AIBU to wish people would stop using flour for play dough

[Outtedagain]

Just that. Some people, like me, want to cook with it. I have just worked out (correctly I think) from Facebook feeds featuring play dough recipes that this is contributes to there being no flour.

YABU

In the same way that they could go out and by play doh, for more money, you could go out and buy whatever it is you were going to make with the flour...

Part of the keeping the kids occupied is the actual making, not just the playing.

Anyway, it is utterly nonsensical to try and blame homemade playdough for the flour shortage. The problem is actually caused by the homebakers themselves and the production issues with packing small bags.

I just scattered my flour all over the kitchen floor and am now laying in it, making a flour angel.

I haven't specifically gone out to buy flour to make play dough with but if I have some in the cupboard - I'll do with it what I want

This is nuts.

Only a minority of households in the UK have a toddler. A smaller subset of those families with a toddler are making playdough. It's probably like 0.5% of all flour use in the UK, if that.

I'm making flatbreads for tea tonight, is that OK? Because I have a white sliced loaf in the cupboard too.

I used the last of my flour to bake this for you!

Re pasta, I’ve now got the idea that people are buying special milled 00 flour to make play dough 😂

Eating food is essential . Playing with it is not yanbu

YABU. You should be able to use it to bake with. Other people should be able to use it to make play dough with. Your need isn’t greater than theirs.

I mix it with shake'n'vac as it makes amazing talcum powder

@Littlebendytoe 😂😂

Littlebendytoe

I just scattered my flour all over the kitchen floor and am now laying in it, making a flour angel.

We need to swap tips

**Eating food is essential . Playing with it is not yanbu

Yes-but eating flour is not essential. There’s not a shortage of bread, or any other foodstuff that contains flour.

I think you've got too much Time on your hands to be getting worked up about this...
Talk about first world problems!!

Actually this playdough recipe, is much safer for tots, and it keeps on tuppaware, so not a complete waste.

I agree with you OP. Any food waste is shameful at any point in time - there are people starving in many parts of the world - but in current circumstances, it is even worse. Kids can surely be entertained in lots of other ways indoors.
"My money, my pantry, my flour - I will use it how I like" argument isn't really socially responsible. If as a society we bought less, there would be overall more available for others.

Oh get over yourself OP

Yanbu

On the other hand I have a packet on my windowsill dated 2017 that will be used for something like play dough (I am baking bread with a packet dated 2019 though)

I think some places have plenty if flour, and others don't. I've been seething with jealousy at photos on facebook of various baked goods my friends have made, because I'm saving our small supply of flour for an upcoming household birthday. I wouldn't let DD do her food tech homework, because we really can't justify using any of our flour on something that might not work.

Completely agree. Our local bakers has shut. We're down to our last loaf and about 300g of bread flour and I couldn't get the only loaf of bread my toddler can eat during my shop the other day (he is allergic to soya flour). I haven't been able to get any more flour at all...what a waste!

If you use boiling water, add it quickly and stir, you won't have to cook it.

(20 years' experience of making play dough )

OK.

There’s no flour because some people selfishly took far too much and left none for other people.

No, that's not the reason at all. Thanks @SoupDragon for reposting my post from this morning to explain.

It's just something we have to suck up. I wish people would stop baking cakes on lockdown as I want eggs to scramble to feed my autistic ds, who is begging for them. But, I can't expect people not to bake so we have no eggs and have to suck it up.

Are there egg shortages in your area then? Our local Tesco, Lidl and Aldi's are fully stocked with eggs, as they have been throughout. I don't understand the geographical differences in what shops are running low on.

A bread mix is £1.
A pack of dried pasta is as cheap as 75p based on which brand you buy.

If you’re buying chicken breasts anyway the crumbed versions are actually cheaper than the fresh breasts.

Home made pastry is much more expensive than shop bought given butter is now approx £1.50 a packet, added to which the price of the flour, and you can buy a pack of ready-made pastry in the supermarket for around £1.40.

Yes, we like to make things from scratch, but sometimes we can’t.

Incidentally, DS has just been to sainsburys and bought flour for both me and his dad.

Proper play-doh smells lovely

Do you know what also smells lovely? Homemade play dough that you've put a couple of tablespoons of cocoa in.

^^ this you can add vanilla, or peppermint, or ginger, smells gorgeous;-)