the great kitchen purge

[bakerman]

I got up today with the urge to purge (the kitchen that is).

Over the years I have accumulated lots of gadgets and appliances, mostly when I was setting up my very own first kitchen. Well I have decided on a new rule, if I haven't used it in a year, I don't need it!

I am realizing that less is more, I prefer a great stainless steel or cast iron pan over an electric skillet, I don't need to keep my old dinnerware, and my old set of cookware is doing me no good sitting in a box in the closet.

I have been replacing cheaper stuff purchased when I was starting out with great quality stuff, especially things that are heavily used. Don't get me wrong, I still love to buy cooking stuff, but lately I won't buy something unless I KNOW that it will get used often, and if another tool can perform the same job (even if it involves an extra step) I will not buy a unitasker (love the garlic press though).

Just thought I would share this, it is really freeing to have everything in its place!

[isilzha]

You could sell your old kitchen tools on ebay.

[Pluff Mudder]

I did that when we moved a couple years ago and down-sized into a smaller home. It felt good to do that kitchen house-cleaning and I found stuff in the back of some cabinets and drawers I forgot I even had! Guess I hadn't needed any of that stuff! Some I sold on Ebay, some went to trash or the recycle bin and others to the local Goodwill. Now, when I'm looking at a new kitchen toy I think to myself WWAD (what would Alton do) before I buy it.

[bakerman]

LOL, I love the WWAD!

I took everything to goodwill, there was some stuff like an almost new electric skillet and a cappuccino maker that I could have sold on ebay, but when I get a urge like this, it has to go and I don't want it hanging around!

[Food Network Fan]

Have you read Alton's Kitchen Gear book? It might be helpful to you right now.

[bakerman]

oh no that could be dangerous!

[Food Network Fan]

It did help me get more organized though.

[Pluff Mudder]

It made me want some new kitchen toys.

[Food Network Fan]

Yeah well there's that too.

[Bentley Green]

I got up today with the urge to purge (the kitchen that is).

Over the years I have accumulated lots of gadgets and appliances, mostly when I was setting up my very own first kitchen. Well I have decided on a new rule, if I haven't used it in a year, I don't need it!

I am realizing that less is more, I prefer a great stainless steel or cast iron pan over an electric skillet, I don't need to keep my old dinnerware, and my old set of cookware is doing me no good sitting in a box in the closet.

I have been replacing cheaper stuff purchased when I was starting out with great quality stuff, especially things that are heavily used. Don't get me wrong, I still love to buy cooking stuff, but lately I won't buy something unless I KNOW that it will get used often, and if another tool can perform the same job (even if it involves an extra step) I will not buy a unitasker (love the garlic press though).

Just thought I would share this, it is really freeing to have everything in its place!

I did that a few of years ago when I bought new appliances & cookware to replace an older smaller microwave, food processor, old hand-held mixer and old fading dull cookware.

Problem is, that I still have most of the old appliances that I hardly ever use now, and the only other old appliance I gave away so far, was the old Cuisinart which was replaced by the K'Aid food processor. I still have an old Robot Coup that has to go. it still works, but I need to make some room anyway.

I'll have to gather up the old stuff and take it over to Goodwill (Morgan Memorial) and give it to them to sell. Otherwise, come spring, it'll have to hit the trash.

I know what you mean on that. At times, I feel like a pack rat! If I got rid of at least half the old stuff here, then I'd have a lot of room. Because if and when I'm offered an apt elsewhere and I accept it, then all of this useless junk is going to have to be thrown away. I'm not taking any of it with me.