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Original poster

Larders...are they worth it?

33 replies

maisiedaisy64 · 27/05/2019 19:40

Hello!

Long time lurker, first time poster. We’re about to extend/renovate our kitchen, and everything I’ve read says get a large larder cupboard.

My question is, is it not really inconvenient to have all food in one giant cupboard that isn’t necessarily near your cooking area? Does it not result in traipsing across the kitchen to get bits you need while cooking? Or is it just I’m a very disorganised cook?!!

OP posts:
tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 27/05/2019 19:43

Hi OP Oooh v exciting time having a new kitchen!

We had one put in and I love it. So easy to see what I've got and easy to access bits too.

Unfortunately my kitchen is fairly small so I don't need to worry about traipsing things around Grin

I imagine it would be a nice problem to have!

Original poster
maisiedaisy64 · 27/05/2019 19:50

Yes, very exciting! Our kitchen isn’t big either, I just tend to grab what I need as I’m cooking from my cupboards either side of the job atm!

Could I ask, do you store all your dried goods in yours?

OP posts:
WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 27/05/2019 19:59

We currently have most of our non fridge food in 2 wall cabinets and the 2 base units below. One half base cupboard has large stuff like cereals and boxes of snack bars and part bake bread.
T'other side is a mess of baking stuff, spare jars of mayo mustard etc, I veer between having 3 spare jars of something or none as I can't see what's in there.
New kitchen will replace wall and base units with one big cupboard with wire baskets on doors and slide out shelves so that I can see what's in there. Middle shelf will have Magimix with its own plug so that I can use it where it is stored.

I'm seriously into Pantry Porn at the moment

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 27/05/2019 22:57

Pantry porn Grin

Top shelf is cereals then down to spices which I keep in a tray so I can just lift off, then tins and finally baking bits on bottom. DD was younger when we first had it and I was paranoid about her pulling it out and getting crushed so I've been vigilant about weight distribution since then.

Happy to report this awful accident only ever occurred in my head!

SorrelForbes · 27/05/2019 23:04

I love my pantry. It was the one non-negotiable when we planned our new kitchen. I suppose it does mean that we walk around a bit more but I dont mind that at all really. We dont have any wall cupboards at all so everything is either in the pantry or the fridge/freezer.

Cathpot · 27/05/2019 23:13

Just had a new kitchen and the larder cupboard is my favourite thing in it. It swallows a huge amount of stuff, all the food items that aren’t in the fridge , including all the spices, jars, cans, pasta etc. Plus it has 3 drawers in the bottom which take the Tupperware and sieves. We bought ours from the Cotswold company as it was on sale and about £400 cheaper than having one made locally. The inside and shelving feels really solid but the outside of the doors are flimsier than I’d hoped so long term I don’t know if the saving was worth it.

Original poster
maisiedaisy64 · 28/05/2019 15:26

Thanks for all your replies! Looks like a larder it is!

OP posts:
WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 28/05/2019 16:31

Re traipsing around kitchen.
I've got myself (eventually) into the habit of getting everything out before I start.
It's totally contrary to my nature but it's changed the way I cook.
The only things that sit next to hob are oil, salt and pepper

Original poster
maisiedaisy64 · 28/05/2019 21:42

Yes you see that sounds just like me! (As in I currently don’t get everything out before I start). Was it a pain to get used to?

OP posts:
WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 28/05/2019 21:48

No actually it's fine.
I'm less likely to miss out an important ingredient this way.
New kitchen in planning stage and I'm undecided about a wee sauce etc cupboard by hob...

123rd · 28/05/2019 21:54

When we moved ( before we knocked the back half of the house down and rebuilt!) we had a 'proper' larder. All slab concrete shelves and very cool- temp wise, not hipster wise!
When we redid our kitchen we couldn't justify the space for a big walk in cupboard type larder but I do have two pull out larder type floor to ceiling cupboards. Either side of the ovens. And a sauce /herbs drawer under one of the ovens.

Larders...are they worth it?
SorrelForbes · 29/05/2019 17:36

Pictures of my pantry/larder (booze room)! Blush

Larders...are they worth it?
Larders...are they worth it?
HopeClearwater · 30/05/2019 19:50

This is interesting ... from the 80s onwards everyone I knew who refurbished their kitchen knocked through to the pantry / larder.

lablewhore · 30/05/2019 19:57

Ooh I love my mini pantry larder cupboard! Everything in one place, can see all at a glance, have breakfast things (with tea and coffee) on the most easily accessible shelf, condiments above, then pull out shallow drawers that are dries goods, spices and tins! I bloody love it! And I cook every day it is a joy. No old festering stuff at the back of a cupboard that’s has a sell by date of 1993!

PostNotInHaste · 30/05/2019 19:58

We knocked out a pantry when we originally did the kitchen as were opening it up to room behind and it was in the way and quite big. Have a new one now which used to have washing machine and tumble drier in it. It’s been so useful, has the microwave in it, stores a big sack of dog food plus a big recycling box.

It’s close to the cooker and opposite the fridge, not much walking around. Just been shopping and unpacking now so easy. We’ve got an Elfa thing on the back of the door which adds extra storage and very handy.

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 31/05/2019 07:03

I'd adore a walk in pantry but most people's houses don't have the spare space.
Larder cupboards take up the same space as kitchen units but with the right internal layout can hold loads.

Original poster
maisiedaisy64 · 02/06/2019 12:31

Thanks for all your advice! I think I’ll put one in and just put it as close to the sink/hob as possible!

OP posts:
WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 02/06/2019 13:21

Mine is actually close to neither hob nor sink, but I can stand in front of it and unload everything I need on the island where I do my prep.
The cupboards closest to the sink are also closest to dishwasher so that's where plates etc live.

RedRiverShore · 02/06/2019 13:25

We have one but nothing as lovely as SorrelForbes's

I must find pictures of pantries and make ours a bit smarter.

dudsville · 02/06/2019 13:30

I LOVE my larder/pantry! It was built into the house originally in the 30's. Everything nearly organised in one area.

resisterpersister · 02/06/2019 13:33

I love my (1930s) larder. I sometimes wonder if it's the reason I bought the house Grin

RedRiverShore · 02/06/2019 13:47

Our house is 30's, that probably why it has one then.

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 02/06/2019 16:21

I have to be careful discussing pantries.
My autocorrect tends to change the word to panties

PCohle · 02/06/2019 16:39

I love mine! So much quicker than ferreting around in the back of cupboards trying to work out which one DH would have put something in. I also find it helpful having everything at a glance when I'm trying to meal plan or work out what I could make without going to the shops.

TheSmallAssassin · 02/06/2019 16:51

When we moved into our house it didn't have a fitted kitchen at all - we kept the original larder, all our non-fridge food (bar herbs and spices) is kept in there, along with all our pans. It's ace, I can't imagine being without it now. Our kitchen is fairly small, so I don't feel like it's far away from food prep areas, but I do also get everything I need out before I start cooking.