Do you still have a garlic press that was a wedding gift 25 years ago? Or a wooden spoon that belonged to your mother?
We asked our Facebook followers to share the oldest thing in their kitchen with us, and they didn’t disappoint.
From eggbeaters to cake tins, we got an insight into what our readers hold near and dear.
Starting with the biggest items, Gigi shared a Formica table that her parents used to own.
“My parents had this green table, which my daughter now has. She didn’t want to part with it as lots of memories were made here.”
Read more: How to make the most out of a small kitchen
Moving on to another large appliance with nostalgic value …
“We have a beautiful new kitchen installed but wanted to keep our beautiful combustion stove that my husband restored that works very well,” says Dianne.
You also seem to have kept hold of plenty of pots and pans that haven’t started showing their age.
Lyn shared her set of Raco stainless steel saucepans, “I’ve used them since 1975, they are still as good as new,” she says.
Deb has held onto this Corningware bowl from 1973.
Adrian still uses a large cooking pot bought by his father in the early 1970s.
The younger generation could certainly learn a thing or two about keeping hold of items that still have a lot of use left. Or are things just not made the same way anymore?
Read more: The best kitchen appliances as voted by Australians
Moving on to washing up, Gina still uses her mother’s dish drainer, which is over 60 years old.
And May swears by a soap cage. “You shake them in a sink of water to make suds for washing dishes.”
Patricia disagreed though: “I didn’t like using them because I used to imagine I could smell the soap on the dishes.”
Next up we had quite a few eggbeaters!
“Swift Whip made in Australia, early 1960s. I bought it for my mum for Mother’s Day (I know, it was an awful present) with saved pocket money and now it’s mine,’ says Marianne.
“Swift Whip a proper product. Made in Australia from the 1930s. Best eggbeater ever, for making fluffy omelettes. My mum had it in the ’40s, I inherited it when she passed,” Rusty agrees.
Wendy shared her Mum’s that she still uses today.
Time for something a bit different …
“I just used this today, I bought it in 1960, it’s a lemon squeezer and cream whipper as well. I think it cost me six shillings,” shares Dorothy.
Read more: Sales plummet for this once essential kitchen item
There were a few of you who had held onto cutlery and utensils.
Rose bought this spatula in 1975.
And Sally still has knives her grandmother used.
Jennifer shared this cake tin and canister set that her mum bought in 1952.
Amber shared this ad with the group from 50 years ago and wishes she still had her full set!
Rose tried to explain the sentiment behind keeping hold of certain items.
“I sometimes wonder or am asked why I collect old stuff. Well just looking at my old billy we use for compost, yes use, and when I touch it, I feel good. It’s not the same feeling from a plastic council compost bin, just not the same.”
Christine agrees that things were made to last back then.
“I’ve got an egg shovel with a black plastic handle, much burned and maligned but still far better than anything I’ve bought since and it’s from about 1963!”
What’s the oldest thing in your kitchen? Is there anything you wish you’d kept?
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