diff --git a/benchmarks/benchmarks/aux_factory.py b/benchmarks/benchmarks/aux_factory.py
index 45bfa1b515..4cc4f6c70a 100644
--- a/benchmarks/benchmarks/aux_factory.py
+++ b/benchmarks/benchmarks/aux_factory.py
@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@ def time_create(self):
         specified in the subclass."""
         self.create()
 
-    def time_return(self):
-        """Return an instance of the benchmarked factory."""
-        self.factory
-
 
 class HybridHeightFactory(FactoryCommon):
     def setup(self):
diff --git a/benchmarks/benchmarks/coords.py b/benchmarks/benchmarks/coords.py
index 5cea1e1e2e..3107dcf077 100644
--- a/benchmarks/benchmarks/coords.py
+++ b/benchmarks/benchmarks/coords.py
@@ -51,10 +51,6 @@ def time_create(self):
         specified in the subclass."""
         self.create()
 
-    def time_return(self):
-        """Return an instance of the benchmarked coord."""
-        self.component
-
 
 class DimCoord(CoordCommon):
     def setup(self):
diff --git a/benchmarks/benchmarks/cube.py b/benchmarks/benchmarks/cube.py
index 8a12391684..5889ce872b 100644
--- a/benchmarks/benchmarks/cube.py
+++ b/benchmarks/benchmarks/cube.py
@@ -68,10 +68,6 @@ def time_add(self):
         general_cube_copy = general_cube.copy(data=data_2d)
         self.add_method(general_cube_copy, *self.add_args)
 
-    def time_return(self):
-        """Return a cube that includes an instance of the benchmarked component."""
-        self.cube
-
 
 class Cube:
     def time_basic(self):
@@ -206,9 +202,6 @@ def time_add(self, n_faces):
     def time_remove(self, n_faces):
         self.cube.remove_coord(self.mesh_coord)
 
-    def time_return(self, n_faces):
-        _ = self.cube
-
 
 class Merge:
     def setup(self):
diff --git a/benchmarks/benchmarks/experimental/ugrid/__init__.py b/benchmarks/benchmarks/experimental/ugrid/__init__.py
index 3e5f1ae440..2f9bb04e35 100644
--- a/benchmarks/benchmarks/experimental/ugrid/__init__.py
+++ b/benchmarks/benchmarks/experimental/ugrid/__init__.py
@@ -47,10 +47,6 @@ def time_create(self, *params):
         specified in the subclass."""
         self.create()
 
-    def time_return(self, *params):
-        """Return an instance of the benchmarked object."""
-        _ = self.object
-
 
 class Connectivity(UGridCommon):
     def setup(self, n_faces):