What if we are new to prepping? (andy es I know it's probably too late now!)

[GabrielleChanel]

So obviously can't stockpile toilet paper as everyone else has gotten it all but where should one start?

It is if people are panic buying loads of stuff, yeah. But if they are planning for some weeks in the future in a measured and intelligent way (rather than a blindly panicked and reactionary way) then it's not.

I think if we have a tighter lockdown things that we can currently buy right now with ease will become harder to find, more expensive etc. Trying to work out what those things might be is prepping.

It’s not just about buying in it’s about making best use of what you already have too.

So learn some new ways of cooking, new recipes, think outside the box eg carbs are pretty much interchangeable flavour wise, plain noodles, cous cous, rice etc will also work fine with a “pasta” sauce.

If you’re short on cooking oil have you plenty butter in? Or even water (works just as well for stir fry type dishes)?

Don’t feel recipes have to be followed to the letter, if you’re missing a herb or other minor ingredient you can substitute or just omit usually.

I can’t eat normal onions so got shallots in and been using those where onions are mentioned.

Yesterday I made a ratatouille but I’ve only white vinegar and normal granulated sugar in rather than the red wine vinegar and brown sugar most recipes recommend - it worked just fine.

Be flexible.

@ladybookreader is right on beans, I’ve ordered butter beans (annoyed at myself for not getting sooner) as I’ve used these before to make my own baked beans using Passata, purée, sugar and vinegar. Been a while I may need to look up a recipe but as they’re “unflavoured” I can also use them in stews (could maybe add to the ratatouille which I’ve now 4 portions left of), chilli, cassoulet type dishes...

“do you all have massive freezers or are you creative with storage?” I have a crazy tiny kitchen, sod all counter space or storage and only a 2 drawer freezer.

Currently in my freezer is:

A HUGE bag of oven chips (mistaken purchase no idea it was that big but it’ll get used eventually)

A loaf of bread (slices come away easy as and it toasts just fine)

Crumpets

2 portions of ratatouille

1 portion of “chicken” (quorn chicken I’m veggie) casserole from a batch I made

A cheese & tomato pizza which came in plastic wrap AND cardboard but I discarded the cardboard part to give me more space

2 portions of grapes frozen (delicious frozen)

A packet of fresh filled pasta

A packet of grated cheddar cheese

Sausages, Kiev’s and crisp bakes for lazier days (although I’ll probably use sausages for casserole too and that way I’ll get an extra meal out of them)

Repackage things if it gives you more space, often the original packaging is over generous

At this point it is more sensible and kind to not panic buy but certainly planning so you minimise waste helps a lot.

See this thread and similar ones for ideas

https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3857078-Food-thread-Favourite-leftover-dishes-avoiding-waste-menu-ideas

Middleager we make our own pasta, which you can make with ordinary flour. Also we make our own gnocchi which is really simple, boil up a pot of potatoes and mash and tip it out onto surface and cover with flour and keep adding flour until you can knead it out like dough. Then roll it out into little worms and then chop them up into little gnocchi pieces and chuck into pot of boiling water for about 5 mins YUMMY

It depends.

If you usually have enough for one week at home, you can just buy a bit more each time you go shopping.

If you shop every day, start with a week's shop. Make a list.
Then go at day 6 instead of 7 next time, and you'll build up your reserves.

If you can, when you buy extra, try to buy the pricier range, particularly if it's something with lower stocks. Many people are financially struggling and only having expensive items left on the shelf is almost as good as nothing.

If you notice there's a big stock of something you do use, then it's ok to buy more, within reason.

Look up recipes. Try different foods.

Also, try to grow your own herbs. Sometimes you can buy them in pots.
You can also start growing some veg in your garden, or in pots, which can help with having fresh veg.

Bellini just wondered if you would be able to help me, I have just moved (a few months ago) and they left me their planter in the garden. Have you any tips for me on how best I could make use of it, and what could I plant there? Thanks so much

Total beginner Bellini

@MarshmallowManiac
Thank you for asking. I'm sure there are more experienced than me but what I used to do when I first started was stuff for my work sandwiches. I only had a tiny area to grow in.
I grew cherry tomatoes that were specifically for containers. I think the name was "tumbler".
Tomatoes may seem a bit ambitious but this name worked for me without too much effort. I also grew perpetual spinach which I ate as salad leaves. I'd pick them in the morning for my lunch for the day.
It is hard to mess up with perpetual spinach - I know, I've tried - . Rainbow chard is an alternative to spinach if you can't get hold of it and is also pretty easy to grow. Prettier too. They are both slow growers to start off.
If you just want something pretty and nice for bees, lavender is lovely. You might be able to get mini plants online. Pot marigolds are also lovely and easy to grow from seed.
Or you could get a nice herb garden going. Oregano is really pretty and useful. Careful of mint or lemon balm. They run riot although are nice in a pot growing on their own.

Thank u so much Bellini just knew you wouldn't let me down. That's a great idea using it for lunch as I have pate and tomato sandwiches sometimes for work, so could grow the tomatoes and salad. Will look out for the 'tumbler' toms Bellini in Lidl, saw satsuma plants in there today, wish I'd bought them now. Hope you are all well

Hey, I have really come late to this discussion, apologies. I've grown veggies for years. Your name it, I've probably tried to grow it, either in my garden or on my allotment. Mainly success but a few failures.

It is only the first and a bit part of April. Apart from the long growing veg like brassicas and leeks (which you can always sow outdoors now btw), the veg plot is your oyster! Beans, every variety, spinach, carrots, potatoes (shove them in anywhere, they make the soil great and produce lots to store), salad veg - lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radish, really quick to grow. I don't know it Mumsnet does a seed swap, but I have a mountain of seeds that I've cultivated over the years. It would be great if we could (certainly at this time of year, and with whats going on in the world) help everyone who is interested in growing their own and giving advice on doing it.

Some of the issues right now are because there aren't shortages as such but what is available is in catering sized packs. There's absolutely nothing wrong with grabbing a catering sized pack of rice, pasta, flour or breadroll mix (you can find suppliers online) if you have somewhere to stash it.