers can be pricey and take up a ridiculous amount of space. Invest in some steamer saucepans instead. They’re far more economical and can double up as a colander.

Ice crushers can look pretty cool at the one party you remember to use them, but they're more likely to gather dust in the back of a cupboard. Throw ice in a blender or food processor instead, or simply secure in a plastic bag and smash with a wooden kitchen hammer.

A novelty popcorn maker is nice to have but you don’t need one to make delicious popcorn. Just mix some kernels with oil in a covered saucepan and heat for a few minutes until popped, then add your favourite toppings. Here's how to make toffee popcorn at home.

Breadmakers are expensive – and few people use them as much as they think they will. You’d be better off spending your money on a bread-making course instead and learn how to make it by hand. You could start with this simple white sourdough. 

Food choppers can be tricky to use and a pain to clean. A knife and a bit of patience will get the job just as well. For safety, place a damp cloth under your chopping board to prevent it from slipping.

A complete waste of kitchen surface space, electric can-openers take up far too much room. Buy a manual one instead and store it out of sight in a drawer.

Unless you’re making frozen desserts every week, an ice cream maker is a pretty unnecessary extravagance. With most producing at least a litre of ice cream, they take up a lot of space. And, with prices ranging from £25 to well over £250, you’ll need to make a lot to get your money’s worth.

Spiralisers were the must-have kitchen appliance last year, but if you’re not making courgetti noodles as often as you thought you would, it may be time to rethink their place in the kitchen. You can always use a peeler to create vegetable ribbons instead.

Melon platters might have been trendy in the 1970s but they aren’t so popular these days. Use a knife to cut chunks of fruit instead – or just use an ice cream scoop.

Apple cutters are not only a hassle to store and clean, but they can be pretty unreliable. Use a knife instead – you’ll save space and probably get better results.

From silicon cups to microwavable plastic trays and non-stick bags, there’s a whole range of gadgets out there to poach eggs. But you can get perfect results without any equipment at all. Read our tips on how to cook the perfect eggs here. 

Olive and cherry pitters are some of those gadgets that sound useful, but hardly ever get used. Save the space and use a knife instead.

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