Some gadgets were life-changing, while others were just fun, quirky, and completely unnecessary—but we loved them anyway. The ’70s and ’80s were filled with strange little inventions that promised to make our lives easier, but mostly, they just ended up cluttering our drawers. From kitchen contraptions to tech oddities, these gadgets weren’t exactly essential, but we still can’t seem to part with them. Whether they were gimmicky gifts or impulse buys, these nostalgic devices hold a special place in our hearts, even if they’re mostly collecting dust. Here are 15 of the most useless yet beloved gadgets from the ’70s and ’80s that we just can’t let go of.
1. Hot Dog Toaster
If you wanted to cook hot dogs but somehow didn’t want to use a stove, microwave, or grill, the hot dog toaster had you covered. This gadget let you toast hot dogs and buns at the same time, popping them out like bread from a toaster. It seemed futuristic, but in reality, it was just a novelty that took up counter space.
Half the time, the buns got burnt while the hot dogs remained lukewarm, and cleaning the grease out of the tiny slots was a nightmare. Still, it had a certain charm, and if you had one in the ’80s, you probably used it more than you’d like to admit. Even today, some people hold onto theirs, not because it’s practical, but because it’s just fun.
2. Electric Carving Knife
For some reason, the electric carving knife was a kitchen must-have in the ’70s and ’80s, even though a regular knife worked just fine. This thing was loud, clunky, and more intimidating than necessary for slicing up a turkey or ham. It had a motorized blade that promised precision, but half the time, it just made a mess, sending crumbs and meat juices flying everywhere.
Despite its flaws, it became a staple at holiday dinners, with dads everywhere proudly revving it up before tackling the main course. It felt high-tech at the time, even though it really just made slicing more complicated. And yet, many of us still have one sitting in a kitchen drawer, pulled out once a year more for tradition than practicality.
3. The Clapper
“Clap on, clap off!” The Clapper was supposed to make turning off your lights effortless, but instead, it mostly just reacted to loud noises, accidental claps, or the TV. The idea of controlling lights with a simple clap felt revolutionary, but in practice, it often led to frustration when it didn’t work properly.
Still, it became one of the most iconic gadgets of its time, thanks to its catchy commercial and sheer novelty. Even though smart home technology has completely replaced it, some people still keep a Clapper around for nostalgia’s sake. There was just something satisfying about clapping twice and watching the lights obey—when it actually worked.
4. Popcorn Air Popper
Before microwave popcorn took over, air poppers were the gadget of choice for making homemade popcorn. These plastic machines used hot air to pop kernels without oil, promising a healthier snack. The problem? The popcorn often came out bland and dry, requiring a ton of butter and salt to make it taste remotely good.
It was also messy, with rogue kernels flying everywhere as the machine heated up. But the sight of popcorn spilling out into the bowl was part of the fun, and it felt like a mini science experiment every time. Even though it’s completely unnecessary now, plenty of us still have one sitting in the back of the cabinet, just in case.
5. Avocado Saver
For some reason, people in the ’70s and ’80s became obsessed with gadgets designed specifically to keep half an avocado fresh. These little plastic contraptions promised to prevent browning, but in reality, nothing stopped that avocado from turning brown except eating it right away.
Still, they stuck around, probably because they were cheap and seemed useful at first glance. Today, people are more likely to use plastic wrap or lemon juice, but you might still find one of these sitting in the kitchen drawer of someone who refuses to give up on the dream.
6. Electric Ice Cream Maker
Homemade ice cream sounds great in theory, but the process of using an electric ice cream maker was anything but easy. You had to mix ingredients, pour them in, and wait forever while the machine churned, all while hoping it would actually freeze properly.
Most of the time, the result was either too runny or too icy, and by the time it was ready, you probably could have just gone to the store for a pint instead. But there was something magical about making ice cream at home, even if the machine was more trouble than it was worth. That’s probably why so many people still have one, even if they haven’t used it in decades.
7. Egg Separator
Cracking an egg and separating the yolk from the white isn’t exactly difficult, yet the ’70s and ’80s saw a wave of gadgets designed to do just that. These plastic or metal contraptions claimed to make the process “mess-free,” but they mostly just made an easy task more complicated.
Despite their uselessness, people kept buying them, convinced they were the key to better baking. Even today, you might find one hiding in the back of a utensil drawer, waiting for the rare occasion when someone decides to use it instead of just using the eggshell itself.
8. Buttered Corn Holder
Holding corn on the cob with tiny plastic skewers shaped like corn made eating slightly easier, but buttering it? That was another story. The buttered corn holder was a special gadget designed to roll butter evenly across your cob, but most of the time, it just made a greasy mess.
Still, these things were a staple at summer cookouts, and even though spreading butter with a knife was much easier, people held onto them. Some families even still break them out for nostalgia, proving that sometimes, it’s the little things that stick around the longest.
9. Salad Spinner
The salad spinner was supposed to make washing and drying lettuce effortless, but in reality, it was just a giant plastic bowl with a crank or pull cord that took up way too much cabinet space. The idea was simple: rinse your greens, put them in the inner basket, and spin them around at high speed to shake off excess water. But somehow, it always seemed to leave the lettuce still damp while managing to splash water all over the counter.
Despite being completely unnecessary—because, let’s face it, a paper towel does the job just fine—people swore by their salad spinners. It felt oddly satisfying to crank that handle and watch the basket whirl around, even if it wasn’t exactly the game-changer it claimed to be. Many of us still have one tucked away, used maybe once a year when we remember it exists. It may not be the most practical kitchen gadget, but for some reason, we just can’t seem to throw it out.
10. Rotary Phone
By the ’80s, touch-tone phones were becoming the norm, but plenty of people still kept their rotary phones around. They were clunky, slow, and dialing a number with lots of 9s or 0s was a nightmare.
Yet, they had a certain charm. The sound of the dial spinning back, the weight of the handset—there was something satisfying about using one. Even though they serve no real purpose now, many of us still keep one, even if it’s just for decoration.
11. Handheld Electronic Games
Before Game Boy and modern handheld consoles, kids in the late ’70s and early ’80s were mesmerized by simple electronic handheld games. Whether it was Mattel’s Football, Coleco’s Electronic Quarterback, or the early Tiger Electronics games, these tiny gadgets were our first taste of portable gaming. The screens were barely visible unless you angled them just right, the controls were clunky, and the beeping sound effects could drive parents up the wall.
Despite their limitations, these games were addictive. You’d spend hours staring at a tiny LED or LCD screen, guiding a barely recognizable dot or blocky figure across the screen. The graphics were rudimentary, and gameplay was repetitive, but they were the coolest thing a kid could own in the pre-Nintendo era. Even though today’s smartphones can run full-blown video games with ease, some of us still keep an old electronic football or racing game tucked away, just for the nostalgia of it.
12. Pocket Calculator
There was a time when having a calculator small enough to fit in your pocket felt futuristic. In the ’70s, pocket calculators were a must-have for students, office workers, and anyone who wanted to show off their cutting-edge technology. They were simple, running on tiny batteries or even solar panels, and they made doing math slightly less painful.
By the ’80s, calculator watches made things even cooler (and more unnecessary), allowing kids to tap out equations on their wrists like mini math wizards. Of course, once computers and smartphones became the norm, calculators lost their necessity. But for some reason, many of us still have an old one lying around, even though we haven’t touched it in years. It’s a relic of a time when technology didn’t need to be flashy—just functional.
13. Electric Can Opener
Was opening a can really so difficult that we needed a motorized machine to do it for us? Apparently, in the ’70s and ’80s, the answer was yes. The electric can opener became a common kitchen gadget, promising convenience while taking up valuable counter space. It often had a built-in bottle opener or knife sharpener to justify its bulkiness, but in reality, it was just an overly complicated way to open a can of beans.
Half the time, the thing would get stuck, forcing you to wiggle the can around until it finally gave in. And let’s not forget the loud, grinding noise it made—nothing subtle about it. Despite all that, many kitchens still have one, even if it hasn’t been used in years. Sure, a simple manual can opener does the job just as well (if not better), but there’s something about that clunky old machine that makes it hard to toss out.
14. Boombox with Dual Cassette Decks
Back in the day, having a boombox with dual cassette decks was the ultimate power move. Not only could you blast your favorite tunes at full volume, but you could also record songs off the radio—or, if you were really sneaky, make a copy of your friend’s mixtape. This was peak music technology in the early ’80s, and every cool kid had one sitting on their shoulder or in their bedroom.
The sound quality wasn’t exactly high fidelity, and the cassette tapes wore out quickly, but that didn’t matter. Making mixtapes, fast-forwarding through commercials, and dubbing over an old tape with a new recording were all part of the experience. Today, with streaming services and Bluetooth speakers, boomboxes are completely obsolete, but some of us still hold onto one, even if it’s just for the nostalgia of seeing those twin cassette decks side by side.
These gadgets may not have been the most practical, but they were a big part of life in the ’70s and ’80s. Whether they were novelty gifts, kitchen gimmicks, or once-cutting-edge technology, they still hold a nostalgic charm that makes it hard to part with them. Some things may have outlived their usefulness, but that doesn’t mean we’re ready to let them go.
