Many adults are enthusiastic about purchasing the latest kitchen gadgets, but a significant portion express hesitation in using them. A survey by Consumer Reports found that 40% of adults admit to buying kitchen gadgets they rarely or never use. Additionally, a study by the NPD Group revealed that while 60% of adults purchase new kitchen tools annually, over 30% of these gadgets remain unused due to unfamiliarity or complexity. This trend is often attributed to the intimidation of new technology, lack of time to learn, and the convenience of sticking to familiar cooking methods. Despite the initial excitement, many gadgets end up collecting dust in kitchen drawers and cabinets, highlighting a gap between consumer interest and practical usage. 

The McLean County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent held a series entitled, "Getting to know your kitchen gadgets". This series had 3 different classes highlighting popular kitchen appliances: the electric pressure cooker, the slow cooker, and the air fryer. Participants were educated on what each appliance features, appliance safety, food safety, and recipe sampling. Multiple recipes were made to show the versatility of each appliance. 

Thirty-seven participants (4 males and 33 females) completed the pretest and posttest to examine the impact of the program on the participants' knowledge and future use of these appliances in their homes. 94% of the participants said they learned new features of their appliances that they were unaware of. 96% said they will be using their appliances after what they learned in the class. 96% said they were now more comfortable trying different recipes at home. Several participants commented on how much they enjoyed the classes.  One participant reported, "Because of your class, my monthly women's group is now going to have an air fryer party and all cook something different using just our air fryers!"