The first time I saw the nine-in-one kitchen tower, it was glowing under strip lights at a big-box store. There were cardboard coffee cups that were half-empty and bored partners waiting by the trolleys. A shiny black and chrome cube that smiles at you from a box and says it can air fry, slow cook, grill, roast, dehydrate, steam, pressure cook, bake, and reheat. “This would fix my whole kitchen,” a woman in a beige puffer coat said to her friend as she tapped the box.
A row of sad, lonely air fryers with red stickers on their faces sat on a shelf behind them that was on sale. Last year’s heroes, who are now $39.99 and begging for another chance.
No one even looked at them once.
That scene was strange in some way. It felt like we were speed-dating appliances and then ignoring them a month later.
The nine-in-one dream and the plastic hangover
The new nine-in-one gadget is sold as a miracle: it comes with one box, one plug, and one way to clean up the mess and chaos in modern kitchens. The brands say you’ll get rid of your air fryer, rice cooker, steamer, toaster oven, and half of your pans. Say goodbye to messy countertops and hello to clean, simple ones.
On TikTok and Instagram, you can find a lot of sped-up videos of golden fries, sticky ribs, and brownies made in the same drum. People who have a lot of followers hold up the box like it’s a ticket to a better life. They say, “I can’t believe I ever cooked without this,” as they put perfectly crispy tofu on white plates.
It looks like freedom on the screen. In real life, it usually looks more like a heavy plastic cube that doesn’t fit into a cupboard that already has too much stuff in it.
A waste contractor in London said, “We can almost set our calendar by it.” He says that when the air fryer craze hit, collection centers started getting truckloads of “barely used” units three to six months later. Some are still in their plastic wrap.
He can now see the same shapes of logos, but in different sizes. They threw away their old air fryers, multi-cookers, and sealed blenders. The shells were all made of plastic and the insides were metal and wires. It’s not easy to take apart or recycle. Just a lot of trash.
There are a lot of “hardly used” nine-in-one units for sale on Facebook Marketplace. These are gifts that never quite fit into someone’s daily life. Every one is a story of hope, guilt, and one more square foot of junk in the world.
From a design point of view, these all-in-one appliances are likely to end up as e-waste. They put together plastics, heating elements, circuit boards, and screws that aren’t standard in a way that is cheap to make but hard to take apart. They don’t work with city recycling programs.
When the nine-in-one box breaks or goes out of style, it often ends up in the worst place: crushed, burnt, or sent overseas. The “minimalist” countertop in your kitchen quietly means that there is a very non-minimalist footprint somewhere else on the planet.
Honestly, not many people think about where that old gadget goes after it disappears from under the sink for more than five minutes.
How to keep your kitchen from becoming a scrapyard and not get caught up in the hype
Treating a new appliance like a trial employee instead of a soulmate is one easy way to change everything. Before you buy that nine-in-one, write down the three things you use every week. Not the ones you want to use. The ones you already know how to use with the tools you have.
Then ask yourself a direct question: what stops you from cooking more now? Not enough time, skills, or counter space? If the problem is energy or confidence, getting a new machine won’t fix it. A big cube of hot air might not be as good for your life as a sharp knife and a non-stick pan.
Many people don’t realise it, but cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage are varieties of the same plant
For a month, write down every time you think, “I wish I had a gadget for this.” This is called the “30-day note test.” That list is much more truthful than any ad.
The worst thing you can do is buy things for the fantasy version of yourself. The person who cooks lentil curries in large amounts, bakes sourdough bread on weekdays, dries apple rings for the kids, and steams salmon on Tuesday nights for no reason. You might see that person on YouTube, but they don’t really live in your building.
We’ve all had that time when we opened a cupboard and a bunch of plastic bowls and tools that we don’t use fell on our feet. You feel bad, like you wasted money, and a little like you were tricked. But you also feel strangely attached to the promise they once held.
To be nice to yourself, you have to accept who you are. If you mostly reheat leftovers and roast vegetables, you don’t need nine different ways to cook. You need one or two tools that you can rely on and that won’t end up in the trash on a bad day.
Marie, who works at a French repair café, says, “Every time we buy a new multi-gadget, we’re not just making our kitchen better.” “We’re voting for a world where throwing things away is normal and fixing things is rare.”
Ask a friend if you can borrow, rent, or try out a similar appliance for a week before you buy it. After the novelty wears off, pay attention to how often you actually use it.
When you own it, learn how to change seals, clean filters, and reset electronics. These boring skills can often double the life of a device.
Don’t just assume that something is “dead” if it breaks. First, look for local repair cafés, maker spaces, or brand repair programs. Most problems can be fixed in 15 minutes.
When you’re ready to get rid of your old electronics, look for certified e-waste collection days or stores that will take them back. Someone else has to pay for it if you throw it next to the trash cans.
The best thing you can do is wait 24 hours before clicking “buy now” on any new kitchen tool. That small space is where people make better decisions.
Besides the air fryer, what else do we want in our kitchen?
There are always more than just gadgets in stories about gadgets that do nine things. They are about time, goals, and the constant pressure to improve every part of our lives, even our frying pans. The air fryer became a sign that “I’m getting my life together,” but then it was replaced by something newer, bigger, and supposedly smarter.
At the same time, there is a quieter revolution happening. People are making old 1980s mixers work again. Instead of buying their own dehydrators, neighbours share them a few times a year. Small businesses are making modular appliances that let you swap out parts instead of getting a whole new box.
It’s not a matter of whether the nine-in-one is “good” or “bad.” It’s about the kind of relationship we want with the things we use to cook with every day. Do we want a lot of short-term relationships that come and go, or do we want a few long-term friends who are a little rough around the edges and very close?
You might already be able to tell that the next plastic cube isn’t the real upgrade. It’s a slower, more honest way to choose what goes in your kitchen.
| Main point: | Details: | Value for the reader: |
|---|---|---|
| Ask about the nine-in-one promise. | Most people only use 2 to 3 of the 9 functions that are available. | Helps you avoid paying for features that won’t be used |
| Focus on lifespans, not launch dates. | E-waste that is made up of a lot of different materials and electronics is often not recyclable. | Encourages people to buy smarter, more environmentally friendly things that last longer |
| Fix and share before you buy new | Borrowing, fixing, or reselling an appliance can make it last longer. It also saves money, cuts down on clutter, and cuts down on the amount of plastic junk that people throw away. |
