I was recently in Michael's, browsing the Wilton Aisle, and saw something I couldn't believe someone would invent, let alone buy.

It was a Cake Tester. All it basically is is a thin metal pin stuck into a rubber handle. You push the pin into the cake, and if it comes out clean, the cake is done.

I have been using something similar for years. It's call a TOOTHPICK! And a box of them costs a whole lot less than the 'cake tester'.

So, this got me thinking ... What is the most ridiculous, or useless, piece of caking equipment have you ever used or just seen?

C'mon, we've all got at least one!!

For me it those darn icing tip covers. I never could get those things to work. Useless, I feel stupid for buying them.
They don't even fit the nozzle.

Well, I never bought those two items. For me, it's the Sugarveil Kit. I like the product, though.

I agree, the tip covers are about the most useless thing they have made. When I was teaching I even e-mailed them and complained and I was told that they were just meant as a cover, they weren't meant to actually stay on, useless!

My prediction is that the next big "trend" will be brownies at weddings, since Wilton has come out with all of these "special" tools for making brownies. Of course, they will try to push brownies on everyone so they'll THINK they have to buy all of these special tools!

Wow! I had no idea you had to have a special spatula for taking brownies out of the pan! Or a special shaker to shake powdered sugar over the brownies! How DID we get along without these "special" tools?

Cake wise, I think the 'Why would you buy that thing?" is the plastic flower formers http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30D6BC-475A-BAC0-52D7BCD556CBFD28&killnav=1 . Just cut a paper towel cardboard core in half and BOOM! You got flower formers!

I use a Skewer - The thing you Make Cababs with!! toothpick is too short for me, but still usable!!

what a silly thing to sell... I pick up a packet of 100 for less then $2.00. haha

haha...my DH bought one of those cake testers for me at Christmas and put it in my stocking! I do use it though...since I have it, but toothpicks definitely make it a silly item to have.

I actually love the fact that is non disposable and you can reuse it. I had a cake tester for years and never use toothpicks or skewers again, so I can't say I dont love it cause I do love mine..
But the covers for the tips, I agree, they dont stay!
Edna

Those metal cake testers have been around for years. I have 2 that I got from my grandmothers junk drawer.
This isnt a cake item, but as far as crazy kitchen gadgets go...anyone seen the toaster that you cook hot dogs and buns in???? That one makes me shake my head every time!

The tip covers actually work on other brands of couplers, just not wilton. I bought some that don't have the grove in them and the covers stay on just fine.

I got a Cake Tester from my mother in law as a present... I can tell you I absolutely love it. You see, my wife constantly moves our box of toothpicks around so I never know what drawer they will end up in next.

I have my own cake stuff storage and my tester is there everytime Plus I can use it over and over and it just seems more sanitary to me (although I will turn around and put a wood dowel through the cake haha).

Plus think of all the trees you are saving!! Go GREEN! haha!

And yes, I asked for and got a hot dog cooker for my birthday... that thing is AWESOME! Put the dogs on, perfectly cooked and juicy... oh man. Nope, I wouldn't trade that for anything!

So laugh all you want! Im in heaven! hehe!

I love useless items LOL. I have a teaspoon set that is a smidgen, a pinch and a dash. I LOVE IT. I have a kitchen over run with useless things. Like the Eggstractor LMAO!!! You put the boiled egg in the stand and push down on that corrogated plastic thing and it shoots the egg right out of the shell!!! My husband and I love stuff like that. Mushroom scrub brush, pie weights (ceramic), you name it. I have to say the other day my daughter was with me at the cake shop and she picked up a tester and asked me what it was and I told her and she just responded "why?". LOL. I use toothpicks too but I am sure if I had one I would use it.

As for the tip covers. A little plastic and a rubberband works wonders!

Like some other people here, I like my cake tester. It's longer and more narrow than a toothpick and I don't have to search for toothpicks all the time that my family has moved.

another kitchen item the DH bought me as a stocking stuffer that I thought was useless was this tiny little ball whisk (like smaller than those super bouncy balls...maybe a little bigger than those ceramic pie weights). I put it with all my other whisks thinking that i would never use it, and one day i was mixing chocolate milk powder into milk for my son, and mixing it with a spoon just wasn't cutting it...lots of clumps...saw that tiny whisk and knew why i needed it! it works great...maybe my hubby does know a thing or two about cooking!

I have to agree with indydebi about the brownie stuff. I saw it at hobby lobby the other day and I just couldn't belive it. There were special pans, spatulas, boxes, stencils, shakers and lots of other stuff too. Just crazy, but I guess some would say that about all the cake supplies too.

I think the tip covers are at the top of my list, but I know I have more silly stuff.

I like the plastic Wilton formers. I like egg trays better for formers because they give it a cupped shape without being perfectly round, but I have the Wilton formers and use them often.

For me the useless thing would be that fondant punch that was included in the course 3 kit. I still have it in case I end up with a lightbulb moment and think of something to do with it....but nothing so far.

are you kidding me...it's called a toothpick!!! what a waste of money.

I use skewers,too! They are so much better than toothpicks because of the length. I get them at the See Spot section at Target for a dollar (when they are in stock).

I think the most useless thing is the stupid cake leveler. That damn thing just doesn't work...EVER. At least not for me

Thank you everyone! I haven't laughed this hard since the thread on the shape of someone's backyard many months ago.
I completely forgot about my grandma's cake tester! I'm going to find that sucker and start using it.
As far as useless stuff...someone gave me these curved pieces of plastic. I have no clue what they're for so to me they're useless until I figure out what to do with them.

This is a most amusing thread.

I have been using the cardboard egg cartons for flower formers, I cut them up and use them individually, a little bit of bubble wrap and you can mold it for however you want your flower to form.

I have tried all of the above for cake testers, mostly just what I find the fastest as the timer is beeping. Last Christmas I got straw cake testers, it looks like a broom and you just pull them off one at a time, they are longer than a toothpick and not as long as a skewer. I keep them hanging on my fridge on a magnet clip.

Agree on the tip covers 100%.