Simplicity paradox: finding joy in fewer kitchen gadgets
When avocado toast was trending, avocado slicers found their way in to many kitchen drawers.
A few years later, they sit buried at the bottom of the drawer, accumulate on Goodwill shelves or contribute to growing landfills. Overly specialized tools pop up in kitchens every now and then, only to be forgotten.
Banana slicers, pineapple corers, pasta makers, electric can openers, salad spinners, zucchini spiralizers, cake pop makers, Instant Pots and any other "As Seen On TV" gadgets experienced similar moments of fame.
Air Fryers may be the most recent, although these seem to be settling into a utilitarian role given how practical they are for so many people. The same can be said for apple corers and the garlic press.
I want to try an air fryer, but I'm skeptical. I have an Instant Pot that gathers dust 363 days of the year and my garlic press was donated. If you do use your specialized tools regularly, it's good that you found something of value. But most of the time these are emotionally driven impulse buys. They're marketed to save time and make our lives easier, despite addressing only one small part of the prepping/cooking process.
These trends tap into a simplicity paradox with design. In our pursuit of effortless efficiency, we overload ourselves with tools that create clutter. Perhaps these fleeting kitchen trends tap into a desire for control—the illusion that a new tool will make us better cooks. Yet slowing down, using our hands and mastering simple tools like a knife can be the most effective, sustainable and satisfying way to cook.
Adding to that, if you need an affordable, durable chef knife, I highly recommend an 8" Victorinox with a Black Fibrox handle. This is what most commercial kitchens use and what I used for nearly a decade as a cook. For under $50, it is the best kitchen tool for your money.
