A why do I keep those kitchen items if I don't really use... (504 views)
applecrisp1
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Post by applecrisp1 on Oct 16, 2016 19:13:03 GMT -5
Why do I keep those kitchen items if I don't really use them (in some cases never use) thread.
And I know I can't be the only one.
I was going thru my kitchen once again, it is small so far from a long process, and looking at what I have, what I use, and even what I may need. I think I've been good, especially the last few years, not buying things that I don't really need --but I'm far from perfect. Of course having limited storage space certainly helps rein in your shopping for kitchen things, cookbooks etc .... since you just don't have the room. And I hate cluttered cabinets! I do toss/donate things every so often.
I've been trying to follow the mantra, "keep what you use, need or love". throughout my house so I've been tossing/donating/selling some things over the last few months (mainly clothes). And, I'm not a fanatic about it --- I will never be the one that just has one bowl, or five for that matter.
I guess if I had a larger kitchen and/or tons of storage, it might not be a big deal, and for some, they might have limited space but no way are they getting rid of their butter curler, their ice cream maker that they just had to have but still in the box, same for their 2 am purchase on an infomercial.
I came up with just a couple of kitchen things .... so there's that Oxo Salad Spinner (I don't use very often, and it is soooo cumbersome to store and thought this for years, but I have kept so far), the broiler pan that came with my electric stove (do people even use that?), a few random utensils, and a couple of other small items. While doing this, it reiterated that I have a weakness for glass storage jars. And, I bet I have more pot lids than pots/pans so I need to go over that. I know when I go thru my kitchen again, I bet I would find a few more things.
A few weeks back I donated a few more cookbooks -- I haven't looked at them in years or ever/have little interest in (got them as gifts, or my taste changed). And finally tossed two scratched up, worn non-stick skillets that I hardly used (and I didn't use them because they were scratched, duh. And, not a big fan of nonstick). Hence my post last weeks about kitchen pans.
I mentioned this to my friend and she says she could open up her own cooking store with the things she doesn't use --- from the waffle maker, panini maker, holiday dishes she doesn't like or use, grill pan, cutesy cake molds and enough tupperware for a small town. and on and on.
How about you? So are you more in the I basically just keep what I need or use (for the most part), or don't even know what is in the back of those cabinets, let alone the basement storage, or somewhere in between?
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Gail
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Post by Gail on Oct 16, 2016 20:09:16 GMT -5
 I don’t consider myself a packrat, but I do admit to being sentimental about certain things. This is why I have my grandmother’s old meat grinder and her bunged-up cookie cutter (just one; it was the only one I ever saw her use.) They’re there because I FEEL Nana when I touch those items. How could I ever give my grandmother away? I freely admit to having bought a pasta making attachment for my Cuisinart back in 1983. It’s still in its original box. I’m still planning to use the thing (stop laughing.) Similar plans involve my failure to part with the meat grinder attachment for my Kitchenaid. Otherwise, I can’t say there’s much lurking in the kitchen which doesn’t see some use. The gizmo that was supposed to produce neat little julienne strips of vegetables? Yeah. There’s that. The saucepan which lost its handle but is such a nice, heavy little thing I still haul it out as part of a makeshift double boiler? Nope. That stays. The genuine replica of an antique butter dish—actually given to me with that description? How could I POSSIBLY toss something topped with a blue cow which sends me into fits of laughter every time I look at the thing? Definitely, it was our weirdest wedding gift. It’s way too funny to throw out. Oh, there are the three empty wine bottles with the personalized wishes for a wonderful marriage which are up in a cabinet somewhere. I can’t throw THOSE out. The really lousy set of knives a friend of the family decreed “The Perfect Gift” without realizing I already owned a set of far superior knives? Well, I use them when my good knives are out being sharpened. The baguette pans I’ve never used? The mediocre pizza cutter? The assortment of lousy thermometers I should really toss? The ridiculously heavy broiler pan I bought when my cheapie one looked like it was bound for the trash? (Still using the cheapie) My GOD. I sound like a packrat!
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Post by mrswaz on Oct 16, 2016 20:56:14 GMT -5
Weeellll.... We live in a small space, and I STILL keep those uni-taskers that I hardly ever use. I justify it by saying that I don't keep anything else except my sewing and gardening supplies. Garden supplies get stored outside so don't take up room inside, and I try to keep the sewing mess corralled. And yet, I still keep that Cuisinart ice cream maker that I HAD to have... and after a couple years of pulling it out for occasional use, I realized that I just don't care for the texture of homemade ice cream. But I keep the machine because some day the kids might want to make ice cream and if I don't have the machine... I have a cabinet in the garage full of large scale dishes- think buffet pans, big bowls and serving platters, things from when we entertained on a weekly basis and when I was dabbling in catering. Realistically, I doubt I'll use much of it in the future. But at the same time, you never know. Muffin pans. I have standard muffin pans, mini muffin pans and jumbo muffin pans. And yet yesterday I was at Wal-mart and I told myself that if they have a donut pan I have to buy one because I've been wanting one. I could use the mini muffin pan to bake muffin shaped donuts, but then is it really a donut? And my son will go nuts in a happy way if I made him donuts for breakfast instead of muffins! Yes, the shape matters sometimes. Every once in a while I try to get rid of stuff. I don't get very far though.  |
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Post by wallycat on Oct 16, 2016 23:57:59 GMT -5
I tried to gut some of the double items or little used items when we moved to this house. The bad news/good news is this kitchen is fairly large. I managed to fill it all up with stuff and it is already bursting at the seams. Each time I think about buying something, I have to force myself to make room for it mentally before I actually bring it home.
How I wish I could live in a little camper with minimal stuff.
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peachesncream
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Post by peachesncream on Oct 17, 2016 0:18:44 GMT -5
I'm really good about paring down and living a minimalist life - in every room but the kitchen.
I've let a lot go (extra sets of dishes and appliances I never used, and all but a few cookbooks). But there's so much left!
I need to work at letting go of more.
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Post by swedishcook on Oct 17, 2016 10:28:41 GMT -5
Minimalist in the kitchen. But..... I have a (small - not walk-in) closet filled to the ceiling with neat, clear boxes that all contain quilt fabric. Nicely sorted in colors. Three special boxes of fabric just for baby quilts. Who am I kidding?
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testkitchen45
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Post by testkitchen45 on Oct 18, 2016 14:19:41 GMT -5
I freely admit to having bought a pasta making attachment for my Cuisinart back in 1983. It’s still in its original box. I’m still planning to use the thing (stop laughing.)
Yeah, I get it. As I'm sure many here can understand, over many years of cooking we get so excited about one thing or another that we think we'll never change our minds--or cool our jets--on whatever sounds like a must-have at the time. I have a large kitchen with gobs of storage space, and it's still neat (with the exception of the Tupperware cabinet--I got that thing looking gorgeous but my family, understandably, would rather just stick stuff where it fits instead of where it'll look neat over time). But I still know I've maxed out on Bundt pans and Le Creuset. Not used? The aforementioned Spiralizer, which of course I do plan to use soon! very soon! because it's so cool! DH got a fryer, which for obvious reasons I'm not too thrilled with and don't pull out unless he's in charge of dinner. It works well but I rarely go to the trouble, & when I do, I'm thinking deep-fried vs. waistline; yeah, we know who's going to win that battle. I still have tons of cake-decorating supplies, but now my daughter is into cookie decorating so I'm beginning to pull out a lot of that again (the age-old argument against getting rid of stuff: "but I may use it someday, or my kid might!"). Still have the kitchen torch for all those creme brulees I was going to make. I ditched the W-S ice-cream-sandwich former (a sale buy, so no real hardship there). Baby steps. |
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traildoggie
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Post by traildoggie on Oct 18, 2016 15:20:29 GMT -5
I keep some of those single use appliances because trends change, things come and go. I use my ice cream maker all the time. Love it. the waffle maker haven't used in years.. but I'll keep it in case something comes up I'd like to try. I would not keep 2 waffle makers though. blender gets used occasionally, enough to keep. slow cooker doesn't get used often but even a few times a year makes it worth keeping since I have it, though I would not buy one at this point. bought a spiralizer and used it twice so far. didn't like sweet potatoes done that way, nor zucchini, so this one will maybe be the first to go. Again, since I have it, I will try maybe 2 more recipes before donating it. cookbooks...I have quite a few and find I use them less and less. nothing compares to big colorful pictures and video instructions. the plain little pages can't compete. |
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Post by karenw on Oct 18, 2016 19:06:15 GMT -5
I'm pretty good at clearing out the unused gadgets etc.... in my kitchen but I do keep a few that although I do not use often, for the few times a year that I do drag them out, I love them. My crockpot is one example. I rarely use it. I really don't like most things that I have cooked in it, but I love it to keep things warm when I have company. For example, this Sunday I am hosting a pasta party for my daughter and her volleyball team mates. The crockpot will be filled with a batch of sauce to keep it warm. I have a waffle maker that I used to use often but now that my kids are grown and I am not making breakfast for them each weekend morning, I rarely use it. But once in a while it is fun to pull out for that "funky" recipe. Think....waffle maker french toast or hash browns. I also have a hummus waffle recipe that I make to go with savory meals. My ice cream maker is another one of those. When my kids were younger, I used it a lot. Now probably never, but I have not gotten rid of it cause maybe someday..... I did finally get rid of the rice cooker  Karen |
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applecrisp1
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Post by applecrisp1 on Oct 19, 2016 10:37:58 GMT -5
Ah, the what if I need it! Many of use have been there whether for kitchen things, clothes etc. I am trying to be better in getting rid of something if I haven't used/worn in a long time. You know in my quest to be a minimalist. Well not to that degree. I just like the feeling of more space and have what I need/use/love. And there is less to clean, easier to see what you have etc ..... And, there is something to it when they say just keep what you love. I didn't like my dishes and some were chipped, so donated the good ones, and I bought a set of dishes that that I love (since I use them everyday they shouldn't annoy me : )
I know I would have more kitchen things if I had more space. What is funny is that in my first apartment (lived in top floor of two family home, with roommates) we had a HUGE walk-in pantry which would be great place to store kitchen appliances, baking things etc. But we just had our random kitchen stuff, mismatched bowls from our family, and an endless supply of pasta, canned goods, chips etc. Oh, how great would all that shelf space be now.
I did give away a few more cookbooks etc, but I still have that salad spinner and ...... For now!
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applecrisp1
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Post by applecrisp1 on Oct 22, 2016 11:17:03 GMT -5
cookieee, I know what you mean --- I gained some space in my cabinet by getting rid of some pans and such, and do I want to fill it back up?
Like you said, storage containers can quickly take over! I've been in lots of kitchens that basically have a huge cabinet just with tupperware, gladware, pyrex etc.
I just sold and/or donated a few more cookbooks this morning. I don't have that many cookbooks but there were some that i know I just don't use since my taste has changed, oi I got the book as a gift, bought on a whim and just not my thing ... So out they go! That doesn't mean I won't add some, I'm just much pickier before buying a cookbook now, often check it out of the library first, and have only bought just two in the last couple of years. But I am often tempted!
It is raining out so I might tackle my clothes closet today, starting with shoes and bags. That could be a process.
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