Kitchen Gadget Testing – 5 New Kitchen Tools Reviewed
Kitchen Gadget Testing – 5 Kitchen Tools Reviewed
Kitchen gadget testing often gets treated as a joke. Some of these tools look strange at first glance, and a few sound like they solve problems nobody asked for. That part is fair. But a gadget that feels unnecessary to one person can genuinely help someone else in the kitchen.
Some tools make cooking easier for people with reduced grip, limited dexterity, or lower confidence. Others remove small frustrations that build up over time. In the video above, and in this post, I test five kitchen gadgets to see what works, what surprises me, and what only solves a very specific problem.
This batch turned out to be a real mixed bag. A few gadgets worked better than expected, some felt very niche, and others made more sense once I stopped judging them by the box. If you enjoy this kind of honest testing, there’s a full collection of similar videos and posts on my Kitchen Gadgets page here https://barrylewis.net/recipes/kitchen-gadgets/
Joie silicone ice cube sphere maker
Ice cube sphere makers usually split opinion. Many leak in the freezer or fail to produce a proper sphere. I had low expectations going in, but this one surprised me.
I found it easy to fill, and it didn’t leak at all while freezing. The ice spheres came out clean and well-shaped. For a gadget that focuses mainly on presentation, it worked far better than I expected. It has also sent me down a small rabbit hole of trying to make clearer ice at home, which was not on my list before this test. Affiliate link here https://amzn.to/3NdJTjz
Egg chalaza removal tool
If you’ve never heard of a chalaza, it’s the small white string attached to the egg yolk. In the video I completely butcher the pronunciation, but it’s spelled C-H-A-L-A-Z-A and sounds more like “ka-lay-za”.
I’ve always ignored it and never felt the need to remove it. This tool changed my mind. It removed the chalaza quickly and cleanly, without breaking the yolk. There’s also a clip in the video from an old Egg Kitchen Gadget Special where I tried using the same tool to lift an egg, which failed completely. Used properly, as a chalaza removal tool, it worked very well and genuinely surprised me. Affiliate link here https://amzn.to/3LqsoMx
Lekue pancake shaker
The pancake shaker turned out to be another solid performer. Mixing and pouring batter from the same container saves time and reduces mess. That alone makes it useful.
I can also see this helping people who struggle to lift bowls or control pours. The only issue I noticed was that the printed markings can fade if it’s washed at a high temperature. That’s something to keep an eye on. In day-to-day use though, it worked well and made pancake making simpler. Affiliate link here https://amzn.to/3NdKced
Swedish dishcloth
The Swedish dishcloth quietly impressed me the most. It absorbed liquid well, cleaned surfaces easily, and felt far sturdier than I expected.
As a small update since filming, I’m still using the same one and haven’t needed to replace it. It has been through the dishwasher several times without any problems. Using it with flour probably wasn’t the fairest test, as it quickly tried to turn that into dough, but for general cleaning it has been genuinely useful. Affiliate link here https://amzn.to/4qbVy12
Apple peeler
The apple peeler was good fun, especially after reading some of the reviews. One video featuring an elderly couple felt like a glimpse into the future for Mrs Barry and I.
Used as intended on apples, the peeler worked well and felt safe to use. Pushing it further with a carrot was unnecessary and ended with me cutting my finger again, which was entirely my own fault. As an apple peeler though, it did exactly what it claimed and could be genuinely helpful for anyone who struggles with peeling by hand. Affiliate link here https://amzn.to/4srm2wU
Overall, this was one of those kitchen gadget tests where more things worked than I expected. Some tools are very specific, some feel more useful than they first appear, and a couple surprised me completely. As always, it comes down to whether a gadget earns its space in your kitchen rather than just looking good on the packaging.