Some of us go to great lengths to shed a couple of pounds. Even us food lovers have fallen prey to this desire. We've given up our beloved carbs for a time, force fed ourselves half a grapefruit before every meal, and have even tried eating nothing but cabbage soup for two weeks straight. It's an intense sacrifice for a food lover to make, yet one that some of us (ahem, this food editor) have made in the name of vanity.


Luckily, as we grow older and wiser, the need to join in on these health fads passes. And rather than join them we can just chuckle at the things people are willing to try to slim down. But we cannot laugh at the Fat Magnet. The Fat Magnet has gone TOO FAR. It's one thing to swear off bread, but to take a normal dish -- one that's meant for people who like to eat food -- and to suck all the flavor (also known as fat) out of it is something we can't accept. The Fat Magnet must be stopped.


We hate this diet contraption out of pure principle, but the real kicker is the way it works. In order for it to attract fat solids from foods, you have to freeze it -- allowing the fat to harden on top -- and then you glide the Fat Magnet on top to remove the fat solids. By the way, you could also just do this with a spoon. According to the ad, it's perfect for stews, soups, gravies, chile and more. But we think it should only come in contact with your garbage can.


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Check out these other weird and totally unnecessary kitchen gadgets.





  • Electric Kettle


    A regular stove-top kettle or even a cup filled with water and heated in the microwave is all you need to boil water.




  • Toaster Oven


    If you've got a toaster and an oven, you really don't need a toaster oven. It takes up too much space in the kitchen, especially if you only use it sporadically.




  • Bread Machine


    Bread machines are great and all -- you just put in the ingredients and voila, bread. But you really have to think about how often you will actually use it before buying one. Plus it's not that hard to bake bread in the oven, have you seen the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/30/how-to-make-no-knead-bread_n_988314.html" target="_hplink">no-knead method</a>?




  • Popcorn Maker


    Yes, it's fun to watch popcorn pouring out of a popcorn machine, but you could go the old-fashioned route and just use a pot -- or as a last resort reach for microwave popcorn.




  • Electric Can Opener


    Unless you need to open hundreds of cans all at once, you really don't need an electric can opener when a handheld one will do.




  • Deep Fryer


    A pot full of oil and a thermometer are all you need to fry on the stove-top. A deep fryer takes up precious counter-top real estate.




  • Immersion Blender


    If you already own a blender, a hand blender isn't necessary. But if you don't have the space for a full-size blender, a handheld one might be right up your alley -- but you wouldn't be able to make a smoothie with one since it doesn't have the power to grind ice.




  • Electric Wok


    If you've got a stove and a wok, you don't need an electric one.




  • Panini Grill Press


    You can get great results with a grill pan -- you don't necessarily need a grill press to make panini or even grilled chicken.




  • Rice Cooker


    People love rice cookers because you can just set it and forget it, but cooking rice in a pot is pretty much the same -- you might need to check it a few times, but that's about it. It's not hard to cook rice without a cooker.




  • WATCH: Tyler Florence's Essential Kitchen Equipment


    Tyler Florence goes through the essential small appliances for the kitchen.





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