From Pantry to Pot: Wholesome Hunter's Stew for the Resourceful Cook

Embrace the joy of kitchen spontaneity with a recipe that celebrates resourcefulness and flavor.

Ever found yourself standing in the kitchen, contemplating dinner with a mix of ingredients that seem to be the last survivors in your pantry? Welcome to the land of culinary improvisation. Today’s star: a recipe that began with three forlorn chicken breasts, a can of petite diced tomatoes, and a handful of other odds and ends that somehow come together into something magical—a hearty, veggie-laden chicken soup that defies the ordinary.

So, grab your Dutch oven, gather those essential tools, and let's dive into a flavorful expedition where a splash of white wine, a heap of spices, and a generous dose of patience will transform these humble ingredients into a comforting masterpiece. We might bend a few rules along the way (who needs a meat thermometer, anyway?), but trust us, it’s all in the pursuit of flavor.

Ingredients:

3 chicken breasts or 6 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless

Large can petite diced tomatoes

1 onion, chopped

1/4 cup butter

1/2 lb white mushrooms, cut

1/4 cup white cooking wine

4 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup instant mashed potatoes

1 teaspoon marjoram

1 teaspoon parsley

1/2 teaspoon basil

1/2 teaspoon rosemary

Salt and pepper to taste

Tools:

Dutch oven 

Tongs

Serving spoon or ladle 

Measuring cups and spoons

Knife

Cutting board 

Can opener

Forks

Plates

We're going to break the pattern here and assume your produce has already been cleaned. Surely, by now, you're tired of us telling you to wash things...

Melt your quarter cup of butter in the Dutch oven over medium heat and drop the chicken in to brown a little. This recipe works better with chicken thighs, but when we shopped, there weren't any in stock. (We thought we were out of the age of shortages and supply issues, but what do we know?) So, instead of thighs, we just used the three sad, neglected chicken breasts we had left in the freezer.

It's important to note that you don't have to cook the chicken all the way through at this step. We'll be shoving it into the oven later on, so don't bother with the meat thermometer this time. We just want the outside to get a little color and flavor, since that will help build the base later on. 

Once the chicken begins to brown, use the tongs to pull it and set it to the side on a plate.

Toss the mushrooms, onions, and spices into the Dutch oven and put the lid on. Let them cook for four minutes or so, then lift the lid and stir. We ended up cooking them for closer to eight minutes, but we started with some pretty huge pieces of onion. You're using the onions as your marker for how long to cook everything, so if you want less time, chop your onions smaller. 

Once the onion is translucent, splash the cooking wine in. Let it simmer and reduce uncovered for two or three minutes, stirring occasionally.

Time to add the tomatoes and chicken broth. Don't drain the tomatoes. Just stir them in to make sure they're somewhat evenly distributed. Then, return the chicken to the pot, put the lid on, and move it all to the center rack in the oven.

Allow it to come up to temperature with the oven. Set it to 450, and then set a timer for three hours. At this point, you're free to find another task to take care of. 

When the timer goes off, move it back to the stove top. Take two forks, lift the chicken pieces out onto a plate, and let them cool down a little.

Sprinkle your quarter cup of instant mashed potatoes into the broth a little at a time, stirring gently to prevent the potato flakes from sticking to the veggies instead of melting into the broth. You want to thicken up the broth, not create a congealed mass. 

Go back to that chicken and shred it to bits, then stir it back into the pot.

You now have a veggie heavy, hearty chicken soup. Enjoy!

And there you have it—a robust, flavorful chicken soup born from a handful of ingredients and a dash of kitchen ingenuity. As you savor each spoonful, let this meal be a testament to the delicious possibilities that emerge when culinary creativity meets necessity.

Remember, while we revel in concocting delightful dishes, our kitchens rely on our appliances to bring these recipes to life. Should your stove, oven, or any major appliance find itself in need of a little TLC, ARS is here to ensure your culinary adventures never hit a snag. Whether it’s a simmering soup or a baking extravaganza, our team specializes in keeping your appliances in top shape so you can continue creating delicious moments.

Don’t let a malfunctioning appliance dampen your kitchen enthusiasm. Reach out to us today to schedule a maintenance appointment through our user-friendly website or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). Let’s keep your kitchen humming smoothly, allowing you to focus on what you do best—crafting culinary wonders that warm the soul and delight the taste buds.

Until our next flavorful rendezvous, happy cooking!

Additional Reading
Healthy and Flavorful: A Caponata Recipe That You'll Love

Jalapeno Chicken Bowtie Pasta

Smoke Detector Checks: A Vital Winter Checklist

Unseen Guardians: Winter-Proofing Your Home Against Silent Threats

It's the holiday season, and that means, for us up here in the northern hemisphere, it's also the coldest part of the year. Heaters are turned on, people are bundled up in blankets and coats, and everyone is probably feeling a little drowsy with the sun rising later and setting earlier. But, it isn't all snow and hot cocoa - heaters, especially those using gas, present a twofold danger if they ever malfunction. We are, of course, talking about fire and carbon monoxide. 

Your house does have detectors, but there is no time like the present to make sure that those detectors are good to protect yourself and your family during the winter. So, what are the differences between smoke and CO detectors, what does each warn you of, and how can we make sure that our detectors warn us the moment there is danger?
Now, you may be asking, “aren't smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors the same thing?” and this is a perfectly valid question. Both are designed to tell you of a danger to your breathing, and warn you before it gets to a serious level. But, they warn you of two very different dangers that can be presented in the home.

Our first stop should be a quick familiarization on the danger here. For the uninitiated, carbon monoxide, or CO, is an invisible and odorless gas that is extremely dangerous to the human body. It is very commonly found as a byproduct of gas burning devices, such as water heaters, gas ovens, and most prevalent during the winter, any gas heating devices for your home. Now, most devices that use gas to generate heat have excellent methods of ensuring that no CO escapes into your home during operation. However, these devices can be damaged, be that by natural wear and tear or by some other means. Even a small leak in the exhaust of a gas oven can prove dangerous for the occupants of a home, so it is incredibly important to make sure that the people inside the home are kept safe.

Smoke presents a more obvious danger, as it is very visible, though the danger is similarly found in the risk of breathing it in. Thankfully, smoke is not present unless there is a fire somewhere in your home. But, the risk is still present - especially with heat sources in the home that may not have been on since last winter.

Of course, with either threat, safety is most easily found by keeping your detectors up-to-date and well-maintained. Due to the differences in design, though, your smoke detectors and your CO detectors have a few differences in their maintenance. We have a few tips for you to follow with either one, that way you can make sure your home and your family are protected in case of a fire, or a carbon monoxide leak.

Here are a few tips for you to remember with your CO detectors:

• Keep them clean! Using a dry cloth to wipe any dust from the detector is an excellent way to make sure that they're able to detect the gas without being choked up by household dust.

• Replace your batteries! As a device that is constantly on to constantly be on guard, the batteries in your CO detector can run out over time. Typically, it is advised that you should swap batteries twice a year. We advise, if you haven't had a chance to change batteries in a while, make sure to do so now so that you're in the best posture for safety.

• Check their age! Like regular smoke detectors, CO detectors have components that begin degrading over time. Most devices have a lifespan of five years, and a device expiry date should be somewhere on the device. A good rule of thumb on this - if you can't remember when the device was installed, and you can't find a date on it, it's best to go ahead and have it replaced.

• Make sure you can hear them! Carbon Monoxide detectors should always be in areas where you can easily hear the alarms - especially if you're sleeping when they go off. The greatest risk of CO poisoning comes when you are asleep. So, make sure the detectors are capable of waking you up so that they can keep you safe in case you have a dangerous leak in the home.

And here are some important tips to remember for your smoke detectors.

• Cleaning is universal! Making sure your smoke detectors are clean of dust works pretty much the same as your CO detectors, so follow the same instructions we mentioned above and you should be golden.

• Batteries are vital! Your smoke detectors may be hard-wired, but even then, you will still have battery backups. Regardless of what type of detector you have, you should swap batteries at least once a year.

• Test them! Take some time to use the test function on your detectors. There should be a little button on the front, so try to go through and hit every detector in the home to make sure they are all functioning correctly. It is recommended that you do this once a month.

• Check the age! Just like your CO detectors, smoke detectors have a certain limit to how long they can function correctly. Most smoke detectors last ten years, but it is always best to check your detector to make sure they are still in their functional years. If they are getting particularly old, it never hurts to replace them a little early.

As we revel in the joyous moments of the winter season, let's not overlook the essential guardians of our homes – the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Keeping these sentinels in pristine condition is not just a winter chore but a year-round responsibility for safeguarding our loved ones. At Appliance Rescue Service, while our focus is on maintaining and repairing major appliances, we understand the importance of every aspect that ensures your family's well-being. As you prepare for the winter season, trust us to handle the upkeep of your appliances, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – the comfort and security of your home. Visit our website or give us a call ((214) 599-0055) today to schedule an appointment. Let our dedicated team at ARS keep your household appliances in top shape, ensuring a cozy and worry-free winter for you and your loved ones.

Additional Reading

Why Is My Oven Making Weird Noises 

Halloween Horrors In Your Home?

10 Kitchen Hazards to Avoid this Holiday Season

Sustainability Unveiled: The Complex Process of Recycling Your Appliances

Unveiling the Environmental Impact & Recycling Journey of Household Appliances

Behind the scenes of our everyday appliances lies a tale of transformation—a journey from obsolete to reimagined. When it's time to bid farewell to your trusted fridge or washing machine, their journey doesn't culminate in a landfill. Instead, it embarks on a recycling odyssey, a meticulous process designed to salvage hazardous materials, reclaim valuable metals, and tackle the overlooked challenge of recycling plastics. Join us as we unravel the complexities of this often-overlooked yet critical realm, where innovation meets environmental stewardship.

An overview of the recycling process

When it comes to recycling appliances there are three major parts to it. All hazardous materials need to be recovered and recycled. These are materials that can be dangerous to you or to the environment.  Then the appliance is picked over for the various metals. And finally, the plastics that make up the appliance are recovered for future use.

Boring but important parts 

Before we dig into how recycling your appliances works, we need to look at why. In the first article, we mentioned how dangerous it is to leave appliances just rotting. What you might not know is that there is an initiative put together by the EPA within the United States to work on this, because of how dangerous this is. Called the Responsible Appliance Disposal partners, companies partner together with the EPA to accomplish a series of goals. They aim to protect the ozone layer, cut greenhouse gas emissions from the improper disposal of appliances, and work to benefit communities by keeping appliances out of landfills, parks, and waterways. 

Launched in October of 2006, RAD partners take the extra cost onto themselves to go above and beyond what federal law requires. Instead of just worrying about refrigerants like hydrofluorocarbon or the disposal of universal waste, instead, they look to recover insulation foam and to help remove older appliances from the secondhand market. 

Between 2007 and 2018, RAD partners have accomplished the following:

Diverted 1.06 billion pounds of ferrous metals and 88 million pounds of non-ferrous metals from landfills;

Recycled 196 million pounds of plastic; 

Recycled 30 million pounds of glass.

They’ve facilitated the proper handling of:

765,000 gallons of used oil; and

319,000 PCB and 196,000 mercury-containing components.

Hazardous Materials 

Depending on the age of your appliances, they can contain everything from mercury to used oil to polychlorinated biphenyls as well as ozone-depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons. 

That's a lot of complex chemicals that all boil down to dangerous for you, the water system, and everything that we eat.  So, it makes sense that removing it is a top priority when it comes to recycling major appliances. These materials are recovered and recycled for future use either into new appliances or other everyday items. 

Not only do we benefit from being reused and kept out of our farms and foods, but by recycling these, we don't have to spend the fuel to dig up more or process the raw materials. 

One material that we didn't mention but is present in your refrigerators and freezers is insulation foam. The type used most often contains hydrofluorocarbons, and if left to break down or be degraded, would also be dangerous to the atmosphere. However, a new technology allows for that foam to be turned into pellets. These pellets can then be burned for fuel safely and used to fuel other parts of the recycling process.

Courtesy of The EPA

Metals 

Your appliances, large and small, contain a large variety of metals. Copper, aluminum, steel, all of these are recyclable. They can be reused either in making new appliances, other electronic circuits or any of a thousand other items that you come in contact with throughout the day. 

After, say, your refrigerator is broken down and stripped of all its hazardous materials, it gets shredded by large machines with many teeth. They rip all of the pieces down into pieces small enough to float on water. First, the danger confetti is gone over with a magnet. This pulls out the steel from the pile that can be set aside and use later. Unfortunately, we still have a large pile of mixed plastics and metals that do not respond to a magnet. So all of this gets dumped into water. The pieces are sorted using their density and ability to float to separate out the metals from the plastics. The plastic confetti gets sorted into the next step while the copper and aluminum stay here, along with any other metals, to be melted down and reused.

Plastics 

For a very long time, appliance recycling stopped at recovering the hazardous materials and the metals.  The plastics weren't seen as important. People didn't care that they were clogging up landfills and being utterly useless. Fortunately, others have stepped in and seen the necessity of change.

From the environmental aspect, you probably don't like eating plastic or the idea of your family eating plastic any more than the next person. And we highly doubt that you like the idea of your pets eating it either. Unfortunately, microplastics, or pieces of plastic that are less than 5 mm in size, have shown up everywhere. In waterways. In farms. In animals, land, sea, and air. On mountain tops, ages away from where they initially started. And most frighteningly in your blood. We don't say this to frighten anybody. This is, unfortunately a statement of fact. And leads us back to the reason why plastic recycling is necessary. 

Fortunately, the company Hitachi is leading the way. Not only are they working in Japan but also abroad, trying to find ways to recycle as much appliance plastic as possible. The use of plastics in home appliances is widespread and extensive. While it varies from appliance to appliance, at least 40% of most appliances is plastic. Plastics are made from crude oil and their market prices are affected by more than merely supply and demand. Politics, economics, and speculation all affect the price as well. With the rising demand for crude oil and the prices on a long-term upward trend, with every passing year, stable sources of plastic materials are becoming more difficult to obtain.  

Because of that, and additional issues within Japan specifically, Hitachi is looking at ways to increase the ability to recycle plastics. They do this by sorting through the various types of plastics within major appliances. Polypropylene, polystyrene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene makeup between 70 to 80% of the plastics used in home appliances. 

Polypropylene and general-purpose polystyrene are easy to identify. They're easy to find and easy to recycle. This makes them more valuable, so most shops will have dedicated crushers for these two plastic types. 

Remember the plastic confetti we mentioned earlier? This is where that comes back into play. Once the polypropylene and general-purpose polystyrene are pulled out you're left with a mixed bag of plastic confetti that still needs to be sorted. Previously this process would be done by hand if it was done at all. Hitachi is working on speeding up the process. They hope to install sorting equipment that can separate mixed plastics into individual types using water and electrostatic separation. 

Courtesy of Barphilosof

(Sidenote: If you're interested in the process of removing microplastics, that is a bit beyond the scope of our coverage on this site, but we do suggest some of the links we've left in the additional reading section. One from National Geographic explains the situation, and the other from Princeton discusses exciting research toward solving it.) 

Stepping back from the intricate process of appliance recycling, we're left with a profound realization of its undeniable significance. Recycling isn't just a mundane chore; it's a vital cog in the wheel of environmental preservation. Don't forget to revisit our previous article to deepen your understanding of the recycling journey. And keep an eye out for the forthcoming installments in this series, where we'll continue unraveling the compelling narrative of sustainable appliance management.

While recycling remains a pivotal solution, prevention is equally crucial. At Appliance Rescue Service, we're committed to prolonging the lifespan of your appliances, offering maintenance and repair services to keep them running efficiently. Whether it's a need for immediate repairs or a desire for a routine maintenance check, take the proactive step towards sustainable appliance care. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or visit our website for more information on how we can assist in maintaining your appliances for a greener, more efficient household.

Call us at: (214) 599-0055

Additional Reading

Explaining The Basics Of Appliance Recycling

RAD Partners

New Research On Removing Microplastics

The Plastic Crisis Explained

Looking Back And Closing Out 2023

A Recap of Trendsetting Refrigerator Styles

Hey there, fridge enthusiasts and kitchen aficionados! Can we just take a moment to appreciate how far our good ol' refrigerator has come? I mean, from being this big, clunky box in the corner to a sleek, stylish centerpiece of our kitchens, it's undergone a serious glow-up! And guess what? While the year is winding down, the fridge game isn’t slowing down any time soon. Let's dive into a recap of the world of 2023's coolest refrigerator styles - trust me, you won't believe what these bad boys can do now! 

Panel Ready: Elevating Kitchen Aesthetics

Courtesy of SubZero

               While panel-ready appliances have been out for a while, they gained traction in 2023. Panel-ready appliances can be found for every major appliance and most small ones as well. Naturally, this includes your refrigerator. Panel-ready appliances are those that are unfinished and are ready to be covered with a panel that seamlessly matches the rest of your cabinetry. If you want a high-end kitchen, custom panels are the way to go.

Question: How might a hidden refrigerator transform the functionality of your kitchen space? We'd love to hear your ideas!

               Invisible & Hidden: The Rise of Hidden Refrigerators

Even as pandemic restrictions have lifted, people have not shed their focus on staying home and being comfortable in their homes. Manufacturers are still responding to that need and are working to make refrigerators smarter, quieter, and as close to invisible as they can get.

Courtesy of Simple Showing

Creating an invisible kitchen allows you to use the space in more than one way. It also helps with making smaller homes feel more open. The use of cabinetry faces and pocket doors creates the illusion of the refrigerator vanishing into the walls.

Handle-less Marvels: Embracing Futuristic Designs

Refrigerators are beginning to go handless. Although it’s not common yet, what started as recessing the handle into the door is now shifting towards no handles at all. Instead, manufacturers are looking at how to incorporate smart options like auto assist. Not only does this help the everyday user, but it also helps those who are disabled or injured to be able to get around with less trouble. 

Splash of Color: The Vibrant Evolution of Refrigerators

At the beginning of the year, we pointed out the LG MoodUp. While we haven't seen anything as bombastic as that, we have seen other manufacturers bringing about colored appliances. we've seen them and talked about them for years with ovens, but now refrigerators are beginning to get some love as well in blacks, blues, reds and more unique colors like purples and teal. There have been other manufacturers that have done this, such as the European SMEG, but it's not a common occurrence in the American market.

Courtesy of LG

Question: Which vibrant color would you pick for your refrigerator to express your kitchen's personality? Tell us your favorite hues!

Zones Redefined: Customizable Spaces for Organized Living

We’ve talked recently about the importance of refrigerator zones and how they affect your food’s life span. The design of your refrigerator is one way that this can be affected. Multi-door refrigerators offer a unique option to mix and match the type of space you need.  They offer different zones that can be controlled from your phone as well as additional drawers and doors to allow you to better break down your fridge for your needs. 

LED Illumination: Efficiency and Elegance Inside Your Fridge

While it might sound odd, LED lighting is starting to gain traction in the market. LED lighting throughout your refrigerator and the various compartments makes a difference on multiple levels. First off, it allows you to cut down on your power usage as LEDs are up to 90% more efficient. Second, it gives your refrigerator a modern and sleek appearance. Finally, it makes it easier to find items within your fridge, ensuring you don’t lose that delicious bottle of jam to the back of a shelf. 

Smart Innovations: Cameras, Ice Filters, and Beyond

Cameras inside the refrigerator allow you to take stock of what you have even when you're out on the go. Instead of having to make a list of what you have at all times and trying to maintain that in your head, you can pull open your refrigerator app and check what's there. This doesn't necessarily get rid of your need for grocery lists or lists of what you need for different recipes, but it does help if you forget to check for an item or two before you leave. This continues to build momentum, and manufacturers are constantly trying to figure out something new. We look forward to what innovations the new year will bring us. 

Courtesy of KitchenAid

An interesting new feature that we noticed for the first time this year was filtered ice. While refrigerators making ice is nothing new, being able to get crystal clear ice is. Refrigerators are now being included with filtered water and ice as part of the system rather than having to be a specialized or aftermarket feature.

Question: Which smart feature - camera integration or filtered ice - would you find more beneficial in your daily kitchen routine? Let us know your choice and why!

And there you have it, a sneak peek into the dazzling world of 2023's coolest refrigerator trends! From seamless panel designs to invisible fridges and futuristic innovations, it's been a whirlwind of creativity in kitchen tech. By the way, if your trusty fridge or any major appliance needs a tune-up or repair, we at Appliance Rescue Service have your back! Whether it's fixing a stubborn ice maker or giving your appliances some TLC, our repair wizards are on standby. We're your go-to folks for keeping your kitchen tech running smoothly. Share your thoughts on these trends in the comments on our Facebook page, and remember, if your appliance needs some love, reach out to us at Appliance Rescue Service!

 Trends come, and trends go. Tell us which of these trends you expected or enjoyed in the comments on our Facebook page!

Additional Reading
Chill Hacks Unveiled: Mastering Your Fridge's Microzones for Fresher Foods

The MoodUp Refrigerator to Shake UP Your Kitchen

The Kitchen Gift-Giving Guide: From Laughs to Lessons, What Not to Wrap

From Melting Splatter Guards to Rubbery Eggs—Avoiding Disastrous Presents

Welcome, fellow gift-givers and kitchen explorers! This guide is your ticket to steering clear of kitchen gift disasters. We'll navigate through the treacherous terrain of poorly designed gadgets, criminally single-use wonders, and items that should come with a "Handle with Extreme Caution" label. Get ready to dodge the banana slicers as we delve into the world of ill-advised kitchen presents!

Poor Choices

Our first category looks at some of the gifts that are just poor choices. Either because they’re poorly designed, or they don’t match the needs of the recipient, these gifts just don’t work. 

Frywall 10

Courtesy of Amazon & Frywall Store

     Starting us off strong, let’s look at a Frywall 10. It might have been seen on Shark Tank, but the production of this invention leaves much to be desired. Even if you remove the splatter guard when you aren’t at the pan, it still melts after a few uses, as one giftee notes. “The idea is great, and it certainly kept grease from splattering, but after two uses, holes started to form, and now it seems to be completely breaking down.” If the gift you want to give somebody is known for breaking down after only two uses it's not worth the money you paid for it. Read the reviews to make sure that you aren't getting scammed, and your giftee isn't either.

Pots/Pans/ Knives 

Just, don’t. For the sake of the home chef in your life, don’t gift it to them, except under 1 very specific instance. If they have been talking constantly about wanting a particular knife or pot set. Then and only then should you try this one. Chefs and cooks alike are just like any other artist. They find tools they like, and they don’t want to shift away from them. They don’t want to try something new, or the latest invention because they know what they have and how it works. Save yourself the heartache, and offer to get them a subscription box they love instead. 

Margaritaville Mixer 

Although we love a good margarita or other mixed drink, it doesn't work unless the giftee regularly throws parties or is training to be a bartender. These mixers can make a ton of margaritas, and with a bit of tinkering, you can use them for other drinks. But you can't use them for literally anything else. If you want to get something similar, try out a NutriBullet or a top-tier blender that can handle ice and various other kitchen jobs like pureeing fruits and vegetables. This way, you're not inciting somebody to alcoholism.

3 Pot Crockpot Buffet

Make sure you know how much space your giftee has. This is one where the idea can be very sweet, but if you’re giving it to someone who doesn’t cook, doesn’t host parties, or doesn’t have a ton of space? We can guarantee it’s not going to get much use. 

Sodastream

Everyone wants to be healthy. Most of us even know that drinking soda all of the time isn't great for us. The market’s trend toward flavored waters over the past 2 to 3 years shows just how much money there is to be made in this arena. And Sodastream is one of the first contenders to try and let you make your own drinks and flavors at home. Unfortunately, people have a lot to say about it.

Courtesy of SodaStream & Pepsi Co

“At first I thought this would be great. Less aluminum, less storage space and just the right amount of fizz. My first bottle lasted the required time for the amount of fizz I wanted. The second and third bottle, not so much. The second and third bottle require three times as many pumps and sometimes four times. I used to push it five times for a 1/2 second, now I am up 10-15 times for about a second each. Maybe my math isn't that good, but I know I am not getting the value out of the machine that I expected. After this bottle, I will return to the aluminum cans and add the cans to the recycling bin.”

One Use (If That) 

Our second category are those gifts you see in stores marked “As Seen on Tv!” and have exactly ONE (1) use, if they’re lucky. They languish in drawers and cabinets, never being used because they take too much time, space, or attention when you can do better with less. 

Microwave Egg Cooker

Courtesy of HSN

You’ve probably seen some variations of these that claim to make a perfectly delicious egg in half the time it would take in a pan on TV. Except they don’t. Not really. The egg leaks, or (as is most often) it tastes rubbery and gross. Unless you’re gifting it to someone with no sense of taste, we don’t advise this one. 

“All In One Breakfast Sandwich Maker” 

Another tool that claims to make it all in one, we all know what breakfast sandwich this is trying to knock off. As shiny as it looks though a) it only allows for one type of sandwich, and b) it comes with numerous flaws. As one user pointed out,

 “The point of it is to place the top and bottom of the English muffin in the machine to get toasted, then crack the egg into the centre area with a "removable floor" so that the egg drops down onto the lower bun once it's cooked. The problem is (a) that I don't want to automatically drop the egg, because I want to butter the ******* english muffins and (b) there is too much of a gap between the walls of the egg section and the removable floor, so the egg partially runs out and drops raw onto the lower half of the english muffin, or down the sides and makes a mess.”

Cleaver Cutter Scissor 

Picture a set of scissors with a very very small cutting board attached. Ideally you are going to use this to slice paper thin pieces of vegetable, or your herbs as you're prepping dinner. In reality? You're lucky if you don't cut yourself.

People consistently cite that not only is it dull on arrival, but additionally that it doesn’t work worth a damn, and that you’re better off spending the same amount of money on a knife. 

Mr. Sneezy Egg Separator

We're not sure if you've seen this one. It looks simultaneously hilarious and disgusting when you see it in person or in action. You have a head of a man with a large head that is primarily made up of nose. You crack the egg inside the cup and the egg white drip out through his nose.

We understand the concept. We understand why it exists. There are dozens if not hundreds of recipes that ask for you to separate your yolks from your whites. But this? This is just unsanitary. Not only does it only have one use, but it is extraordinarily difficult to get every nook and cranny inside of that deformed head properly clean. You're better off watching a 2-minute YouTube video on how to separate your yolks and your whites by hand then using this. So unless you want to chance giving someone a bacterial infection under the guise of offering a funny gift, you better avoid this one.

Pizza Scissors

As usual our description first. Unfortunately this name pretty much describes it. This is very similar to the supposed vegetable cutters we mentioned before, and is a triangular plate attached to a pair of scissors. In theory this is meant to help you cut a slice of pizza more easily. In reality no matter which type of pizza is your favorite, this is just insulting.

Banana Slicer 

Courtesy of Amazon

Our final woefully useless tool for this section Is the banana slicer. This one is flat out useless. Most bananas don't even fit this mold perfectly so you end up having to cut them with a knife and by the time you've done that you might as well use the same knife to cut the rest of the banana. Additionally why would you gift anyone this? We've seen reports of people getting these as gifts, and they weren't toddlers. This is just a very large go jump off a cliff if you give this to somebody as a gift because you obviously do not like them.

Flat Out Dangerous

Our final category is fortunately very small. These are gifts that are dangerous due to poor design. They’re gifts that can and have hurt people, even when using them properly. 

Easy Bake Ovens

Courtesy of Hasbro

Every child who loves to bake has for at least a moment clamored for an easy bake oven. Your blogger certainly did. And if you didn't, then you knew somebody who did have one. Did you know the number of people who have gotten hurt using one though? Or adults for that matter? The numbers have been high enough that the maker Hasbro has had to recall them at least once and has completely redesigned them from the ground up at least twice during the lifetime of the toy. 

And the problem isn't people not paying attention or not following instructions. It's always been a matter of design and fingers getting caught where they shouldn't trying to put the little pans in or pull them out.

Mortar and Pestle Made of Fragile Materials like Ceramic or Glass

In theory this could be one of the better gifts on this list. You want to spoil somebody you love by getting them a tool that they need for making the best sauces and grinding their own spices. You want to show them how much you love them by getting them something beautiful. Unfortunately for you, glass and ceramic and other fragile materials no matter how beautiful do not belong in this case. A mortar and pestle is meant to crush and grind herbs and spice. Do you know what glass on ceramic are remarkably bad at over time? Grinding and crushing things! Glass and ceramic will look pretty but as soon as they're put to the test they begin to chip and break and will eventually shatter which means somebody is getting an ER visit if they're lucky.

Grandma’s Hand Mixer From The Dark Ages

“This  was used by your great-grandmother to make her famous gingerbread!” 

How many times have you heard that? It's great when it's a recipe that's passed down. What's less great is when you hand over a 30-plus-year-old piece of electronics that hasn't been properly tested or insured that it's still works safely. Please do not give old electronics unless you know that a it's going to have sentimental value to the person your gifting it to and b it's not going to light their kitchen on fire.

Fondoodler

Our last one is one that checks all of the boxes. It's a difficult tool. It wasn't properly thought out during the design process. And worst of all it is definitely dangerous. Do you like fondue? Do you like drawing with your food? How about combining those things into this epic nightmare called the fondoodler. Rather than paraphrasing what somebody else has said though, we're going to share this hilarious and horrifying tale from user vengefultacos over on Reddit.

  “ My wife got me a fondoodler. Want a quick snack

Cut up some cheese (has to be exactly the right type to get the correct consistency)

Stuff said cheese into the barrel of the fondoodler. The barrel is round. You cut your cheese into a round tube, right? No? OK, it's square peg in round hole time

Wait a while for the thing to heat up and melt some cheese.

Courtesy of Dot Brand

Finally, you can squirt out molten cheese which may or may not stick to the cracker, and may or may not push the cracker around. If you decide to hold the cracker steady, recall that the tip of the Fondoodler is REALLY *******HOT.

After a few minutes of squirting cheese, you're done. Now go clean the congealed cheese out of the tube and tip.”

And there you have it, folks! Remember, while we've had a good laugh (and perhaps a cringe or two) exploring these ill-fated kitchen gifts, the lessons extend beyond these specific items. These tips, dripping with sarcasm and genuine advice, serve as your survival guide for gift-giving in the kitchen realm. So, next time you're eyeing that questionable kitchen gadget, think twice, and consider the recipient's needs and the practicality of the gift.

Got some horror stories of kitchen gift-giving gone wrong? Let's chat about it on our Facebook page! Share your tales of disastrous gifts and join the conversation on what not to give this holiday season.

Before you dive into the holidays headfirst, we'd like to throw in a friendly reminder: when it comes to your major appliances, before, during, and after the festive chaos, Appliance Rescue Service has your back! From reviving misbehaving ovens to saving fridges on the fritz, we’re here for you. So, while you're out there conquering your holiday shopping, remember, that there's always a lifeline for your appliances!

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