When it comes to kitchen gadgets, it’s easy to be tempted by tools promising to make food prep easier and faster. But do these budget-friendly devices live up to the hype? I tested five fruit and veggie tools, each under $15, and here’s my firsthand experience with how they perform.
Where to Purchase
Below are the 5 products covered in this view, with links where to purchase them.
Strawberry Stem Remover: Surprisingly Satisfying
This simple $6 tool supposedly makes destemming strawberries faster and easier than a knife. It has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon, but complaints of flimsiness gave me some doubts.
My Experience:
To my surprise, this gadget worked exceptionally well. With a quick squeeze and pull, it removed the stems cleanly and efficiently. The process was oddly satisfying, and the tool performed consistently. However, if you only occasionally prep strawberries, a paring knife works just as well and takes up less space.
Verdict: Fun and effective, but not a necessity unless you’re a strawberry fanatic.
Strawberry Slicer: Useful but Launch-Happy
At $10, this slicer promises perfect, even slices with minimal effort. While it boasts 4.4 stars on Amazon, some reviewers noted issues with larger or softer strawberries.
My Experience:
The slicer worked well, producing neat, uniform slices. However, it had a tendency to “launch” strawberries during use, which made me laugh but could be annoying for others. Larger strawberries required trimming to fit, and applying pressure caused some pinched fingers.
Verdict: Effective for small to medium strawberries, but handle with care to avoid flying fruit.
Fruit & Veggie Slicer: Limited and Frustrating
This $10 multipurpose slicer is designed for cucumbers, carrots, and strawberries. While it has a handy design, Amazon reviews pointed out difficulties with harder veggies like carrots.
My Experience:
This tool was great for softer produce like cucumbers and strawberries, slicing them evenly and cleanly. However, it struggled with carrots, requiring significant hand strength and leaving behind a lot of waste. The small size also meant I had to pre-cut larger veggies, which defeats the purpose.
Verdict: Works well for specific uses, but lacks versatility and efficiency for harder produce.
Pepper Corer: A Surprisingly Aesthetic Option
This $13 tool claimed to core peppers quickly and cleanly. It has a solid 4.5-star rating and is dishwasher-safe.
My Experience:
For standard bell peppers, the corer worked fairly well, removing most seeds and cores with a simple twist. However, it occasionally left seeds behind, requiring extra cleaning. It even handled longer, thinner peppers better than expected.
Verdict: Handy for frequent pepper prep, but not perfect.
Nana Hats: Cute but Ineffective
As seen on Shark Tank, the $10 Nana Hats promised to keep bananas fresh longer by inhibiting ripening gases. I tested it alongside a control group and another silicone cover.
My Experience:
After five days, there was no significant difference between the bananas with Nana Hats, silicone covers, or no cover at all. While the hats are undeniably adorable, their performance was underwhelming.
Verdict: Cute novelty, but doesn’t deliver on its promises.
Final Thoughts
After testing these five gadgets, here’s how they stack up:
- Best for Practicality: The Strawberry Stem Remover – it’s quick, fun, and effective if you prep strawberries regularly.
- Best for Aesthetics: The Pepper Corer – it works well enough and makes bell peppers look Instagram-worthy.
- Least Impressive: Nana Hats – a fun gimmick, but not worth the investment.
While some of these tools are helpful, others might make you wonder if a good old knife would suffice. Choose wisely based on your kitchen habits and how often you’ll use them!
What’s your favorite quirky kitchen gadget? Let me know in the comments below!
Video Review
Watch the full review below.