Cookery books and other books - are you keeping them ?

I got rid of several of such books a few years ago, for the same reason. However, DH (as usual) baulked at some of my choices, such as the Children's Encyclopaedia from about 1950 (bought at a car book sale for about a fiver), even though it is grossly out of date. Plus several others that he declared were "worth something" (they are not worth a penny!). I'd chuck the lot if he would let me.

When we downsized a lot of books had to go. I dispensed with outdated reference books and even a few recipe books. I made copies of any favourite recipes I wanted to keep. Others I’ve kept for sentimental reasons.

I got rid of all my cookery books as I get my recipes online. I do have my mums BeRo book which I laminated and a more up to date version. There is a good page on Facebook called Recipes Clan and I've used quite a few recipes from there.

Faced with a major downsizing I shocked myself by removing recipes I would actually cook from many, many books and filing them in plastic folders according to main ingredient. The remainder of the (what felt like vandalised) books were recycled. Bulk was reduced by 90%, the folders fitted into our downsized space. 13 years on I don’t think about the books, just enjoy re-visiting the recipes.

Other books from several large bookcases were either recycled or went to a local charity book shop. Those from my professional life were mostly sold, I kept three. Mr C wanted none of his.

I kept the handwritten recipes from my mum and ma in law. I don't cook any of them now but will never part with them. We also kept several childhood books dedicated to us by the givers, bibles with family notations along with professional books belonging to Mr C’s dad. A bit of family history. All fit on one shelf. Now we mostly read library books on our iPads thanks to library remote access. Sometimes we buy books from charity shops and recycle them in the same way. It’s worked for us, we have the books with personal meaning and don’t miss the rest.

Funny you should mention the Bero book because I also have my mum’s little book. Now very tatty. Plus a very old ‘nursing mothers’ book which I had when I was a nursing mother, decades ago now. They are good recipes and also the PWMU book - Presbyterian women first published in 1904 . I will keep those ones, though.

Now about to move house I am having a major book cull. Just yesterday the cook books I haven't used for years went off to the charity book sale.

I'm afraid the encyclopedia ended up in the recycling. Noone wants them.😢

Just PLEASE dont take them to your nearest charity shops We cannot sell them at 50p each I offered a load of non fiction including cookery books to the local library, the librarian said thanks but no thanks they can’t even give them away

I was wondering this a few weeks ago. I have a shelf of cookery books over my fridge which are hardly visited these days, and there are more in the loft, I know. There are two I would never part with - Marguerite Patten’ ‘Cookery in Colour’ which was the first cookery book I ever bought when a new bride in the Far East, sixty years ago. I learned such a lot from that book though it is very dated now. And the first Bero Book I ever bought which is very dog eared now, but still in use. I also have files of recipes I have culled from magazines over the years.

We also have a set of encyclopaedias which are very out of date but still quite a handsome addition to the bookcase, and various large ‘coffee table’ books. They are, I fear, destined to end up in a skip!

Our Books Of Knowledge, plus a huge dictionary, sat on the bookshelves for years, never used, but reluctant to part with as Dad had spent hard earned money on them when we were small.

Managed to find a charity shop that would take them, said they would be pulped if no buyers, but that was preferable to landfill.

As for ‘recycling’ books, our council don’t want books putting in, it’s the wrong ink in the paper plus glue in the bindings etc.

My cookery books remain, one or two favourites get used regularly, some never, but they only take up one shelf.

Have you thought about using a Give For Free site on local community Facebook or similar, surprising how free stuff can soon get a few takers?

BlueBelle

Just PLEASE dont take them to your nearest charity shops We cannot sell them at 50p each I offered a load of non fiction including cookery books to the local library, the librarian said thanks but no thanks they can’t even give them away

I was just about to say that. Of course we use World of Books but that doesn’t clear the majority.
What people don’t understand is that this now costs us money through having to dump them in our skip which isn’t cheap.
When that is full I have to take them to the local tip as I’m the only driver.

I have the Be-Ro book too! I threw out a load of cookery books ages ago. The only ones I kept were Delia Smith's Christmas book and a jam recipe book.

Three of our town charity shops are actively asking for books while others say no thank you. If there are several within reach it’s worth checking around.

I gave loads away when we had our kitchen redone a few years ago, advertised on local fb, they all went.

We have a charity book shop and it does take all sorts of books in with a smile. Of course they may dispose of them behind the scenes.
Cookery books are a real problem for me. They were bought or given with such optimism and reflect a happy part of my life. I suppose I have the equivalent of a medium size box full. So if push came to shove they could be packed up and sent to the book charity shop or dumped at the dump.
I don't use them any more as 100s of recipes can be found elsewhere and I don't really cook anymore.

I have a copy of an Elizabeth David book which has a lovely cover picture which I discovered this very week is from an original by a Cedric Morris who with his friend ran an art "commune" in Suffolk...I think... where E David used to cook and other now famous people stayed. The house and garden are being renovated by the NT or similar organisation. So that was something I learned about my cook book. And that cook book will appear on the shelves in the conserved kitchen.
Better keep it on my kitchen shelf as well.
I have some Rick Stein books which relate to his programmes especially the Mediterranean ones which DH and I watched on cold winter afternoons when he was well. So they are quite precious.
I don't think either DDs will want any of them. As I didnt want my DMs. Thats life.

It's the memories which all these recipe books evoke which we don't want to lose.
I think Bero is still on the shelf - it's so small.

@bluebelle charity shops can make money from bulk book collections who pay by weight for unsold books. Same with clothing unfit for selling its called ragging and gets sold by weight and collected.

A lot of us take them to Probus once a month where we swap - sort of like a library. I take 2 and choose one as do many of us. Our op shops still accept books so we can take them there also. They sell them for around $2-$3 each . Hard backs around $5 so they do make money from them.

Might be different in Australia Nana8 but here the charity shops have to have masses collected every week by the ragman, we get pennies for them and I dare’nt ask where they go from there, we also give bagfuls of children’s books away to the local schools ….every school holiday we give each child a free book every time they visit the shop (some say no thanks) and also to a variety of book charities, we sell better books on eBay and we scan for WofB where we get pennies for any wanted, however we still have probably 100 or 200 or more to get rid of every week, books out of date, in poor condition or just not sellers.
I really do worry what happens to them

NannyDot

@bluebelle charity shops can make money from bulk book collections who pay by weight for unsold books. Same with clothing unfit for selling its called ragging and gets sold by weight and collected.

Good advice, but I’m sure BlueBelle is very aware of such things, as she often posts about her charity shop work.

Also think ‘rags’ are worth very little, and some charity shops no longer take them.

PS I am using unwanted books to support some planks of wood in a bedroom alcove to make some, "temporary" but have lasted many years, shelves.

I have culled my cookery books down to those that have sentimental memories or special recipes, but what I still haven't got round to is sorting out all my old gardening books!

So much information is now available online. I subscribe to Alan Titchmarsh on Facebook and also the Gardeners' World website. My gardening books are very old-fashioned and were written for a very different type of gardener, it seems.

It's a job for a dull winter's day, I think! But what to do with them? I feel awful if I ever have to take books to the local recycling centre...

I keep all books. Need to buy another bookcase soon .

Some old books are very valuable. At least that's what I tell myself.
But you people have the right idea.
Must start the clear out.

I was,just thinking nanna8 it was time I did the same. Some books I haven’t looked at for ages and could really go if I can bear to part. Others are like friends especially my go to Good Housekeeping which is over 50 years old and falling apart but won’t be going until I do! I too use a lot of online recipes including U tube. I rather like Rick, the Backyard Chef.