Tinned fruit and veg hits and misses

[Al1Langdownthecleghole]

Apologies for such a boring thread.

I'm writing a shopping list for the week and whereas I normally would buy a lot of fresh fruit and veg, and do one or two top-up shops for fresh salad etc. Obviously, that's not an option right now, so I'm working out how to make a week's shopping last, by buying a mix of fresh and frozen stuff.

Could tins help? I usually have chickpeas, tomatoes and sweetcorn in the cupboard, but what about things like mushrooms? are they OK in tins for use in a casserole or just too horrible?

So - what would you recommend, and what should I definitely avoid?

I really like tinned peaches and mandarins. Never tried tinned mushrooms but I've used frozen which are quite nice. My mum loves tinned new potatoes but I think they're vile.

Apple/pear is good for baking but can be a but mushy to eat alone. The bags of frozen smoothie mix usually have a good variety of fruit in them and you don't have to smoothie them.

Tinned mushrooms are horrible in my opinion. Somehow slimy and rubbery at the same time. They might be ok in a casserole if you rinsed them.

Tinned potatoes are ok. You can season them with salt, pepper & paprika and roast them off. Or toss with mint sauce & mayo.

Most tinned fruit are ok. I love tinned pears. Good for baking too.

Why didn't I know you could get frozen mushrooms? They are definitely going on the list

forgot about tinned potatoes - I actually do use them occasionally in casseroles and they aren't bad then. I just don't think I'd eat them on their own.

Mandarins and peaches are a good shout for DC - and I like a tinned apricot crumble, so they're going on the list as well.

If you're shopping weekly, most veg will survive a week in the fridge. Whole lettuces last a lot longer than bagged salad.

Other than tinned sweetcorn, tomatoes, beans and pulses, I wouldn't bother with any tinned veg personally. Frozen peas are good obviously.

Cut green beans
Marrowfat peas
Spinach

Mushy peas. Mmmmmm.

Tinned carrots are Kay in something like hash.

I use tinned potatoes quite a lot in tortillas and soup.

And beans and chickpeas of course. All sorts of beans.

I love tinned pears. Don't mind tinned pineapple. Like the breakfast orange/grapefruit mix too.

Frozen a better bet in general though, for fruit and veg. Frozen cherries my favourite at the moment, eaten semi frozen LOL.

Good luck finding any of this stuff on stock op. I usually buy it for budget reasons but can't now.

Helpful to know about the slimy mushrooms iklboo I'm not tempted. Especially now I know you can buy them frozen.

Tinned potatoes are ok in a curry. And you can get jars of roasted peppers in oil or brine ( but cheaper to buy frozen). And of course you could buy fresh veg and freeze it yourself.

If you an get dried peas (either in a packet of seeds or just as whole dried peas with the lentils etc), if you plant them in a window box (or ice cream box or whatever), they grow much faster than lettuce and you can cut them to eat as pea shoots in salad. And obvs you could sprout mung beans or cress seeds.

Frozen mushrooms are pretty slimy too tbh. Fine in curries and stews and pies etc though. I also warm them through with a tsp of wholegrain mustard and have them on toast.

Tinned pears are brilliant for making Nigellas chocolate pear pudding, I buy them regularly for this purpose. Not healthy but I'm all for small pleasures right now!

Usually exist on a diet that is made up of about 80% fresh veg and salad items so was quite concerned when we were first locked down. I’m actually finding it a lot easier than I thought. I was a sucker for bagged leaves and that was the first thing that went. They just don’t last.
Instead I’ve been buying who lettuces, a combo of ice berg and romaine and they just about last a week in the fridge.
Carrots are fine, I remove from plastic and keep in a cool dark place, then just shred into salads as required. Onions and spring onions the same. Whole peppers and mushrooms and celery also do a week in the fridge. I’ve also been really careful that nothing is wasted. I us3d to just discard out lettuce leaves and celery sticks but now take the time to peel them to remove the tough stringy bits.
I’ve also been adding chopped apples, tinned sweetcorn and pickled gherkins and beetroot.
If also been combining cold bases of leaves with cooked veg toppers, such as stir fried broccoli or spiced and roasted cauli to great success.
Leaks have lasted ages, I’ve been shredding them for stir fries with the addition of tinned water chestnuts and bamboo shoots.
The only frozen veg I’ve relied on is BNS and frozen peas but the hats mainly due to the fact that my freezer is bursting at the seams!

Jars of peppers are good, jarred olives are ok, canned spinach is fine in curries

Dried mushrooms?

I like tinned ratatouille, serve with couscous and grated cheese for the quickest hot lunch ever. Mixed beans for making salad.

Tinned prunes are food of the gods.
If you can get chickpeas or butter beans in glass jars rather than tinned (they are more £ admittedly) they are delicious.

We use tinned veg a lot when camping as we don't have access to a fridge. Its ok. Sweetcorn and chopped green beans are the most popular. The mushrooms are alright, as are the artichoke hearts. Peas are nice enough. Not sure on the carrots - they just don't seem right.

We use lots of frozen veg at home - they do a bag of mixed med veg which we like.

Tinned pears are great for a cheat's version of Pear Belle Helene, (and I need all the chocolate sauce I can get just now). I like tinned black cherries too.

I think with tinned vegetables you have to accept that it isn't going to be the same as the fresh produce, but will still provide flavour, vitamins etc. So the tinned green beans will not be the same as those fresh from Grandpa's allotment, but will be a quick to cook splash of colour with the meal.

Tinned mushrooms are grim as arête most "soft " veg however tinned ratatouille is generally pretty good

We always have tinned tomatoes, sweetcorn, every bean going (although I suppose we could survive with dried but they are more of a faff), and tinned peaches, pears, pineapple, mandarins, raspberries and grapefruit. We also buy jars of peppers, artichoke hearts, olives, capers, cherries (in kirsch!), which are the same principle as tinned veg.

Frozen fruit and veg we like: peas, broad beans, green beans, sweetcorn, sliced peppers, avocados, spinach, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, mango.

Just seen the comment about water chestnuts. Before we had fussy children we would buy tinned beansprouts as well.

Tomatoes, pears, peaches and mandarins are staples here. I find pineapple versatile - eat it on its own, in puddings or chuck it into a sweet and sour curry. I don’t bother with tinned pulses, dried bags are better value. All veg is frozen, I’m yet to find any tinned veg I like.

Tinned vege is horrible, apart from pulses and sweetcorn.

Tinned peaches and apricots make lovely smoothies, mixed with yoghurt. Tinned mango for lassi.

Tinned plums are quite nice if you ponce them up with cinnamon and honey for a crumble or to have with yoghurt, porridge or custard. Or use in a cake.

Tinned figs are nothing like fresh, but nice with yoghurt, honey and seeds.

Tinned pineapple for upside down cake, or for putting in stir fries or making a dhansak with dried lentils.