4 Kitchen Gadgets Put to the Test: Which Ones Are Actually Worth It?

Introduction

Some kitchen gadgets solve problems nobody knew existed. Others quietly fix frustrations that chefs and home cooks have put up with for years. Four intriguing gadgets were put through their paces by a professional chef and a regular home cook, and the results ranged from baffling to genuinely impressive. Here is how each one fared, and who they might actually be worth buying for.

1. Hot Dog Bun Driller

The Hot Dog Bun Driller is a moulded plastic tool designed to hollow out a tunnel through a hot dog bun, so the sausage and condiments sit inside rather than slipping and dripping out. You screw it through the bread, then insert your hot dog, keeping everything contained while you eat.

The idea is not without merit. The classic side-cut bun does let sauces and fillings escape, and the driller does hold everything inside the bread. In practice, though, the experience raised more questions than it answered. The bread-to-sausage ratio felt off, the tool had to be used from both ends, and all the condiments ended up pressed down to the bottom of the bun.

At £3.99, the price roughly matches the quality of the plastic. The verdict was blunt: it is an imaginative solution to a century-old problem that nobody needed solved. It earns its place here as a curiosity rather than a recommendation.

2. DICEVICE everGRIP

The DICEVICE everGRIP is a newly patented ergonomic knife grip developed by a chef with 15 years of restaurant ownership, created for himself and his employees. It fits over the bolster of a knife and positions the hand in a more secure, comfortable hold that reduces strain during long prep sessions. It is also aimed at people with arthritis or other hand and wrist conditions.

The most surprising finding was how little adaptation it needed. The grip naturally encourages the correct pinch hold, so it worked comfortably straight away without any loss of chopping accuracy. It also fitted well across multiple knives. Beyond comfort, there is a real training argument: for beginners, it works a bit like stabilisers on a bike, teaching a safe and controlled grip from day one.

At around £9.42 ($11.99), it is an affordable upgrade for anyone who spends hours on knife work or struggles with grip fatigue. Both testers agreed it was worth the price, and it stood out as one of the few gadgets here with a clear everyday purpose.

3. Kidia Clear Ice Maker

The Kidia clear ice maker is a premium mould system that produces genuinely transparent ice cubes at home. Clear ice is difficult to make normally because air and impurities in water make it cloudy. The Kidia works by insulating the bottom of the mould so the top freezes first, pushing impurities down and away, leaving purer ice behind. Fill the whole container, put it in the freezer, and wait roughly 36 to 48 hours.

The results were genuinely impressive. The cubes came out large, solid, and really transparent, among the biggest you can realistically make at home. The optional companion piece takes it further: a 100% brass flat plate with seven designs, which imprints patterns onto the ice using nothing but its natural heat conductivity. Place a cube on the plate for a few seconds and the design transfers.

There are practical trade-offs. The mould uses a lot of freezer space and a surprising amount of water, and the decorative face only shows on one side of the cube once it is in a drink. Pricing is the real hurdle: the ice maker costs about £38 (44 euros), while the brass mould alone comes in at a hefty 154 pounds. The verdict was that it breaks the mould, but it makes the most sense for high-end bars and serious cocktail enthusiasts where presentation pays for itself.

4. Simplehuman Dual Compartment Sensor Bin

The largest gadget by far is the Simplehuman dual compartment sensor bin, a 58-litre bin that opens at the sound of your voice. Say “open can” and the lid lifts; say “stay open” for longer chores, and it stays up until you say “close can”. It also closes automatically after 10 minutes if you forget, and a motion sensor opens it as you approach, with the company claiming it adapts to your environment to avoid false triggers.

Inside, the dual compartments make it easy to sort rubbish and recyclables in one place, with an optional third food caddy that mounts outside. There is a built-in liner dispenser inside the bin for faster liner changes, along with odorizers to keep it smelling fresh, and a silver ion coating on the steel that resists fingerprints and germs. It can run plugged in or on battery power.

The catch is space and price. At £299.95, it is a serious investment, and its footprint will not suit small kitchens. But for anyone designing a kitchen from scratch and spending accordingly, a well-built bin that makes a mundane chore effortless can genuinely improve daily life. Both testers admitted it was their new favourite thing, even if one could never fit it at home.

Which Gadgets Are Worth Buying?

The overall picture is clear. The DICEVICE everGRIP is the standout value pick: cheap, genuinely useful, and backed by someone who built it to solve a real problem in their own kitchen. The Kidia clear ice maker delivers exactly what it promises, beautifully, but only makes sense if transparent ice matters enough to justify the freezer space and the price. The Simplehuman sensor bin is a luxury that does its job extremely well for those with the budget and the space. The Hot Dog Bun Driller remains a fun oddity best left on the shelf.

Conclusion

Four gadgets, four very different verdicts. The everGRIP proves that sometimes the best kitchen gadget is the one that solves a small problem thoroughly and affordably. The clear ice maker and sensor bin show how far design can go when money is no object, while the bun driller is a reminder that not every problem needs solving. Choose based on your kitchen, your budget, and how much you actually cook.