5 Things Nobody Needs in Their Kitchen After 55

In your 50s, you may start to take stock of everything you’ve accumulated over the years — whether downsizing your space is on the horizon or you’re getting ready to be an empty nester for the first time. You’ve probably lived in your current home for more than a few years — and slowly, quietly, the items have added up. 

In your kitchen, there might be frilly cookie cutters, stained plastic food storage containers, or the 15-year-old waffle maker you’ve never touched — so give yourself this moment to tackle it all. As Barb Mickits, professional organizer and founder of Edit & Organize, explains, the kitchen is one of those places where items easily pile up behind closed cabinet doors. “People should ask themselves, ‘Does this belong in my kitchen during my current phase of life?’” says Mickits. And if it doesn’t, it’s time for it to go. Here are five unnecessary items she sees most often in the kitchens of people over 55.

“Many young families get a lot of use out of bulky appliances like waffle makers, ice cream makers, stand mixers, or panini presses,” says Mickits. These items are fun when you’re trying to help long summer days and lazy weekends go by, but the reality is, most one- or two-person households aren’t whipping out the ice cream maker on a regular enough basis to warrant its belonging. 

Decide which appliances actually deserve to take up space in your kitchen cabinets (or even your pantry or basement!), and keep only those. You might find that the bread maker doesn’t feel relevant anymore, but a panini press does suit your lifestyle now. Prioritize what will actually get used and get rid of the items that are collecting dust 364 out of 365 days a year.

Mickits says that her clients often hold onto grown children’s sippy cups and dishes with the intention of using them for future grandchildren. But food safety standards evolve over the course of a few decades, and it’s not worth hanging onto these items through the generations.

“It’s worth buying new products rather than storing them for when the time comes,” says Mickits. Especially if it’s made of thinning plastic or painted with anything that may contain lead, it’s time to let it go.

Over time, it’s hard to keep track of all of the recalls and new information regarding which materials and items aren’t food-safe. If you’ve been cooking for several decades, then you probably have a few offenders lurking in your pantry that you might not even realize need to go.

“People often have old plastic cutting boards, plastic cooking utensils, and plastic food storage containers, which used to be very popular but now raise concerns about microplastics and other potentially harmful chemicals,” says Mickits. She explains that a major pantry decluttering overhaul, like one you would do when downsizing, is a great time to let those potentially toxic items go and replace them with a smaller, more intentional collection of safer alternatives, like glass, silicone, or bamboo.

At 55, you’re no stranger to the trap of family heirlooms. “In any part of a home, an inherited item is one of the hardest things for people to get rid of because it feels like you’re getting rid of the person that you miss,” says Mickits.

Inherited kitchen items can often carry even more emotional weight because they have memories so closely tied to them, she explains. “These items have warm memories of your family member using the rolling pin, cookie cutters, or platter you inherited,” says Mickits. However, if you don’t plan on using it — or displaying it thoughtfully — it’s time to donate or sell it. Take photos of the items before you get rid of them, and the memories will remain with you forever.

If it’s been a while since you cleaned out your pantry, you might not realize just how many expired items are hiding in the back of your cabinets. Now’s the time to set aside an hour and go through all of those jars, cans, and bottles that have gotten lost in the abyss.

“When organizing [clients’] kitchens, it’s very common to find expired spices, condiments, and canned goods, but this is especially true with people who are over 55 because they’ve been in the same kitchens for so many years,” says Mickits. Even if it hasn’t expired just yet, if you haven’t touched it in years, it’s safe to assume you’re not going to use it in the coming years. Donate or toss it and enjoy the instant gratification of the open pantry space.