I've just had a good clear out of mine, things I'd forgotten I'd even bought were lurking at the back ! Somethings not my fault, like the orzo pasta I bought after having it in Cyprus but then other half saying she didn't like it, so I've never been able to use it (dated 2009 !)... But the winner back there was some lentils dated 2005 ... Lots of duplicated odd spices where you knew you had it, but thought it must have gone..... seems I should have done this some time back !.....

Steve

I do the same now and again, and have just had a quick look to see what I have. I found some Tamarind paste that I have not even used (way out of date) some Amchoor powder, no idea how long I have had that and two jars of some powder or other, no idea what as no labels on the jars. All good fun..

I found it hardwork to throw things.. I hate waste... stood there thinking.. just how out of date is 2009 ?... lol

here is my spice cupboard after the cul

http://s13.postimage.org/r5uddqusn/DSC_1674b.jpg

Steve

Wow Steve! Your picture certainly puts my kitchen to shame.

Afraid I generally draw the line at anything pre 2000. Though the sell/use/eat by date has often faded away anyway.

I keep a robust stomach -probably not best to try this at home!

Winton

Every time I open my spice cupboard there is a strong smell of kewda water. It's divine!! :)

Oddly, I tidied our spices shelf a couple of weekends ago, during the jubilee weekend, actually. My sister-in-law was visiting and helped me do a real tidy and throw session in the kitchen!

seems quite a few people have been cleaning cupboards out lately.. wonder if we have been given subliminal messages ?....lol

Steve

Steve! Ground black pepper? Shame on you! Grind it fresh each time!

I'm afraid that we have no single spice cupboard, but three racks, one box, and two drawers, one for spices, another for herbs, except that some herbs, such as dried fenugreek leaves, hang out near one of the spice racks. No wonder that guests from Holland last week couldn't find everything! Our soy sauce, Chinese rice wine, sesame sauce and Worcester sauce are in yet another place.

I hate clearing things out, but will have to get rid of dried shrimps which fell out of the packet and are now tasteless, lining the bottom of one of the drawers.

I don't really approve of pre-prepared sauces, but a friend's boyfriend, who works for Patak's, gave me a jar of tandoori paste as a gift recently, so I keep that, oyster sauce, and mango and lime pickle in the fridge.

We cook both Indian and Chinese, so there's a lot of stuff to store. I've never had tamarind paste, so I'm envious.

Phil

Inspired by this thread I decided to tackle my 'fridge.

I found several items that I had no idea of what they are (or were!) Plus a few items from a Thai flatmate who must have left eight years ago.

It doesn't mean I don't reguarly clean the fridge - I just took everything out and put it back in as quickly as possible to avoid anything coming up to "room temperature."

Winton

p.s. Believe it or not I do have a food hygiene certificate! On returning the items this time I attempted putting everything back on the appropriate shelf level!

8 years in the fridge, I'm surprised it wasn't knocking to come out !... lol

Steve

It is easy to forget spices in the back of the cupboard and fridge and find some hidden wonders! I tend to go over the back roughly once a year, sometimes more often, but don't have a definite routine for it.

"and find some hidden wonders!"...............

Could not agree more Mamta. My latest kitchen cupboard exploration found seemingly hundreds of stock cubes. Given I am unlikely to use them perhaps I should consider flogging them on ebay!

My current procedure is knowing I am going to make at least one of your chicken curries each week to blast the carcass with surplus veggies/trimmings in the pressure cooker. Much nicer than those salty cubes.

Best of all I found a full (unopened) jar of Spanish saffron! Looking forward to your Chicken Saffron Curry tonight - http://www.mamtaskitchen.com/recipe_display.php?id=10010

Winton

Full Jar of Saffron, wow! I love it in rice pudding and other milk puddings and biryanies.