I’ve got the tins. Now what the hell do I do with them

[luggageandbags]

DH persuaded me to go out and buy some tinned food just in case. The shelves in my local supermarket were depleted so I grabbed what I could find. Now chickpeas, lentils and beans I know what to do with, as well as tuna chunks. But how do hell do you use sliced mandarine oranges? Plum halves in grape water? Whole strawberries in syrup?

I was a child in former Yugoslavia when it was all falling apart and I remember prolonged periods living without fresh fruit and veg, we would get packets of essentials through humanitarian aid and people would do best they could with them. I remember something called UNPROFOR cakes and once my mum even attempted to make a home made Nutella (it was vile). May be time to brush up on those tips and recipes... anyone cares to share?

I have got tinned potatoes, corned beef, will put in slow cooker if I have to. I have instant mash, just add water to that. I have tons of baked beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, tinned carrots, peas, stewed steak, ham, tuna, salmon. I have tinned fruit and Carnation milk, rice puddings, custard. I have tinned Fray Bentos pies. Lots of pasta and jars of sauces. Freezer is full. I will think of a good meal that I could rustle up with it all if necessary.

I was raised on tinned veg. Still love marrowfat peas! And tinned potatoes are great for curries.

Tinned strawberries will be nice with apples in a pie or crumble.

Tinned fruit cold:
Serve with custard/yogurt/ice-cream/fromage frais/jelly. Or in a milkshake. Custard and jelly are particularly useful as they are cupboard ingredients that don't need to be freshly bought.

Tinned fruit hot:
Butter a pie dish well, lay drained fruits on the butter and cover with basic cake mix. Bake as normal. Turn out while hot, and hey presto Upside Down Pudding. Use the drained liquid to make jelly/pour over the cake/drink.

We like tinned fruit

Ooo I forgot Breakfast Sundae!

Layer Greek yogurt, tinned fruit and granola several times in a tall glass and serve with a flourish. If it's chunky tinned fruit, chop it up a bit or mush it up before layering.

Mushy peas ... I'm sure you could pass them off to southerners as guacamole.

I love tinned veg.

Make a curry with chickpeas, tinned Tom's and spices. Basic but tastes good.

Tinned rats are fine and can even be roasted if need be.

* It's not about running out of stuff it's about not being able to get to the shops for stuff.*

We usually get our food delivered, I’m pretty sure that will keep going. A lot of things people are advising eating with tinned fruit involve things like eggs and yogurt, I don’t think I want to stock up on them just yet (although they do have longer shelf life compared to milk and cream for example). I figure these and things like root veg I can buy when the lockdown looks more imminent.

Sounds like evaporated milk and custard are getting lots of love, I’ll add those to my list. New things to try.

I was going to slate you for panic buying but frankly I think you get a free pass for being from the former Yugoslavia. Have heard stories from friends

Some good suggestions above. Have you still got stuff you’re confused about?

I ordered some instant pancake mix just for the hell of it and we had some really good waffles last night with jam and squirty cream.

My mother in law makes strawberry crumble with tinned strawberries. They kids love it. Me not so much!

Tinned rats are fine and can even be roasted if need be.

I can’t for the life of me figure out what that was meant to say

Don’t forget homogenised milk and butter can be frozen.... if you have room in your freezer of course.

Tinned rats are fine and can even be roasted if need be.

I’m going tinned tats???

Tats haha ugh I dont fancy tinned rats.

We usually get our food delivered, I’m pretty sure that will keep going

Because store staff and delivery drivers are immune and won't possibly have to self isolate?

@WanderingLost1
I was going to slate you for panic buying

I know I know I’m cringing a bit inside too but I guess the panic and bad memories prevailed. I have small children too and want to make sure I have basics at home to feed them for a few days if we get ill. If the lockdown doesn’t happen we will eat it all over time, I never ever waste food (never take food for granted).

Because store staff and delivery drivers are immune and won't possibly have to self isolate?

But then we get accused of panic buying.

Make sure you have a tin opener - some of the ring pulls will not work

Sorry the second comment was for @gamerchick

@FAQs don't forget a couple of tins of condensed milk too

• toffee
• caramel sauce or just caramel
• fudge
• millionaires shortbread
• and if you like iced coffee, make up a glass and add a big teaspoon of condensed milk mmmmmm so sweet and yummy.

Mmmmm Tinned Rat served with a Strawberry Jus? Yum.
not envy

*Tinned rats are fine and can even be roasted if need be#

I’m going tinned tats???

I'm no further forward, what's a tat?

The thread I read before this one was the one about someone who can't buy the tinned food an older person needs, I can't help but think it's barmy to buy stuff that you don't even know what to do with. I assume you've lived hear long enough to know that's it's not the same as Yugoslavia

@pussycatinboots haha actually ours is pretty wobbly

@coconuttelegraph
No I haven’t read the other thread but honestly I’m not sure what’s the right thing to do. I know what to do with things now and they will not be wasted. It’s balancing between having food in the house if we suddenly need to self isolate and not assume that things will carry on as normal and deliveries will be available. Again I didn’t empty the shelves, just picked up a few things of each.

Yes I have been here a long time but what I remember of Yugoslavia is that shit can happen - and quickly - and things can fall apart when they are seemingly solid.

Aren’t they potatoes? I think they’d be fine roasted. I can remember having tinned potatoes at Guide camp.

May I respectfully suggest, based on your personal experience, that it's a bit naive to base your pantry plans on "there will be deliveries".