Vinegar, stock cubes, and tinned vegetables are some of the most unloved foods in the nation's kitchen cupboards – with many of them languishing unused for five YEARS or more, due to lack of food inspiration. Pantry staples have topped a list of the top 50 items which are likely to remain unused a year or more after being purchased.
Tinned tuna, chickpeas, and various herbs and spices also made the list, as did gravy and nuts – while soy sauce, kidney beans, and dried pasta are other foodstuffs lying unused in the nation’s pantries. The research of 2,000 UK adults found three-quarters feel uninspired by what’s in their store cupboards.
And almost a third (32 per cent) experience the “store cupboard stare” – often looking in their pantries and fridges and walking away unenthused by what’s there. When staring absently to see what they have in stock, 12 per cent feel it’s “too much effort” to decide what to make – and 11 per cent don’t think they’re creative enough to turn old ingredients into exciting dishes.
