Items You Should Never Store in Your Kitchen
Some kitchen staples have a less-than-ideal combination of room temperature storage conditions, making them prone to spoilage or degradation with time. Here are some items you should avoid keeping in your kitchen:
Wood cutting boards with deep grooves: These are ideal for drawing moisture, making them perfect for cultivating bacteria and leading to mold and other unpleasant odors at room temperature.
**Long-story short:**
Keep your cutting boards separate from your mainstream kitchen operations and don’t be afraid to outlay a budget for replacement everytime ten years use up eventually bitter.
Critters and hot flour. When they sit for too long, you’ll be faced with molds and pests so as equally funny and as competing school cost-cutting clause notifying dark dinner operations please.
It’s a tough situation. You can’t seem to locate your favorite spatula. The cabinet is overflowing with mugs, it’s chaos. The spice holder is still trying to be organized, but those expiration dates are causing confusion. Additionally, there’s a vast amount of clutter on the countertops, because the shelves are overcrowded with items that aren’t even being used.
“I’m looking for ways to get a head-start on decluttering, and I’ve come to the realization that it’s helpful to make a big impression early on. A effective way to get going is to tackle the easiest tasks first, which typically involve getting rid of items that are expired, damaged, or no longer needed.
Here’s a list of the simplest things to consider getting rid of, donating, or relocating right away:
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Nearly expired pantry staples
When donating to a local food bank, keep in mind that herbs and spices lose their flavor and aroma over time. You can check if an unmarked spice is still good by lightly touching it between your fingers; if it doesn’t give off any scent, it’s likely past its prime and should be discarded.
When stocking up on pantry items, keep a permanent marker on hand to label with the purchase date and track the shelf life of each item. Then, simply rotate your stored goods by placing the latest additions towards the back and persuade containers so labels are facing outwards forward.
Damaged utensils
ideas.
Expired condiments
Take a few minutes to review the expiration dates on your marinades, tartar sauces, and ketchup that are lurking in your pantry. If any have expired or are near their expiration, it’s a good idea to dispose of the contents while recycling the containers.
Mismatched plastic storage containers
You’re struggling to keep your storage container cabinet tidy and well-organized. Frustratingly, the lid to one of these containers is missing. The issue isn’t necessarily the cabinet itself or your effort, but rather that you have too many containers to manage.
Organize the items by size and start sorting. Discard any that are misshapen, can’t seal, or have excessive stains, scratches, or bubbles. Unused containers can be repurposed; for example, smaller ones can be used to organize drawers while larger ones can store craft or workshop supplies that tend to get disorganized.
Excess dishes
First, check for any chipped dishes, as these can be a hazard as they can cause cuts and are hard to thoroughly clean.
Store just the amount of dishes you regularly use in easily accessible storage. Reserve less frequently used dishes and extra servingware for harder-to-reach spaces. Consider upcycling surplus items into functional decorative pieces, such as turning unwanted glasses into vases or mugs into desk organizers.
Broken cookware, kitchenware, and pieces of bakeware
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Worn-out cutting boards
It is recommended that you periodically update or install a new one, so you might as well replace it sooner rather than later.
Unused cookbooks
Frees up a lot of space, especially in a kitchen that’s short on space that’s actually usable. Let’s be real—many of your favorite recipes are probably stored online, in an app, or in a physical notebook. When deciding which ones to get rid of, look for those that have never been used, have complicated instructions, lack pictures, or are no longer applicable. Clear out cluttered storage by flipping through them and taking photos of any recipes you want to hold onto.
Frostbitten food
Also, don’t forget to toss the forgotten freezer meals, along with any food that’s been freezer-burned. You can also discard that balled-up piece of foil with the mysterious leftover tucked away in the back of the freezer.
Old kitchen linens
If you store your kitchen linens on a shelf or in a drawer, they can easily pile up. Check for towels that aren’t absorbent after washing, smell strongly, or feel stiff despite being washed. You should also discard any aprons or potholders that are worn out or don’t provide sufficient protection from heat.
Donating your lower-quality linens to your local pet shelter may be a thoughtful option. Many pet shelters welcome donations of items such as towels and blankets, which they can use to clean animals. Your contribution can make a positive impact on the lives of the animals in their care.
Redundant countertop appliances
Have a good look at the tools and gadgets you’ve accumulated. Some of them probably make weekday mornings easier, but others just end up taking up space. Be honest with yourself about which ones are worth keeping, and which are just taking up room. Check to see if any of them are broken, hard to use, or cluttering up your countertops. If they still work, most can usually be donated. Don’t forget to gather any extra parts and the instruction manual as well.
Included in the package are takeout containers, utensils such as forks and knives, and packaged condiments, like ketchup and mustard.
A few seemingly small items, like wrapperless sauce packets and leftover disposable utensils from takeout orders, can quickly clutter up a space. If a restaurant includes them with your order or you happen to take a few extras, there’s no need to hold onto them indefinitely. Fortunately, many food banks will accept donations of packaged disposable cutlery, so you can feel good about recycling those items instead of throwing them away. To further reduce clutter, make use of condiments by packing them with your lunch, and consider opting out of these extras next time you get fast food.
Shopping bags
You know when you’re at the checkout and they give you all these extra bags – the ones you’re supposed to reuse, but many times end up hiding in a cluttered storage area, under the sink, or near the trash can, ultimately going unused. Unfortunately, this habit leads to having a surplus of bags that serve no real purpose. To put these bags to good use, start by setting aside one to donate, then try to add at least one reusable bag to the donation pile each day. To ensure you can utilize these bags effectively, store them in a convenient location like your car, so they’re always within reach while you’re shopping. By recycling or giving away the bags you don’t need, you’ll not only free up valuable storage space in your kitchen but also maintain an organized and clutter-free environment.
