Set it and forget it. Infomercials for kitchen gadgets have crammed the late-night airwaves since the days of Ginsu Knives and the Veg-O-Matic.
Lately we're flicking past pitches for the Bacon Wave, the Flat Fold Colander, the Vidalia Chop Wizard and the rest of the "it slices, it dices" ilk. We're wondering if you've purchased any As Seen on TV kitchen gadgets and we want to know if they work.
But Wait, There's More. Our fascination with these tools is more in their promising pitches than in what they can accomplish in the kitchen. No homecook can argue with "You know what went in it, because you made it yourself!" And aren't we investing knife skills classes and $150 knives so that we might "slice a tomato so thin it only has one side"?
If you've purchased one of these gadgets, and you've found them to be especially useful (or a big scam), let us know in the comments for this post.
Elizabeth Apron fro...

I don't really have any "As seen on TV" stuff, but I've always been curious about those Magic Bullets - you know the little food choppers? They look great. I will probably not get one though...kitchen storage issues...
I think the knives I have (Ronco- http://www.popeilfamilystore.com/6starknives.html) were as seen on tv. My friend actually got them for me as a Birthday gift- he's had a set for ages and the knives have stayed really sharp compared to the knives I've had in the past (high end and yet they always dulled quickly and many of them rusted too). So yep, I've been very happy with them.
Janet- for chopping nuts I really like the KithenAid Multi Food Chopper (other brands make them as well). The parts all disassemble so it is pretty easy to clean.
My parents bought Ginsu knives when I was in high school, I think they still have one of 2 laying around. As I remember they were pretty sharp. Good knives.
Then in college my husband (well not yet, boyfriend then I guess:) ordered the egg thing that is supposed to cook your eggs in the microwave, either scrambled, hard or soft-boiled, etc. It was AWFUL!
We have the spin 'n' store or whatever it's called: http://www.asontv.com/products/1103752406.html
I absolutely love it and highly recommend it, if you're a single or a couple. Wouldn't work so well for a family, because the containers are smallish.
The Magic Bullet is a piece of crap. Save your money, Janet.
I used to have those microwave egg cooking thingies too. They were crap, but they looked awful cute sitting in my cabinet collecting dust!
I threw them out when I jettisoned my microwave.
That pasta cooking thingie makes me so angry. God, I cannot imagine how disgusting the noodles must be. It's just not right to cook pasta in so little water. Ugh, the blandizing and lazification of American dinner. Blegh.
I bought the one-touch can opener a few months ago, and I LOVE it - I used to get so frustrated with my old hand crank can-opener, but I didn't want to get one of those huge electric ones. The one-touch is about the size of my old handcrank one, so I can store it in my cooking utensils drawer, and you just place it on top of the can and push the button and it rotates around and cuts the lid off, then when you lift it up, the lid comes right off with it because of a magnet on the bottom of the can-opener.
We also have the spining tupperware thing, like bridgettoledo, and I like to containers, but the stand is pretty flimsy and falls apart sometimes.
I had the magic bullet. Its useless.
I got the ginsu knives as a housewarming present about 10 years ago and I still have the steak knives. I use them fairly often and they seem to work just fine. I have no idea what happened to the rest of the knives.
George Foreman Grill a/k/a The Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine--it's aces for quick turkey burgers in a tiny apartment. I've even used an extension cord to get it out onto the fire escape for my lame version of outdoor grilling.
I have the Smart Spin. It's the only time I've ever been convinced by one of those "Are you tired of..." commercials. I ordered it right away and it's actually pretty great!
okay so this isn't really a kitchen thing, per-say, but I only use mine there!!
http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/swivel_sweeper.html
The Swivel Sweeper! It's a little costly, yes, but it's FANTASTIC to pick up those little crumbs after cooking or to sweep off the rug in your kitchen - it picks up the cat hair in my apartment and all the disgusing crumbs my two male roommates leave everywhere. The charge is good for about 45 minutes and it sure beats working with a broom or a swiffer.
my dad swears by those meat bags you can microwave a steak in. i can't remember what they're called, but he made one for me once and it wasn't horrible.
My mom had one of those inside-the-egg scramblers back in the 80s when scrambled egg was pretty much all my little brother would eat. She loved it because it saved constantly washing bowls and forks. We also had the Popeil pasta maker that made fantastic fresh pasta until a key component cracked and it stopped working.
I have the Miracle Blades http://www.miracleblade.com/
I was using them while in college and really liked them (they've been in storage for a couple of years now because I've been moving around a lot). But come this July, these bad boys are seeing daylight again.
I have ginsu knives. And the 4" scar in my hand to prove it.
While I won't be getting a Magic Bullet [I don't even use my food processor I have, I just like chopping things!], I do love the commercial! Come on!
I own the "Kiss Mixer", (http://www.kissmixer.com/) which looks extremely similar to the “Magic Bulletâ€, I’m pretty sure they are the same thing. Mine was a gift (they can be found in a lot of Asian Supermarkets) , and I just keep it on top of my counter since it is so small, and use it for small things like pesto, blending, and for a quick grind of almonds or other nuts (the thing is pretty small). I make small batches of crepe batter in it, heh. While not the neatest thing ever, it comes in handy once in awhile for me. Mine is super loud and makes me a little nervous sometimes, I’m always afraid I’m going to press down on it somehow and whack off a finger or two!
I remember when I was super young, every infomercial that came on late night after cartoons had me hooked to the TV, always yelling for my mom to come and order a food dehydrator, vacuum sealer, or countertop washer... thank goodness 6 year olds don’t have credit cards!
I always wanted the food dehydrator for fruits. Oh, then I'd also need the vacuum sealer! For some reason I never pulled the trigger, I think I got distracted.
I use the miracle blade all the time. They are great.
I once had that apple peeler, i can't remember the name but the skin of the apple ended up looking like silly string.