Prepping amidst Pandemic - Thread 17

[Sprayitall]

Hi all, starting this thread to continue from preppers thread 16. Because we are amidst a pandemic now, I have changed the title to prepping amidst pandemic than “for pandemic”. I hope all of you keep well amidst this and get all the help, support and hope needed to cope during this challenging times. Feel free to add your thoughts, preps and ideas here.

[thelegohooverer]

Just had a read of the nhs family thread. More determined than ever to get sorted for the next few months. I’ve had a few jobs on the long finger (getting chimney swept, sorting a problem with freezer and getting spare lightbulbs) that I need to move on next week.

[lexloofah]

Negative, phew.

Rearranged the chest freezer, best thing we bought this year, no idea how we managed without it

Are frozen roasties and jacket potatoes worth buying or could I make my own? I know they take up valuable protein and ice cream space but just a bag of each just in case

[thelegohooverer]

Glad to hear that Lexloofah

Frozen roasties are nice enough, but I don’t rate jackets. They always seem a bit watery to me.

[lexloofah]

Thanks lego will skip jackets then

[HasaDigaEebowai]

I would wholly recommend soya mince from Holland and Barrett. Its £1.99 for a large bag that will do all of us for a few bolognese/chilli/shepherds pie type meals. I made bolognese for the first time using beef on Saturday and everyone commented on the fact that they don't want the meat version anymore and are quite happy to continue with the soya mince. It is shelf stable and lasts for years.

[Orangecake123]

Where do people bulk buy rice ?
I've got 10kg bags of basmati from Tesco before for about £11. Checked Costco and it seems to be more pricey. Any other tips?

A lot of the bigger Asian stores sell rice in up to 20kg bags.

[thelegohooverer]

@HasaDigaEebowai thanks for the soya mince tip.

[Lex345]

Please can I join? I began prepping last year-Brexit- and it has been a life saver during lockdown! The best thing I have bought was a pasta machine, DS eats so much pasta when the shops ran out, it didnt take long to run down what we had.

Noticed the shelves are beginning to empty of loo roll again, I am hoping it will only be toilet roll people panic buy (WTF is it with the British and toilet roll?! Flood warning-buy toilet roll, Snow forecast-buy toilet roll, Brexit-buy toilet roll, Pandemic, yep...buy toilet roll )

I am looking for some new prep projects now, I can make my own bread by hand now, which is all down to preppers advice. I quite fancy having a go at pickling next.

I also want to start freezing some fruit next month-I have trialled some bananas this month, has anyone frozen grapes? What about apple/pear slices? Do tangerine segments freeze ok?

Can I freeze eggs?

[lexloofah]

Welcome other Lex! I freeze sliced and whole bananas as handy for smoothies and baking. I have some apple slices and apple pie filling in the freezer but don't want to do much more as will use tinned and dried fruit and save freezer space for meat, fish, veg.

Was coming on to share my latest musings that have found those little Sacla pesto pots ( basil and the sun dried tomato one) to be very useful. One pot does two portions on pasta, gnocchi or spread on chicken or fish and hardly take up any room

I made chappati last night and very pleased with how easy they were and only needed flour, oil, salt and water.

Thanks for soy mince tip Hasa I got some when you first posted about it months ago, was very glad of it when DD announced mid-lockdown that she was going vegetarian

[lexloofah]

Gah, I knew there was something else I meant to post

I have ordered from Wilton Wholefoods a few times as re-stocking herbs and spices and they do big tubs so good for things that I use a lot of that won't turn to dust over time. For baking also got nuts, dried fruit and a few kgs of choc chips. Bread flour too. Just in case anyone is looking for another supplier.

[Kitkatandcoffee]

lexloofah you can freeze eggs. You can mix a couple up and freeze in bags for baking or scrambled eggs. You can freeze them individually in silicon moulds. Pop then out when frozen, then put into bags in the freezer.
You can pickle boiled eggs 🤢. Don’t like them myself.
Our supermarkets ran out on Friday of toilet roll.

[Lex345]

Thank you for the nice welcome Lex :)

Ooh thank you! And do the eggs come out OK? I used to freeze milk but DH was put off by how it looks when frozen. It will be mainly for baking, so ideally freezing yolk and white together.

I don't fancy pickled eggs either...but I do love pickles, I thought maybe starting with onions.

[Kitkatandcoffee]

I used to have chickens. I froze them when I had a glut. I always used them in baking, scrambled eggs or omelettes, quiche etc.
Never tried to fry or poach one or anything so can’t say what they would be like.
In the cakes and quiche whisked up in baking were fine.

[DennisTMenace]

@lex345 I haven't tried freezing tangerines, but don't see why you would unless you have a glut. Tins of mandarins are cheap and last for years without power input and they tin well.I have frozen banana for healthier ice cream, blitz with cocoa powder and it tastes like chocolate ice cream. Eggs freeze well if beaten first. I do them in silicone muffin trays, so they are easy to remove and single portion. Not tried freezing whole, I have heard the yolk texture goes funny.

[thelegohooverer]

That’s how I freeze my eggs too. I only use them for baking though I’m sure they’d be fine for scrambled egg or omelettes too.

I used to freeze milk but DH was put off by how it looks when frozen I try not to let my family see things like this anymore

[Lex345]

I know, a rookie error @thelegohooverer

We are looking at freezers next, I am undecided because of space whether to go for a chest or upright tall. Ideally this will be our meat stockpile, we have a great butcher locally who does big pack deals. I have even convinced DH to branch storage into the shed so feel like I am winning today! Mainly pre Christmas and no deal preps for us now-feel we are stocked for self isolation if needed. Bit worried about my prescription medication in no deal scenario but precious little I can do about that.

Re eggs, I am thinking I could premake some pasta dough and freeze it too?

[AspergersMum]

Lex chest freezers are great for meat stockpiling. We used to have both an upright and a chest freezer for meat (non UK, bought an entire cow each year!) and so long as you organise it well as you fill it, chest freezers keep meat very cold and work well, prepping-wise. With upright freezers, more cold air seeps out everytime you open it so the freezer has to work harder and the temperature varies more. IMO

[Lex345]

Oh thats really helpful thank you!

[BlackeyedSusan]

Divide your stuff between freezers. If one breaks you are not going to lose everything.

I have my new fridge freezer here. Just jiggling around the kitchen appliances then can buy extra. Need to get ex a freezer next.

[lexloofah]

It's amazing now I am really taking note of how much we use/how long things last more now. We seem to be getting through a wedge of Parmesan in less than 2 weeks, I didn't realise we used it that much. Looked into buying a whole wheel but over £600 so maybe not

Our butchers is taking Christmas orders so got ours in

I don't think there is much more we can do really, how is everyone else getting on?

[BlackeyedSusan]

Pulled a muscle so still have a freezer in the bedroom. Going to try and pack it back up today so it can be brought downstairs. Then add frozen stuff to my next shop.

[Begonias]

It's my birthday on Sunday and I'm hoping my husband and kids have picked up on my hints about wanting a freezer. Over the last couple of months I've been buying frozen broccoli,carrots and green beans and I've found that they don't taste any different to the fresh products.
That's the only area I haven't been able to prep for.

[LovePoppy]

@Begonias

It's my birthday on Sunday and I'm hoping my husband and kids have picked up on my hints about wanting a freezer. Over the last couple of months I've been buying frozen broccoli,carrots and green beans and I've found that they don't taste any different to the fresh products.
That's the only area I haven't been able to prep for.

I hope you had a wonderful birthday, did you get your freezer?

[BlackeyedSusan]

I really hope you got your freezer.

I am just about ready to plug in my new one and ex is getting his first freezer tomorrow.

[Begonias]

I'm afraid I didn't get my freezer😭 however I did get food from my favourite restaurant delivered. I also got some cash so that's going towards my stockpile. I'm just going to buy myself a freezer, my treat for turning 43😁