I've always had a fondness for tins [and for Tintin, my second favourite Belgian] Cocoa tins, biscuit tins, mustard tins... In 2012, Bob gently suggested I might like to review the stack of empty tins which I'd amassed in the Kirby Muxloe garage.
At the time I counted 42 unused tins - I got rid of quite a few. When we left Dorset I gave even more away. But they've somehow been building up again.
There were twenty one tins on the top of the kitchen cupboards! But I'd stored them neatly like matryoshka dolls, nesting inside each other. It was only when I separated and stacked them that it became apparent how many there were. I removed all duplicate sizes, used some for food storage, and recycled others. There are 7 left. . I was on a roll! I then got out all my glass jars -- Gü ramekins, Bonne Maman yogurt jars, screw top jam and chutney jars, tiny Tiptree jars, and little glass bottles. There were dozens
And then I did my food tins. I have labelled them clearly with BB date, and they will be stored with oldest to the front, so things get used in order.
I'm declaring 2025 the Year of the Kitchen
I'm declaring 2025 the Year of the Kitchen
And you are indeed making an impact on your kitchen!
ReplyDeleteThankyou,I hadn't spotted the #word365 link!
DeleteWell done!!
ReplyDeleteI found a novel use for the tins I had. Reception wanted some instruments for their outdoor area but they needed to be robust as the kids tend to break things. So I took some tins along and demonstrated how to play the like a Darabuka drum and they are going to have a collection of different tins for jamming on. They're going to cover them so they look a bit more special. I have a big panatone Tin I have from someone to add!
Excellent repurposing.
DeletePerhaps the yoghurt jars, if glass, could be used for little items for your craft fairs. My friend crochets little bumble bees or fish and hangs them inside a jar. She adds seaglsss or buttons to cover any lettering on the tin.
ReplyDeleteThey sound pretty
DeleteI am impressed. I seem to collect pretty conserve jars. Many, many of them in the garage, I will never make enough jam or marmalade to fill them. Freecycle worked wonders and they are nearly all rehomed. I only have eight tins of various sizes but I am drawn to any I see in charity shops, they are so useful. I think you are going great guns. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement. I have a dozen regular sized BonneMaman jars set aside for my annual batch of marmalade. Once used, the empties go on the top shelf. And I am being firm about that. But if I'm anywhere and they bring a little pot of BM or Tiptree jam, the jar comes home with me. But they DO get used.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting article about the yoghurt jars! I am a collector of jars which are used for crafting mainly. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI have a collection of Fortnum and Mason tins which were given to me, filled, in the past. This year it was just your normal run of the mill M&S Belgian Choc selection biscuit tin that was gifted!Off to clear out my kitchen cupboards! Thanks for enabling!x
ReplyDeleteI love tins too, and used to have far too many, like you I had a good sort through and got rid of a lot of them. I tend to recycle my glass jars once I can fit no more in the cupboard, but it's hard to get rid of them as soon as they are empty when they might be useful, especially the ones that the labels come cleanly off when you are washing them.
ReplyDeleteOh the mini jars! Delightful.... RECYCLEABLE I have to say firmly.
ReplyDeleteI save honey jars which use standard size lids for my beekeeping friend. They have gone up so much in price recently.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to be ruthless and keep only 1lb jars for jam and half pound for jellies, which take standard sized, new lids.
The wide jam jars are useful for leftovers in the fridge. A tin of prunes for breakfast lasts all week.
I have refilled the Roses marmalade jars yet again with a batch of Granny’s marmalade to take to DD.
I had a lot of Roses Jars back in the 90s (overly fond of their lime marmalade) but they were disposed of years ago. I love patterned glassware
DeleteI keep the Bonne Maman jars as they are so pretty, and I use them to store stock cubes etc, but I have blackboard labels on them, easy to change the name then. Having recently moved, I got rid of so much, and now I'm saying I wish I'd kept some plant pot holders, small glass dishes. I can see a visit to local charity shops soon. Hugs Xx
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you moved before the weather turned nasty though. You will find some good jars in the C S I'm sure
DeleteI admire your willingness to let some of those lovely tins go. I must admit I'm pretty ruthless with extraneous items since we are short on actual storage space and clutter means more for me to move/work around when cleaning, which is a pain when you are not well in the first place. Cheering you on with your year of the kitchen xx
ReplyDeleteIt is a struggle to let them go sometimes. But then I read comments like the one from Gill, and hope somebody comes into the CS where I donate, and finds their new treasures. Win-win -win, for them, for me, and for the good cause
ReplyDeleteI think we often have an eye for something useful and even in some cases beautiful, and it is so hard to let these go. I just acquired a lovely square tin with a window and a plastic square which created a second layer. The treats are gone, but I just have to keep this beauty!
ReplyDeleteI once bought white plastic lids for using on mason jars, and later discovered that the plastic lids on mayonnaise jars are the same size. These lids are good to use instead of the metal ones, for opened jars stored in the fridge, and also for mason jars for storage. I'm now looking to find other sizes of plastic lids as I have a few large mouth mason jars.
I hope you find the lids you need.
DeleteI, too, like to collect tins/cans and jars. I did clear a few tins late last year when I did that big decluttering, but, there are probably more tins to declutter and definitely more jars!
ReplyDeleteIt is so easy for the collection to grow.
DeleteI swear that the Gu jars breed in the dark corners of the kitchen! That's an impressive clearout.
ReplyDelete🤣🤣🫙🫙🫙
DeleteI've just been through all my tins and jars too. I didn't think I had that many! Good idea with the BB labels and organising.
ReplyDelete