The 5 Kitchen Tools to Ditch in 2026 (and What to Replace Them With)
It's Time to Declutter Your Kitchen
The new year is the perfect time to take stock of your kitchen tools. If you're like most home cooks, your drawers are filled with single-use gadgets that promised to change your life but now just gather dust. This year, we're taking a page from Serious Eats' playbook and getting rid of the tools that aren't pulling their weight.
Here's our guide to the five kitchen tools worth ditching in 2026—and the better alternatives that deserve a spot in your kitchen.
The 5 Kitchen Tools to Ditch
1. Garlic Press
**Why ditch it:** Cleaning a garlic press is one of the most frustrating kitchen tasks. The tiny holes get clogged, the garlic residue sticks, and honestly, minced garlic from a press often ends up with a weird, watery texture.
**What to use instead:** A good chef's knife. Simply smash a clove with the side of the blade, then rock it back and forth to create a fine mince. Add a pinch of salt to help break down the garlic, and you'll get better flavor and texture every time.
If you really want a dedicated garlic tool, a microplane zester handles garlic beautifully and cleans up in seconds.
2. Egg Separator
**Why ditch it:** This single-use gadget takes up drawer space for a task that takes about two seconds with your hands. Plus, the plastic ones break easily.
**What to use instead:** Crack the egg into your hand and let the whites slip through your fingers, keeping the yolk in your palm. It sounds gross, but it works perfectly and cleans up instantly. You can also use the shell method—crack the egg and pass the yolk back and forth between the shell halves.
3. Plastic Measuring Cups (Nested Set)
**Why ditch it:** The nested metal or plastic cups are prone to bending, the measurements fade over time, and trying to measure a half-cup in a one-cup measure is an exercise in frustration.
**What to use instead:** Adjustable measuring cups with magnetic sliders. These modern tools let you measure both dry and wet ingredients with one tool—simply slide to the desired amount. They're faster, more accurate, and many come with metric measurements too.
4. Box Grater
**Why ditch it:** Box graters are bulky, difficult to clean, and the teeth get dull over time. They also require a separate cutting board and a lot of arm strength.
**What to use instead:** A microplane grater. This compact tool zests citrus, grates cheese, nutmeg, chocolate, and garlic with minimal effort. It takes up less space, cleans in seconds, and produces consistently fine results.
For situations where you need a traditional grater, a simple flat grater with a handle is easier to store and use.
5. Slotted Turner (Traditional Metal Spatula)
**Why ditch it:** Traditional slotted turners have wide slots that let food fall through. They're also bulky and don't fit in most knife blocks.
**What to use instead:** A fish spatula (also called a metal turner). This thin, flexible spatula has slots (or no slots at all) that are precisely sized. It slides under delicate fish, eggs, and pancakes with ease—something a bulky slotted turner can never do. It also works beautifully for sautéing and scraping pans.
What to Keep (And What You Actually Need)
While we're decluttering, let's clarify what you actually need to keep:
The Non-Negotiables (Keep These)
The Upgrades Worth Making
If you're replacing tools, consider these 2026 favorites:
**Adjustable Measuring Cups**
One tool replaces an entire nested set.
**Microplane Zester**
For garlic, citrus, cheese, nutmeg, and more.
**Fish Spatula**
The only spatula you really need.
The 2026 Philosophy: Quality Over Quantity
This year, the trend is clear: fewer tools, better tools. Instead of filling your drawers with single-use gadgets, invest in versatile, well-made tools that work harder and last longer.
As Food & Wine recently noted, wooden kitchen utensils are more durable than plastic, offer greater heat resistance, and are non-reactive. The same philosophy applies to all your tools: buy once, buy better.
Making the Switch
Step 1: Empty Your Drawers
Take everything out. Yes, everything.
Step 2: Be Ruthless
Ask yourself: "Have I used this in the past six months?" If not, it goes.
Step 3: Categorize
Group remaining items by function: cutting, stirring, measuring, cooking, serving.
Step 4: Fill the Gaps
Use the money you save from not buying gadgets to invest in quality versions of tools you actually need.
The Bottom Line
Your kitchen should be filled with tools you love and use regularly. The rest is just clutter. This year, make room for the tools that actually make your cooking better—and say goodbye to the rest.
