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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Do you plan things to have in your fridge for when you are back from holiday?

39 replies

MeeWhoo · 23/08/2016 10:19

Other than rotting cucumbers, of course?

I find there's nothing more annoying than coming back from holiday with hungry overtired children (and adults), to find that the only edible thing in the house are 2 fish fingers and a can of sweetcorn and I will spare you the description of the inedible stuff.

Up to now, I have never been bothered enough to plan in advance, but since this time we have a late start rather than an early morning one, I though I'd give it a go . Any easy tricks you organised people can suggest?

OP posts:

NickNacks · 23/08/2016 10:23

My mum has a key and will leave bread and milk or we pick some up at the airport on way home. Then dh's first job is always to go food shopping whilst i crack on with the the washing and unpacking.

Middleoftheroad · 23/08/2016 10:27

When we were away and came back late, it was such a nice surprise to find mom had stocked tge fridge with milk and a few ready meals. There was also a fresh loaf and we all had hot buttered toast. I had ran out of ethg. Not even a frozen crumpet! When you get back late, the key is fast, comfort food.

homeaway · 23/08/2016 10:27

Make a meal and freeze it before you go so that you can just throw it in the oven when you get back. Have a garlic baguette in the freezer that you can feed the kids as a snack whilst the main is cooking .

Allalonenow · 23/08/2016 10:28

Long life milk, bread in the freezer, bacon and eggs in the fridge, they will give you a quick meal when you get home and until you get sorted out.
A grocery delivery the next day might be good too.

homeaway · 23/08/2016 10:29

Freeze bread in portions so that you can just get out what you need for toast etc
.

elderberryflower · 23/08/2016 10:30

Usually leave an easy meal in the freezer.

EssentialHummus · 23/08/2016 10:34

Our freezer usually has bread and a few random meals or frozen fish in it, so we usually eat that, with a food shop to be delivered the next day.

TBH my first thought when I'm back from holiday is how soon I can shower and climb into bed, so I can usually go without a meal. I also tend to overeat on flights/in airports.

ShotsFired · 23/08/2016 10:49

We always end up arriving home very early morning, so we just nip to the local shop for a snack/meal of whatever we feel like. Or if we have the energy we'll do a big shop.

We have to make the most of being awake before the jetlag kicks in later that day/before we have to go back to (work usually the next day), so arrival home is always a flurry of laundry, tidying and aforementioned food-getting.

Original poster

MeeWhoo · 23/08/2016 10:55

Thanks, I had never really thought about freezing bread, so that's definitely something to do.

I also like the eggs and bacon in the fridge combo, maybe also a can of beans for the children.

I will also leave a couple of frozen meals in the fridge, but, TBH we are quite impatient and sometimes, defrosting plus oven time can take a bit too long for us.

It would be lovely if my mum was available, as she sometimes leaves us a full meal ready for arrival, but this time it will not be possible.

I think I will also organise the online shopping for next day delivery, that is one less headache too.

OP posts:

ExcuseMyEyebrows · 23/08/2016 11:00

Long life milk, bottle of wine (essential after driving for 8 hours!), bread in freezer and eat dinner at the last service station we stop at (surprisingly good)

BiddyPop · 23/08/2016 11:11

Part baked bread rolls in the cupboard and a loaf in the freezer.

Fresh pasta with a long enough date for our return, and a sauce.

Easy meal in freezer (lasagna, curry etc).

Cheese, eggs (long dated), roll of croissants to bake.

Bottle of wine in rack. Bottle of breakfast juice in cupboard.

Then all I need to do on the way home is grab a bottle of milk and we are ok until tomorrow.

BiddyPop · 23/08/2016 11:12

Sorry yes, I forgot rashers in the fridge drawer - essential!

Cakescakescakes · 23/08/2016 11:16

I always book and online shop for the day we get home. And stop at the shop on way back from airport for bread and milk. Takeaway for tea.

Diamogs · 23/08/2016 11:21

I always do an online shop for our return and have bread in the freezer and have longline milk in the fridge or pick it up at a garage on the way home.

paulapantsdown · 23/08/2016 11:22

leave something in the freezer that can be thrown in the oven

arrange for online shopping to arrive 2 hours after you plan to get home (to allow for any delays)

PitchFork · 23/08/2016 11:22

yep. pint of milk in freezer (or fridge if good for long enough)
spreads
partbaked baguette/rolls
ready meal if coming back evening

EssentialHummus · 23/08/2016 11:51

The other thing I sometimes do for a first meal back is dried pasta with chopped chorizo (can live in fridge for months) with some grated hard cheese on top (ditto). Not going to win awards for health, but it's quick and the ingredients are hardy.

I'm generally a big fan of long-life milk rather than fresh milk.

Original poster

MeeWhoo · 23/08/2016 12:04

I thought I had posted this already, but it's disappeared.
Just googling about I have newly learnt about mason jar salads, so I think I will give that a go since we're only going for a week and we normally crave green stuff after a holiday.

OP posts:

wishiwasntme · 23/08/2016 21:53

A member of my family will leave fresh milk, eggs, bread, bacon, ham/cheese and some fruit in the fridge the night before we're due home and we do the same for them when they go away. It's enough to lay for a day or two so that you don't have to run out first thing the day you get back.

Wolfiefan · 23/08/2016 21:56

We got back from holiday today.
Pizza and garlic bread in freezer.
Bread and milk in freezer.
Cereal in cupboard and tea.
Yoghurt and lunch stuff in fridge.

Whathaveilost · 23/08/2016 21:57

Our local petrol garage is open 24hrs. It has a M&S attached to it.
It's great for post holiday food pick ups.

wishiwasntme · 23/08/2016 22:00

Last, not lay.

Also if no one's around to do this we would leave longlife milk in fridge along with bacon/eggs, ham/cheese etc (with long enough dates) and usually fruit keeps well in the fridge for several weeks. We would also keep either bread in the freezer or part baked rolls in the fridge or cupboard (again with a long enough date). HTH.

tinyterrors · 24/08/2016 09:15

I order a food shop for the day after we're due back.

There's nothing worse than trying to cook while getting tired, ratty kids out of the car and unloading luggage so i don't. Depending on how late we'll be back we either order a takeaway when we're nearly home or if we'll be too late we'll stop somewhere on the way home like pizza Hut or KFC.

Hulababy · 24/08/2016 09:16

I get Ocado to come either that day or early the next morning. And make sure the milkman is due the following day too.

We call at a service station or small shop on our way home for bread and milk. There will normally be something in to go with the bread even if it's just beans.

BikeRunSki · 24/08/2016 09:24

Bread and milk in the freezer.
UHT for an immediate cuppa!
Fresh tortellini in fridge and pesto for a main meal. Garlic bread and peas in freezer to have with it.

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