I Tested All the Viral Kitchen Gadgets, But Only Few Were Worth the Hype

The kitchen gadgets TikTok is obsessed with are either genius creations that make you wonder how you ever lived without them or complete gimmicks that end up collecting dust in the back of a cabinet. As someone who loves trying out the latest gadgets (and inevitably getting disappointed by at least half of them), I couldn’t resist putting the most talked-about TikTok kitchen tools to the test.

From a rotary grater that claims to revolutionize meal prep to a futuristic touchless paper towel dispenser, I went through all the viral kitchen tools you’ve probably seen on your feed. The goal? To find out which ones are worth the hype and which ones are better left behind. Here’s how it went down.

Watermelon Cutter

Rating: 7/10 – Worth It (If You Love Watermelon)

This is one of those gadgets you don’t need but secretly want. It slices watermelon into perfect little cubes, making you feel like a professional caterer. It’s oddly satisfying to use, and it actually works. I was impressed with how cleanly it sliced through the melon, leaving neat cubes behind.

However, it’s a one-trick pony. If you don’t eat watermelon regularly, it’s going to gather dust in your drawer. But for summer parties or if you’re just a watermelon fanatic, it’s worth it.

Crunch Cup

Rating: 4/10 – Not Worth It

When I first saw the Crunch Cup, I was torn between being genuinely intrigued and utterly confused. It’s a cup that lets you carry milk and cereal separately, then mix them together as you drink. Sounds genius, right? In theory, yes. In practice, not so much.

How It Works

Setting it up was simple enough: pour milk into the outer cup, cereal into the inner cup, snap it all together, and off you go. Except there’s one big problem – there’s no way to seal the cereal. No flap, no cover, nothing. If you’re commuting or just walking a little too enthusiastically, cereal starts flying everywhere. I learned this the hard way when I tried to run with it. Let’s just say my floors were covered in Rice Krispies.

The drinking experience was equally awkward. The milk came out fast, but the cereal struggled to keep up, leading to uneven bites. It was either all milk or all cereal, never the perfect blend you’d expect. Plus, if you’re using anything other than tiny cereal pieces (like Cheerios or granola), they just get stuck.

Verdict

I wanted to like this. I really did. But in reality, it’s more of a hassle than just eating cereal at home or in a normal container. Save your money and stick to the traditional bowl and spoon.

Egg Cracker

Rating: 7/10 – Worth It (Surprisingly)

I’ll admit, I was skeptical. Cracking eggs isn’t rocket science, and I usually do fine without shells getting everywhere. But the Egg Cracker actually impressed me. It’s a small handheld contraption that you position over the egg, then press down to split it perfectly in half.

The Test

I expected a mess, but it worked like a charm. No shells, no broken yolk, and it was oddly satisfying to use. It’s one of those gadgets that feels unnecessary but becomes a guilty pleasure. I even found myself cracking a few extra eggs just for fun. It does exactly what it promises, and that’s rare for a $1.99 gadget.

Verdict

Will it replace the old tap-on-the-bowl method? Probably not. But it’s fun, functional, and inexpensive. If you’re someone who struggles with egg cracking or just wants a quirky kitchen toy, go for it. Otherwise, it’s a novelty that you’ll use a few times before shoving it in a drawer.

Egg Spatula

Rating: 3/10 – Not Worth It

This one was just weird. It’s a spatula designed specifically for flipping eggs, which sounds useful – until you actually try it. The design is meant to cradle the egg and flip it easily, but in reality, it’s clunky and awkward. It didn’t hold the egg securely, and I ended up chasing the egg around the pan like I was playing a game of kitchen hockey.

It also failed the nonstick test. Even with a nonstick pan, the egg kept slipping off the spatula, and I ended up breaking the yolk more often than not. I found myself longing for my regular spatula, which does the job just fine.

Verdict

This one’s going back. Save your money and just use a regular spatula or, better yet, master the art of the pan flip. It’s more satisfying and requires fewer gadgets cluttering up your kitchen.

Avocado Multi-Tool

Rating: 5/10 – Not Worth It

I love a good avocado toast as much as the next person, but this tool felt unnecessary. It’s a 3-in-1 gadget that slices the avocado, removes the pit, and scoops out the flesh. In theory, it’s a time-saver. In practice, it’s just another piece of plastic taking up space in the kitchen drawer.

The knife section isn’t sharp, which is great for safety but terrible for actually cutting through an avocado. It did an okay job of getting the pit out, but the scooping tool was a disaster. It mangled the avocado flesh, leaving me with a pile of mush instead of the pretty slices I was hoping for.

Verdict

Sure, it works, but so does a regular knife and spoon. If you eat avocados every day and want a dedicated tool, go ahead. But if you’re like me and just want a simple avocado toast on the weekend, this one’s not worth the hype.

Citrus Extractor Spray

Rating: 6/10 – Worth It (For the Novelty)

I didn’t expect much from this one, but it actually worked. It’s a tiny spray nozzle that you insert directly into a lemon or orange, turning the fruit into a makeshift spray bottle. I thought it was just a gimmick, but it actually spritzed out a fine mist of citrus juice.

It’s a fun way to add lemon juice to salads or cocktails, and it does save you from dirtying a knife and juicer. But the spray only lasts for a few squeezes before the juice runs out, and you really have to squeeze hard to get a decent amount. Also, it only works on super juicy citrus – don’t even bother with a dry lemon.

Verdict

I wouldn’t call it a kitchen essential, but it’s a fun party trick and a unique way to use citrus. I’ll probably keep it around just for the novelty, but I’m not convinced it’ll be in heavy rotation.

Corn Stripper

Rating: 5/10 – Not Worth It

This seemed like a great idea: a tool that strips kernels off a corn cob in one swift motion. But in reality, it was more trouble than it was worth. It’s basically a metal ring with sharp teeth that you slide down the cob to remove the kernels.

The first issue was getting the corn cob to fit. I had to trim it down to size, which felt like extra work. Once it was the right size, the stripper did work, but not as cleanly as I hoped. It left behind half of the kernels, and I still had to go back with a knife to clean up the cob.

Verdict

I can see this being useful if you’re processing a lot of corn, like for freezing or canning. But for the occasional summer barbecue, it’s just easier to use a knife. This one’s going back.

Stretchy Silicone Bowl Lids

Rating: 8/10 – Worth It

I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting much from these stretchy silicone lids, but they’re actually pretty useful. They’re designed to stretch over bowls, cans, or even half-cut fruit to keep them fresh without plastic wrap. I was skeptical about the fit, but they stretched easily and stayed snug, even on odd-shaped containers.

The Test

The real test was flipping a bowl of water upside down to see if they would leak. I braced myself for a mess, but the lids held tight. No leaks, no spills. They’re also microwave and dishwasher safe, which makes them convenient for reheating leftovers.

Verdict

If you’re looking to reduce plastic waste, these are a great alternative. They take up virtually no space, and they actually work. I’m keeping these.

Automatic Electric Peeler

Rating: 6/10 – Worth It (Barely)

I was sure this was going to be a gimmick, but it actually works – sort of. It’s a battery-powered peeler that spins around fruits and vegetables, removing the skin in one continuous strip. It worked perfectly on potatoes and apples, peeling them quickly and cleanly.

However, it struggled with anything uneven or oddly shaped. Cucumbers were a nightmare, and it just couldn’t handle them. Also, the peeler leaves the top and bottom unpeeled, so you still have to finish the job with a knife.

Verdict

I won’t be reaching for this daily, but it’s fun to use and surprisingly efficient for potatoes. If you do a lot of peeling, it’s worth a try. Just don’t expect it to be a miracle worker.

Ninja Creami

Rating: 9/10 – Worth It (Mostly)

I’ve always been skeptical about at-home ice cream makers. The idea of churning my own gelato sounds romantic until I picture the cleanup. But the Ninja Creami is basically the TikTok heartthrob of ice cream makers, so I had to see if it was really worth the $200 price tag. I’ll admit, I was fully prepared to roll my eyes at this one, but it surprised me.

How It Works

The setup was straightforward. I made a batch of mint chocolate chip and a lemon sorbet, both of which needed to freeze for 24 hours before being processed. This meant no instant gratification, but it gave me a good excuse to procrastinate, which I’m oddly good at. The next day, I popped the containers into the machine and watched it pulverize the frozen blocks into creamy perfection. It’s loud – like, startle-your-dog loud – but it works. The consistency is shockingly smooth, almost like soft-serve, which I actually prefer.

The Test

I played around with the mix-in feature, which is a fun touch. The machine has a separate button that gently folds in chocolate chips or fruit without pulverizing them. It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference when you want those chunky bits in every bite. My only gripe is the noise level and the fact that the blade does seem to scrape the sides of the plastic containers, which had me double-checking for stray plastic shavings. Not ideal, but I didn’t find any, so maybe it was just paranoia setting in.

Verdict

Would I recommend it? Yes, especially if you’re an ice cream lover or have dietary restrictions and want to make your own dairy-free versions. But you’ll want to invest in extra containers because the machine only comes with one, and waiting 24 hours between batches is not practical if you’re impatient like me.

Rotary Grater

Rating: 8/10 (Worth It)

When I first saw the rotary grater on TikTok, I was skeptical. It looked a bit too good to be true, effortlessly grating everything from cheese to vegetables in seconds. But, as someone who dreads grating cheese with a box grater (and inevitably grating my fingers in the process), I was willing to give it a shot.

How It Works

This rotary grater is different from your typical grater because of its larger mouth and spinning wheel. It comes with interchangeable blades for different grating sizes and a suction base to keep it stable on the countertop. Switching the blades in and out is surprisingly simple, which is a win in my book since I hate fiddly kitchen tools.

The Test

I started with carrots. Now, I like my carrot strands long for salads, but this grater produced tiny shreds. They were uniform, sure, but they were short and more suitable for carrot cake than salads. Not a dealbreaker, but not exactly what I was hoping for. When I tried cabbage, it struggled. Cabbage is awkwardly shaped and tough, and this grater just couldn’t handle it smoothly. It ended up more chopped than shredded.

But then I moved on to cheese. This is where it shined. It shredded cheese beautifully without clogging up the grater, unlike my old one, which always seems to trap cheese in the corners. Cleaning it was easy, too — a quick rinse, and it was good as new.

Verdict

This grater is fantastic for cheese and soft vegetables but not great for harder or awkwardly shaped foods like cabbage. I’m definitely keeping it for cheese nights and quick salad toppings.

Hamilton Beach Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker

Rating: 8/10 – Worth It (Surprisingly)

This one had me on the fence. I’m the kind of person who thinks a frying pan and a toaster are enough to make a breakfast sandwich, but the Hamilton Beach Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker had me questioning my kitchen priorities. It’s essentially a stackable contraption where each layer cooks a different part of your breakfast sandwich – English muffin, egg, cheese, and meat – all at once.

The Test

I tested it out with the classic combo: sausage, egg, and cheese on an English muffin. The key here is to preheat it until the light turns green, then layer everything in the right order. I did a little experiment by spraying one side with oil and leaving the other side dry, just to test the nonstick claims. Both sides came out clean, which was impressive. The egg cooks right in the middle layer, and after five minutes, you lift the center rings, and the whole sandwich stacks itself.

The result: A perfectly layered breakfast sandwich that actually tasted better than expected. It was warm, gooey, and the egg was cooked just right – no rubbery texture, which was my main worry. Cleanup was also surprisingly easy, especially compared to a waffle maker (if you know, you know).

Verdict

Would I use this every day? Probably not, but it’s perfect for busy mornings or lazy Sundays. It’s also great if you’re meal prepping breakfast sandwiches for the week. Just wrap them up and freeze; they reheat well. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised and may have to eat my words… along with my perfectly assembled breakfast sandwich.

Touchless Paper Towel Dispenser

Rating: 5/10 (Not Worth It)

I’m all for futuristic kitchen tools, but this one felt like it was trying too hard. A touchless paper towel dispenser sounds convenient, especially when you’re dealing with messy hands. But for $69? I had high expectations.

How It Works

You wave your hand in front of a sensor, and the dispenser automatically rolls out a paper towel. It also has a retract function, so if you don’t pull the towel fast enough, it rolls it back up for you.

The Test

Setting it up was easy enough. I loaded the paper towels, waved my hand, and watched in amusement as it spat out almost half a roll in one go. It definitely needs some fine-tuning. Sometimes it gave me one sheet, but more often, it gave me too much or retracted before I could grab it.

The sensor was also inconsistent. I had to wave my hand multiple times to get it to work, which felt counterproductive for a gadget that’s supposed to save time. Plus, the constant motion made me feel like I was trying to perform a magic trick that kept failing.

Verdict

It’s a fun novelty, but it’s not practical. I ended up going back to my regular paper towel holder.

Butter Churner

Rating: 7/10 – Worth It (For the Patient)

I didn’t think I needed a butter churner in my life until I tried this. It’s one of those gadgets that makes you feel like you’re living on a farmstead in the 1800s, and honestly, there’s something oddly satisfying about it. It’s a glass jar with a crank handle that churns cream into butter, and yes, it’s as exhausting as it sounds.

The Test

It took about 45 minutes of churning – with multiple arm-swapping breaks – before the cream finally turned into butter. At one point, I was convinced it wasn’t working, but then it magically separated into pale yellow butter and buttermilk. The sense of accomplishment was ridiculous, and I may have gotten a little emotional.

The butter itself was delicious – fresh, creamy, and a bit sweet. We added sea salt, and it was perfect on warm bread. The buttermilk was also a bonus, which I used to make fluffy pancakes the next day.

Verdict

Would I do this every week? Absolutely not. It’s a workout, and it takes time. But for a special occasion or just to feel like you’re living in a cottagecore dream, it’s totally worth it.