Some kitchen appliances seem destined for greatness when they first arrive. They promise easier dinners, perfectly sliced vegetables, or homemade bread with less effort. Then, a few years later, you might find one hiding behind the mixing bowls, still waiting for its next assignment.
But does an appliance gathering dust mean Americans no longer want it? The evidence tells a more interesting story. According to market research firm Circana, U.S. multicooker sales declined 20% during the 12 months ending in April 2023 compared with the previous year. Yet manufacturers continue selling everything from electric percolators to countertop rotisseries.
Some familiar models have disappeared, but that doesn’t mean their entire categories are obsolete. Here are 10 kitchen appliances that often seem old-fashioned, along with what the evidence actually says about their place in today’s kitchens.
Electronic Multicookers: The Pandemic Favorite That Lost Momentum
Remember when the Instant Pot seemed capable of doing practically everything except washing the dishes afterward? Multicookers enjoyed considerable attention during the 2010s and the pandemic cooking boom. But enthusiasm eventually cooled.
The Washington Post reported that multicooker sales fell 20% over the 12 months ending in April 2023, citing Circana data. Instant Brands, the company behind Instant Pot, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2023 amid financial pressures and declining demand.
However, bankruptcy did not mean the Instant Pot disappeared. The company’s website still features multicookers, including Duo and Pro models. The lesson? A once-hot appliance can see sales slow without losing its place in every kitchen.
Bread Makers: Some Models Retired, but the Machines Remain
Few kitchen pleasures compare with the smell of freshly baked bread. Bread makers promised that experience with considerably less hands-on work. Hamilton Beach eventually retired its HomeBaker 29881 model, but the company didn’t abandon bread machines altogether.
Its current bread-maker lineup includes models with settings for different loaf sizes, crust preferences, and dough preparations. The company’s 29981 bread maker also features 12 programmed cycles. For cooks who enjoy homemade bread but prefer not to handle every stage themselves, the appeal remains understandable.
A discontinued model is simply evidence that one machine left the catalog. It doesn’t prove Americans have collectively lost interest in bread making.
Electric Coffee Percolators: Still Brewing After All These Years
Before modern single-serve coffee systems became familiar countertop fixtures, electric percolators offered another way to brew a pot. Their old-fashioned appearance can make them seem like appliances belonging to another generation.
Presto’s current catalog includes its model 02811 stainless-steel electric percolator. The company says it brews between two and 12 cups, using an approximately five-ounce cup measurement. It also features automatic warming and a light indicating when the coffee is ready.
That doesn’t establish a nationwide resurgence, but it does confirm that electric percolators remain a marketed alternative for coffee drinkers who prefer this brewing method.
Electric Can Openers: More Than a Forgotten Countertop Gadget
An electric can opener might seem unnecessary if you’ve spent years opening cans by hand. But convenience still has its supporters. Hamilton Beach continues to offer its Smooth Touch Electric Can Opener, model 76609.
The manufacturer describes one-handed operation, a side-cutting mechanism, and built-in knife-sharpening and bottle-opening functions. Those are specific features, not proof the appliance performs better for everyone.
For someone who regularly prepares meals using canned ingredients, the convenience could justify the counter space. However, the broader claim that electric can openers have become unwanted would require national sales or consumer-preference data that hasn’t been established.
Electric Carving Knives: Still Ready for the Roast
There’s something wonderfully theatrical about an electric carving knife gliding through a holiday roast. These appliances use rapidly moving serrated blades to slice cooked meats and other foods.
Hamilton Beach still lists electric knives among its kitchen products, including models with storage cases and carving accessories. That confirms manufacturers still offer the category. Still, a product listing doesn’t tell us how many households use an electric knife regularly.
For occasional carving jobs, an ordinary carving knife may already be enough. For other cooks, the electric version remains a convenient option. It’s a matter of usefulness, not evidence that the entire country has moved on.
Related: 10 So-Called ‘Helpful’ Kitchen Gadgets That Are Actually Pointless
Electric Skillets: The Extra Cooking Surface That Still Has Fans
Electric skillets once gave home cooks another cooking surface without needing an extra stovetop burner. That basic function hasn’t disappeared. Presto currently lists its 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet, model 06857.
The appliance features a removable base and temperature control. Its design allows the base to fit inside the skillet for more compact storage. That could be useful when cooking larger batches or preparing food away from the main stove.
Presto describes itself as America’s best-selling electric skillet brand, although that marketing claim shouldn’t be confused with independently verified current category growth. Electric skillets remain available, but their national sales trajectory wasn’t established by the evidence reviewed.
Electric Fondue Pots: An Old Favorite With Newer Models
A fondue pot brings a certain charm to the table. Melted cheese, warm chocolate, and ingredients shared around one serving vessel make the appliance feel especially suited to entertaining. Cuisinart has discontinued its older CFO-3SS electric fondue pot.
Yet the company still lists the Electric Fondue Pot, model CFO-3SSNAS. The newer listed model features a three-quart bowl, adjustable heating controls, and eight fondue forks.
So, while one familiar product has retired, another remains in the manufacturer’s lineup. That distinction matters when people describe fondue appliances as things nobody buys anymore. A retired model doesn’t establish that the entire category has disappeared.
Electric Slicer/Shredders: The SaladShooter Is Still Around
The name SaladShooter sounds like something dreamed up during an especially enthusiastic kitchen demonstration. But the appliance itself hasn’t been left entirely in the past.
Presto still lists its SaladShooter electric slicer/shredder, stock number 02910. The machine uses interchangeable cones to slice or shred ingredients, including vegetables, fruit and cheese. It can also grate chocolate and prepare crumbs from bread or crackers.
For someone regularly preparing shredded ingredients, that dedicated function may still be appealing. However, continued availability doesn’t tell us whether more or fewer Americans are buying SaladShooters today. It’s a surviving kitchen product, not necessarily a growing trend.
Dedicated Popcorn Makers: Still Popping
A dedicated popcorn maker might seem unnecessary when other preparation methods already exist. But manufacturers haven’t abandoned the idea entirely. Cuisinart continues to market its EasyPop Hot Air Popcorn Maker, model CPM-150.
The company lists a capacity of up to 15 cups of popcorn in approximately three minutes. That’s a concrete product specification, not evidence that popcorn makers are enjoying a national comeback. The larger category also includes different designs, so compare sales carefully.
For households that enjoy making popcorn regularly, a dedicated machine may still earn its cupboard space. Others may find an existing pot perfectly adequate.
Countertop Rotisserie Ovens: The Showtime Isn’t Over
Countertop rotisserie ovens promised home cooks the pleasure of watching dinner slowly turn golden. Ronco’s Showtime range helped give that experience a recognizable identity.
The company’s rotisserie collection still includes several models, such as the Showtime Platinum Digital and Showtime Modern versions. Some EZ-Store models are listed as sold out, while others are offered for purchase.
The distinction is important. Sold out doesn’t automatically mean discontinued, just as a current listing doesn’t prove strong demand. For cooks who enjoy rotisserie-style preparation, these machines remain an available option rather than a completely vanished kitchen curiosity.
Are These Appliances Really Outdated?
The evidence doesn’t support declaring all 10 appliances unwanted. The clearest documented sales decline concerns multicookers during a specific period ending in April 2023. Other examples include individual discontinued models or appliances that manufacturers still list.
And that leaves a useful question for your own kitchen: Does an appliance still make cooking easier for you? A bread maker that regularly produces homemade loaves may deserve its space. An electric skillet used for family meals might be more valuable than a newer gadget sitting untouched.
Kitchen trends come and go, but usefulness doesn’t always follow fashion. Sometimes the smartest appliance is simply the one you already own and still enjoy using.
