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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

the price for the most useless household item goes to...

279 replies

greenelephantscarf · 28/02/2019 17:40

... the gravy boat

  • always drips
  • never big enough
  • alwas at the wrong end of the table
  • a pain in the drawer as it's not stackable

I'm moving house. gravy boat will stay behind.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Soubriquet · 02/03/2019 18:52

Electric grater

I wanted something that grated cheese a lot easier so got this electric one.

I’ve use it 3 times...yes it grates nicely but it takes such a faff to clean and you always end up with big lumps where it’s slipped trough

Ivegotthree · 02/03/2019 18:59

I once bought a cake pop stand/holder from Lakeland when DC were little and cake pops were all the rage.

Still in my cupboard gathering dust. What WAS I thinking?

Angie169 · 02/03/2019 19:09

How on earth do you store you butter if you do not have a butter dish ?
Mine is about 30 years old and glass , and unless the weather is very warm it keeps it cold .

I also have a bloody big wok and I love it . You do have to be careful cleaning them tho , as PP said a quick rinse , dry very well and oil right away ( before you eat kinda quick )

Microwave - the only time it gets used is to warm beans / tomatoes soup and the likes , all of which could be done on the hob . I have been waiting for years for the bugger to die so i can get rid of it .

KissingInTheRain · 02/03/2019 19:32

Presumably you can treat a wok like you would an omelette pan - just clean with salt and some paper kitchen towel.

greenelephantscarf · 02/03/2019 19:39

not a household item as such, but: face masks.

they all say to leave out the part of the face that need it the most at my age, i.e. eye and mouth area.
what's the point?

OP posts:
BasiliskStare · 02/03/2019 20:00

@angie169 "How on earth do you store you butter if you do not have a butter dish ? "

In its wrapping, in the fridge ?

Ha ha - I am a butter novice - after all these years - gave away a lovely butter dish ( we had two) as not used. Kept one for some use but honestly - just in the fridge in the clothes it came in Grin

buzzbobbly · 02/03/2019 21:29

I wanted something that grated cheese a lot easier so got this electric one.
I also grate cheese in the food processor. Takes a few seconds to do the whole block.

@BasiliskStare does it work well once frozen. ?
Yeah works perfectly fine. I have cooked with it, made garlic bread, defrosted it and used in marinade etc. All groovy.

The downside to buying it ready frozen is you don't get to inhale the garlicky goodness while you're doing it.

livinglavidavillanelle · 02/03/2019 21:31

Definitely a fish slice. Who really uses those anymore?

Roussette · 02/03/2019 21:31

But I like my butter not hard because I put it soooo thick if it's hard. Fridge won't do it for me Grin

MitziK · 02/03/2019 21:36

A fish slice? How else do you get easy over eggs?

SpoonBlender · 02/03/2019 22:01

@ChakiraChakra If you wok twice a year get a non-stick one instead of one that needs seasoning. Seasoned ones need to be in constant use really. Plus it'll offend the purists, who love to get offended by things that really don't matter. Bonus!

Our useless items are...

A buzzy milk frother electric whisk thing from DF who turns out to use one all the time at home, so it was one of those genuine gifts and not (as I initially thought) a comedy one.

Silicone oven things - as PPs have said, they smell. They don't seem to flavour the food thankfully, but they put me right off. Charitied.

Cheese board with knives in. It's smaller than a Camembert!

Camembert baking dish. Never used. I do like a baked camembert, but I can't eat a whole one without feeling ill and DP won't join in.

We do go through phases - silicone egg poachers were used heavily for a couple of years and they've just been lurking at the back of the cupboard looking like peculiar bra inserts for ages now. The second coffee bean grinder for spices has been displaced by a pestle and mortar. The bread maker was in continuous use for three years then got parked for fatness reasons. We did just acquire a spiralizer which has turned out to be great fun and not at all injurous - yet! I expect we'll charity it in a year or two.

SpoonBlender · 02/03/2019 22:01

I use a fish slice to lift and sometimes flip fish. There are no viable alternatives when you're manhandling a side of plaice!

ChakiraChakra · 02/03/2019 22:08

A fish slice is for fried eggs, and baked pastry things, burgers etc. Not actual fish Wink (said the vegetarian)

KissingInTheRain · 02/03/2019 22:12

I have about six different fish slices. Metal and plastic, wider and thinner. I use them all the time.

AtSea1979 · 02/03/2019 22:15

Alexa I love my Dyson, it’s one of best things I bought.

Bought a steam mop after reading about it on here. Never use it as sick of having to wash the cloth after each use.

I don’t own a gravy boat, I just use the measuring jug. My parents always put one out though on Xmas day.

My iron and ironing board is used to block my woolly projects never to actually iron clothes!

Had my bread maker about 10 years. I love it. Don’t use it every week just every so often I’ll get motivated again and make a few loaves. I love the smell.

Tonsilss · 02/03/2019 22:19

I was given a parsley cutter fgs.

Mousetolioness · 02/03/2019 22:20

I use my small salad spinner to spin my bras when I've done a hand wash late at night and a short spin in washing machine would be too noisy! That's all it ever gets used for.

Ice cream scoop used for measuring equal cake mix dollop into cupcake cases for when perfection is required.

Stands for storing baking trays etc vertically - couldn't get on with them so they were ditched.

Ooplesandbanoonoos · 02/03/2019 22:23

Oh good idea for gravy serving OP!

DontCallMeCharlotte · 02/03/2019 22:33

Damn thing was so Pointless it added £250 to the jackpot.

GrinGrin

Mousetolioness · 02/03/2019 22:34

Pasta maker... never used it. Nor the mould and rolling pin cutter jobby for ravioli. Lidl double walled metal saucepan you fill with hot water to melt chocolate (Not even sure that's what it's for...) Keep my cooking oil bottle stood up in it.

Electric chocolate melter gadget (given to me as a present) never used. Keep it because I think it might come in handy for something...

6 x Oneida two storey cupcake carriers from Costco incorporating the metal cupcake baking trays. (When I thought I might at some, unknown, date in the future need them...)

Mousetolioness · 02/03/2019 22:35

Cupcake carriers not necessarily useless - just not used.

DontCallMeCharlotte · 02/03/2019 23:40

Harp
Banjo
And
(In a Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells voice)
Mandolin

TSSDNCOP · 03/03/2019 09:07

Juicer and any gadget given to me by my SIL.

Most lethal? Mandolin, I bought one on Tuesday and sliced my thumb open on the first potato. Claret everywhere, hotpot ruined.

Meretricious · 03/03/2019 09:19

Bread maker. Loved it but now lovely sourdough hipster bakery opened round corner....

EntirelyAnonymised · 03/03/2019 09:22

I use my fish slice all the time.

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