Gastronomic gadgets

Kitchen damage is just as likely to be caused by incompetent cooks as by accidents.

Men, who tend to be more ambitious, buy more expensive time-saving devices and who are less likely to read the instruction manuals, have more calamities in the kitchen, with out-of-control electric carving knives cutting through worktops and over heating food which burns on to cupboards, floors and even ceiling fittings.

Buying lots of chefs aid gadgets also costs a fortune, and takes up storage space - but they don't appear to improve the taste of the food, because they are soon abandoned.

The most neglected kitchen item is a sandwich toaster - 43 per cent of people said that they owned one, but didn't use it.

David Rochester, Head of Underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, said: "British kitchens are turning into a graveyard of unused gadgets.

"While Britons have the best intentions when buying kitchen gadgets, thousands of blenders, grills, steamers and juicers lie idle on worktops. Kitchen gadgets appear to have become merely decorative items in the kitchen for millions of wannabe chefs. Britons should ensure they always read the instructions before firing up a blow torch or electric carving knife as they could cause extensive damage to their property and potentially injure the user. Electrical items should be checked carefully, especially if they haven't been used for a long time to ensure the plugs, wiring and heating elements have not been damaged, which could cause a fire or electrocute the user."

So, if the rising price of food means that more people eat in instead of enjoying an evening at a restaurant, insurers should fear a rise in the £64 million in claims that households claimed from their home insurance for kitchen repairs and breakages last year.

04/06/2008 12:16:48