Oh my goodness.....kitchen cupboard clear out ?

Saw my kitchen in York museum too! The trim kept falling off the doors so eventually we replaced it.

We've just been to visit our lovely DD's in laws who have just had a fabulous new kitchen. The only thing I would like is a fridge at waist height to stop bending down but there's nowhere for it to go
Just found 3 THREE unopened bags of rice, oldest a mere youngster at Oct 2014. Why, why?
And I really do need somewhere to store crisp packets; they're in a carrier bag that hits you on the head every time you open that cupboard-of what a larf!

I have 1M 20 of what could be called larder cupboards- 80 cms wide and a 40 cms. About half the height has five metal drawers and there are three shelves above. I have a drawer of flours, another of sugars a third has fruit and nuts etc. In the narrow cupboard I have herbs spices jellies etc. it is great being able to pull out the drawers and see what is there. In my last house we put several base units with drawers for dishes and saucepans etc - I found they worked very well.

I had my small kitchen remodelled ten years ago. I spent over a week with a kettle and my microwave in the front room, keeping out of the way. Although I suffer from kitchen envy when I see my friends' new ones, I don't want to have to go through all that again. My DS1, when he comes to see me, goes through my cupboards like a tornado, getting rid of date-expired goods and telling me which utensils are a waste of space. He's a trained chef (though not now a practising one) and usually right. In my cellar, there's a pile of things he rejected when he was last here.

When we did our kitchen (about ten years ago) I wish I had had no under counter cupboards and more deep drawers.

Does anyone else find that they haven't really got the 'right' container for certain meals and have to go and buy a more appropriate one - or is that just me. In fact, I need more dishes now, it seems, as I need them for 2 people, 4 people, 6 people and huge ones for when everyone comes!

I found a good idea for keeping baking trays etc from clattering out of the cupboard - Lakeland do a 'thingy' for 'filing' them upright.

I'm steering clear of chucking anything else out until the kitchen's ready for re-filling ?
Just realised the cluster of miscellaneous lids I binned a couple of weeks ago fitted the tubs holding herbs etc., oh bum ?

You're not alone kittyl, I have containers galore just in case and because the new kitchen has more storage space........ ?

When I emptied my 'chuck it all in' cupboard a few weeks ago I threw away 2 black bin liners of plastic boxes with no tops or tops with no plastic boxes! DH was horrified but I've been there before so nothing surprises me. I need to start the larder this week- one shelf at a time. I am a hoarder & a very keen cook so there will be all sorts of things like 5 year old tins of Ras Al Hanout etc. lurking in the back there. And don't even think about the freezer!!! It's those frozen lumps of unidentifiable food stuff that you defrost at your peril hoping for Steak & Kidney pudding & getting Rhubarb Crumble- lovely with gravy!!
It's nice knowing I am not alone though.

I'm loving this thread, and will be following it closely as we are in the planning stage. I've never had a new kitchen, and desperately want to get it right. I'd love a larder unit, and eye level double oven and fridge freezer, but think all those thinks at eye level might be overpowering in a not very big kitchen.

This all sounds very familiar as after our new kitchen which I thought had more cupboards I seem to have 2 boxes of 'homeless' stuff! Trying to psych myself to use my usual de cluttering principle I.e. "If I send this to the Charity Shop will I regret it in 6 months time" Have to say the answer is usually "no" ?

Am not about to confess to any 'sell by' date horrors!!!

When sorting through my Aunt's kitchen cupboards after she died in 1998 we found lots of tins and packets that were pre 'sell by date', whenever that was!

From my own cupboard I have recently thrown out spices dated 2007 and breakfast cereal that expired in 2009!! I am ashamed.

I have found that deep drawers instead of cupboards under work top work much better and things don't get 'lost' so easily,

I would advise a good sort out of all your kitchen utensils including those casserole dishes. You say there are just the two of you so really just 4 dishes would suffice plus your favourite large one if you need to feed more. Then turn to your baking tins over for a good sort out. How often do you use those -keep only the ones you have used in the past 2/3 years and the rest send off to the charity shop. Likewise all that mis-matched, unused crockery we all have - New kitchen - New start !

Whatever tin/utensil/dish you throw out will be the one you really need in a couple of weeks' time

I've just had my first brand new kitchen and I'm 69! Its great fun but exhausting, glad we did it now rather than later. My cupboards are more or less organised but DH has been warned that things might yet move!

My kitchen is a nigtmare - we're in a rented council house with a wildly unsuitable kitchen - everything has been put in the wrong plave, the cupboards were cheap and really nasty - we've got a mouldy food storage cupboard, which we're not allowed to get rid of. Its door doesn't open properly, because the worksurfaces block it, and the kitchen waste bin can only fit in the gap under the same work surface! The work surfaces are the wrong height and there is absolutely no space for our gadgets. DH will insist on buying new all-singing, all-dancing electronic food prep gadgets (generally horrendously expensive!) which I can't/won't ever use and which we haven't got any space for. So our so-called "utility room" is full of unpacked shopping bags until we need the stuff in them and if the meter reader needs access, we have to take out everything. Obviously designed by a man with no idea and worse, no common sense!!!

Hi Skullduggery! Induction hobs are brilliant. I had mine last summer & I love it. Why not treat yourself to some Le Creuset pans since you already have their casseroles? I've had mine for the best part of 20 years & they're perfect on the hob. Alas my old pressure cooker, used once a year only as a saucepan on Christmas day to contain a large quantity of smoked salmon soup, is now useless as it doesn't work any more. As regards use by dates...I have to have a clear out when DD is coming home as she is a paid-up member of the Kitchen Police, scary! She's due home this weekend so I know what I'll be doing on Friday!

I go through all my herbs and spices early in the new year because St Delia said it is a good idea. I feel really virtuous when I've thrown the old ones out and very poor when I replace them

It's not so much kitchen crockery surplus for me but China tea services. I am not boasting here, just being factual. I have seven. They are wedding and Silver Wedding gifts, inherited from our mothers and a full Royal Albert Dinner Service. No, we don't use them daily as like most people, a mug is fine. The family are not a bit interested as it is all pottery and mugs with them. I don't know what on earth to do with them. They are far too good for the Charity Bag (no admonishments please). But who would buy them?

DN has lovely Le Creuset pans and casseroles; however when his DM was staying for a while when they were waiting for their new home to be built, she found that her wrists could not cope with them, they're heavy enough without anything in them!
I have one large French casserole which is extremely heavy and when it is full of food I have to get DH to lift it in and out of the oven.
We rarely use it but it holds such a lot and cooks beautifully when people come that I'm reluctant to get rid of it.

But who would buy them?
I was told by a lady in a charity shop that rich Russians buy old china tea services for their posh homes in the UK.

Cafes and other places that do fun afternoon teas like to use mismatched pretty cups and saucers. If you have somewhere like that locally you could name your price!

We have just had a new kitchen extension and I found a packet of suet - use before end 2003 !! . I had a massive clear out of numerous gadgets I bought and used once and found them more hassle than useful. Why did I have oven proof egg cups ? These are the remnants of our dinner service wedding present 45 years ago very outdated now. I was ruthless and feel so much more organised in my lovely kitchen .

Thank you for possible outlets for china. The cafe/tearoom idea is brilliant and I will explore this and report any success.

I have a full Royal Albert Country Roses dinner set/tea set/ coffee set that came to me from my mother, no one else wanted it and I just couldn't see it 'get lost'.
It is used sometimes at Christmas and makes for a beautiful setting.
In the meantime it fills a modern 6ft tall rose wood and glass display cabinet.

I did sell off the little ornamental bits and pieces that were of no practical purpose. However look in most antique shops and there is usually a Country Roses set for sale. They are not worth a fortune.
It's quite a task (once a year) to take it all out to wash and dry, wash all the glass shelving - but oh it does look so good when sparkling under the lighting in the ceiling of the cabinet.

The tea rooms sound like a good idea for unwanted china,