When I moved into my first apartment, I had exactly one pot and one spoon. The kitchen was empty, the budget too. Today I have a fully equipped kitchen – and I bought almost none of it new.
Kitchen appliances are the easiest free category to find. Here's why, and what you should watch out for.
Why Kitchen Appliances Get Given Away So Often
The answer is simple: People buy too much.
Everyone knows this. You see a smoothie blender on sale and think: This is when I start living healthy. Three months later it's sitting at the back of the cupboard, unused.
Then come the gifts. Raclette sets, bread makers, ice cream machines. Well-intentioned, but who actually uses these regularly?
And finally the upgrades. The old coffee machine still works, but the new one with the milk frother is just nicer. What happens to the old one? It gets given away.
The result: An abundance of functioning kitchen appliances that someone wants to get rid of.
What's Almost Always Available
Some things show up constantly.
Blenders and hand blenders. The classics of impulse buying. They usually work perfectly because they were barely used.
Coffee machines without capsules. Filter coffee machines, French press, Moka pots – everything that isn't Nespresso gets regularly given away. Capsule machines less so, because people actually use them.
Toasters and kettles. Simple, robust, and often replaced because the color no longer matches or the design looks dated. Technically usually perfectly fine.
Pots and pans. Especially during apartment clearances or moves, entire sets come together. The quality varies, but with some patience you'll also find high-quality items.
What to Watch Out For
The condition of electrical devices: Does it still work? Listen to the motor sound. A blender that screeches doesn't have long left. A blender that runs smoothly can last years more.
Cleanliness: Kitchen appliances should be cleaned before being passed on. If someone offers you a crusted-over blender, that says something about how they treat their things.
Accessories: A hand blender without a cup is fine. A food processor without a mixing bowl, less so. Ask what's included before you go.
Safety: With older appliances, the electronics can be problematic. Cables that look brittle, plugs that wobble – these are warning signs. When in doubt, better to pass.
The Specialty Appliances
Then there are the appliances that sound interesting but rarely get used.
Bread makers: Often given away because the enthusiasm fades after a few weeks. If you really want to bake your own bread, a great find. If not, it'll gather dust in your cupboard too.
Juicers: See above. The detox phase is over, the juicer is free. Practical if you use it, a space hog if you don't.
Fondue and raclette sets: In Switzerland, actually indispensable. But many households have multiples because they've received them as gifts. The extras then get passed on.
Ice cream machines: Tempting, but be honest – how often do you actually make ice cream yourself?
My Best Kitchen Find
A Kenwood food processor, complete with all attachments. The previous owner had received a KitchenAid as a gift and no longer needed the Kenwood.
That thing would have cost over 400 francs new. It works perfectly, and I actually use it regularly – for dough, for grating vegetables, for all sorts of things.
That was luck. But it shows: Sometimes there are real gems out there.
When Giving Away Kitchen Appliances
If you want to get rid of things yourself:
Clean everything thoroughly. Nobody wants your dried-up smoothie residue.
Photograph the appliances while they're switched on, if possible. That shows they work.
Be honest about the condition. "Works, but has a small scratch" is fair. "Like new" when it's ten years old, not so much.
Don't forget the accessories. Cables, attachments, manuals – pack everything together.
Conclusion
The kitchen is a paradise for free stuff seekers. The amount of functioning, barely used appliances being given away is astonishing.
If you're just moving in or want to upgrade your kitchen, have a look around. On PIKITUP, in Facebook groups, everywhere people are getting rid of things.
And if you're clearing out yourself – remember that your unused blender could enrich someone else's kitchen.
What was your best kitchen find? Write to me – hello@pikitup.ch