Fridge stuff

[SmellyNoodle]

Hi.

I'm looking for fridge items with long dates if you know of any please.

I only have three freezer drawers. My daughter is autistic and has a very restricted diet so I'm trying to maximise stored protein in the freezer. She's quite good at eating meat. Can't store much bread so I'm going to experiment with finding a homemade loaf that she will eat. Already on the sourdough train for the rest of the family.

Thank you

Cheese in sealed packets keeps well, we’ve got half a dozen varieties in sealed packs. Likewise eggs. But you need to start with what your daughter will eat to get a useful list.
Mine loves salmon, which freezes well.

Do you have a bread machine? I have a recipe that tastes almost the same as supermarket white sliced, the trick is a little powdered milk, sounds strange but it helps with the soft consistency.

No bread machine. I can make passable loaves but not close enough to shop bought.

Can you give us a list of the foods your daughter likes? That way you’re less likely to get suggestions that won’t help.

She's on a pretty beige diet.
I'm looking for fridge stuff for all of us though really as I've dedicated the freezer to her needs. I'm trying to online shop but that's not helpful for checking use by dates

Plain chicken/steak/burgers/sausages
Sandwiches/toast - soft cheese, peanut butter
Plain pasta/spaghetti/rice/noodles/cous cous
Margarita pizza
Porridge
Soft fruits/Banana/apples
Hotdogs

The stuff in the freezer could probably be removed from its original packaging and stuff like the chicken, put into one bag. You’d be surprised how much space is inside things like pizza boxes. Pizzas can easily be put into the freezer, out of the boxes.

Does she like smooth peanut butter? You can get powdered peanut butter, that you add water to. It takes a bit of trial and error to get it right. Don’t bother with the chocolate flavoured one as it’s not very nice. Works well if you’re having a peanut and ham sandwich.

The big Iceland does large tubs of cous cous.

Iceland warehouse, that us. I couldn’t remember the name.

I didnt know powdered peanut butter was a thing! I'll look into that thanks

Peanut butter also doesn't need to live in the fridge, so if you have a dry storage area that could be your answer for that.

Soft cheese is going to be a big challenge, as by its nature it doesn't last that long - although I think sealed packets have a reasonable shelf life?

Can you grow any winter veg in the garden, "store" your fresh in the soil IYSWIM?

Maybe lentils and beans that will sprout in a jar could be a source of fresh veg?

Chorizo usually has two months use by date, worth looking at other cured meats too plus cheese in wax is around in the shops coming up to Christmas

Also I find the following have fairly long fridge life:
Gnocchi
Filo pastry
Those GOSH falafel and other veggie things

For bread movingonup20 is right, adding milk or cream softens the crumb, some recipes enrich further with butter or even eggs. Try Dan Lepards milk bread here

Could also make pizza dough to free up freezer space as grated mozzarella keeps for at least a month in the fridge then you just need a tin of pizza sauce in the cupboard. Dan Lepard has a good recipe for pizza dough, you can make a batch and keep in the fridge so could make pizzas a few times in one week if that helps

I love the idea of sprouting thank you!
Already growing a bit of veg on a small scale. Hoping to upscale this in spring.

Thanks @lexloofah I'll add some of your suggestions to my plan. My son will eat cured meats. Cheese in wax is worth a look. I'll give the milk bread a whirl

You are welcome @SmellyNoodle, I have just thought that wraps keep for weeks in the fridge too

Don’t forget that you can grow perpetual spinach in a pot. There are loads of recipes that use it, such as potato and spinach soup, curries, etc. I have used tinned potatoes when the pandemic first hit, for the soup. It’s ok, but you need to add extra dill if using tinned spuds as they’re not as nice as the fresh. Apparently they’re lovely sliced and fried.

There are some great gardening groups on Facebook, where you can find out what is easy to grow and what grows well in pots.

You can get the powdered peanut butter in Tesco. It’s amongst the jams. It’s not just as tasty as the real thing, but as I said, with jam, it works well. Leave it for it for a few minutes after making it, so it has a better texture.

Lactose soft cheese has decent dates usually, several months I think. I haven't bought any other soft cheese recently to check.

Vac packed corn on the cob has long dates too, available in home bargains or b&m as well as Morrison's, and no doubt other places.

The feta in the fridge has a use by of 30.06.21, I've just checked. It must have been bought at least a month ago.

Feta! Amazing. Thanks all.

@deliciouslyfemale I've got perpetual spinach in that'll hopefully overwinter. I can possibly sow more once I be lifted the last tomatoes and chillis, thank you. Also got spring onion, leeks, garlic, onion, carrots, winter cauliflower and Xmas potatoes on the go.

Confused why does an autistic child need fridge full off frozen food is she shielding ? Hate shopping?
Surely you can get a priority delivery ask your supermarket to give you a code
Or leave her at home if she's old enough, sorry if I'm being think my cousin is in soectrum but I've not heard of this issue before
Can you put second hand fridge in shed/ garage/ understairs

@nitsandwormsdodger

Confused why does an autistic child need fridge full off frozen food is she shielding ? Hate shopping? Surely you can get a priority delivery ask your supermarket to give you a code Or leave her at home if she's old enough, sorry if I'm being think my cousin is in soectrum but I've not heard of this issue before Can you put second hand fridge in shed/ garage/ understairs

You're not confused, you're being deliberately obtuse. Jog on.

@nitsandwormsdodger

Confused why does an autistic child need fridge full off frozen food is she shielding ? Hate shopping? Surely you can get a priority delivery ask your supermarket to give you a code Or leave her at home if she's old enough, sorry if I'm being think my cousin is in soectrum but I've not heard of this issue before Can you put second hand fridge in shed/ garage/ understairs

Your cousin, the OP’s daughter and my daughter are three different children and autism affects them all differently. Don’t embarrass yourself further.

[quote SmellyNoodle]@deliciouslyfemale I've got perpetual spinach in that'll hopefully overwinter. I can possibly sow more once I be lifted the last tomatoes and chillis, thank you. Also got spring onion, leeks, garlic, onion, carrots, winter cauliflower and Xmas potatoes on the go. [/quote]
That’s brilliant. I hope you’ve better luck than me, with the veg. 😁

@SmellyNoodle I am obsessed with storing things in my freezer! I also love beige food and am fussy with food especially texture.
Firstly, yes it’s bad for the planet BUT those zip lock plastic bags save so much space. You can write the date/contents of the front.
Secondly, will she eat/drink smoothies, fruit purée? Frozen berries are ace for blending or heating with custard or porridge.
Soft cheese- Home bargain or B&M sell tubes of primula which aren’t refrigerated. It can be stored in the cupboard. The dates will be good.
I wouldn’t freeze cheese as it changes the texture and fat (she will KNOW if you use previously frozen cheese in a toastie) yes Lid
Feta always has about a year date on it.
Iceland do very beige mini cheese “veggie” rolls (like sausage rolls) and 4 mini pizzas for £2 which are nice and plain as anything!!!!!