Coconut milk and couscous replace corned beef as kitchen cupboard staples

21 September 2023 , 12:39

1125 0

A quarter of Brits now consider balsamic vinegar to be a staple cupboard ingredient (Image: SWNS)

Brits have revealed how the contents of their kitchen cupboards have changed over the last 40 years – with couscous and coconut milk now more likely to be found than condensed milk or corned beef.

Other modern cupboard foods which would likely have been unheard of back in the 1980s include rice crackers (10%), soy sauce (33%), and balsamic vinegar (25%). And these have replaced old staples such as tinned sardines (21%), tinned peaches (27%), and Bovril (21%) – which Brits believe are now likely to be found only in a parent or grandparent's cupboards.

However, the top 40 list also showed that many ingredients have stood the test of time – with pasta, rice, biscuits, baked beans, and chopped tomatoes still just as likely to be found in cupboards today. And while the poll of 2,000 adults found that eight in ten (79%) hate wasting food – it also emerged that 18% believe they have as many as 10 food items at the back of their cupboards that are well past their use-by date.

The research was commissioned by SPAR, in partnership with food waste charity FareShare, to launch its “Giving One Million Meals” project. SPAR is donating £250,000, with contributions from Coco-Cola and Robinsons – and for every £1 given, FareShare can redistribute enough food for the equivalent of four meals to people in need across the UK.

Coconut milk and couscous replace corned beef as kitchen cupboard staples eideiqzeiqrzinv

But old favourites, such as pasta and honey, have also stood the test of time (H. Klosowska/Getty Images)

Suzanne Dover, spokeswoman for the community retailer, said: “We understand how important it is to have the cupboard essentials you need to hand, and it’s really interesting to see how these essentials have changed over the years, and which are still our firm favourites.”

Dr Michael Mosley shares exercise that can cut cholesterol and blood pressure

Exactly one in ten respondents say they can’t remember the last time they had a proper sort-out of their kitchen cupboards – as 52% admit they worry about throwing away and wasting staple foodstuffs. But 61% reckon they’ve got spices, tins, or bags with foodstuffs that are up to four years old.

Just over eight in ten (83%) are likely to save cooked food and use them as leftovers, rather than throw them away. Of these, 79% hate to see food wasted – and 51% fret about how much more expensive food is now, according to the OnePoll.com data. To bulk out their meals, 48% are adding more vegetables, while 32% will include old leftovers into a new meal – and one in five (19%) will experiment with the items in their cupboards to enhance a meal they’re making, and reduce waste.

When it comes to helping others, half of us (49%) have donated to food banks and charities to give back – with 19% donating more to food banks in recent years, to help with the cost-of-living crisis. Polly Bianchi, director of fundraising at FareShare, added: “The donation will make a significant contribution to our work getting good-to-eat food, which might otherwise go to waste, to people who need it.

“As the winter months approach, our network of 8,500 charities across the UK will be working hard to provide hearty, nourishing meals for people in their communities. Each group provides vital wraparound services to support people impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, and the contribution made will go a long way to strengthening those communities.”

BRITS' KITCHEN CUPBOARD STAPLES: