Subsistence cooking equipment

ariarnia

I know this won't apply to anyone else, but are B&S going to have enough empty tubs soon enough in the week for what they need to freeze? I'm not sure if they have any freezable excess in the meal plan - I remember half the pizza dough was excess but other than that I'm not sure - but it takes a while to build up sufficient stocks of tubs to freeze enough leftovers for 4 people. Of course, they could only be freezing one extra portion, but all the meals on the meal plan are accounted for so this *extra* meal would have to sub in for lunch somewhere and might mess up the nutritional requirements?

[Deleted User]

Boot sales start soon ,great place to buy bits thats needed for a kitchen.I have bought almost all my small individual brown ovenware dishes for around 20p each from boot sales over the years .great for Sheps pies in the freezer-to- oven in seconds

Kaz2904

Just to clarify what you mean by silicone baking sheet. You can get a thick one (same thickness as the silicone tins) or you can get the very thin ones (used for lining baking trays etc).
I have had both in my time and flung both out because you can't get the grease off when they catch when cooking. They're too flimsy to be able to give a good scrub to so you can't get stuff off.

WRT the roasting tin etc debate.... I have a large pyrex rectangular dish. It came in a pack of 3 from asda (it's blue and came with a 2l casserole dish and a flan dish which I've charity shopped now). I think it was called a lasagne dish. I use this for roast dinners, quiche, cakes, baking tray when pushed, pasta bakes (never lasgne as it's bleurgh!). This is my favourite and most used dish. I have a smaller le creuset lasagne dish and two single person le creuset lasgne dishes (I'm not loaded, asda did them as a Christmas gift with cheese one year, wish I'd bought more!).
The only thing really is to know that you may need to allow slightly extra for cooking time if using a glass/ pyrex/ stoneware dish.

That slotted thingy is a fish slice. A spatula is used for spreading cake mix and scraping the bowl.

As an aside, would it be possible to use the circular glass tray from the microwave to use as a pizza dish? Would it be safe in a conventional oven?

paddy's_mum

Haven't read the entire thread so hope this hasn't already been mentioned.

A really good source of top-notch but free storage containers is to ask around for baby milk powder tins. Once empty, they get thrown away but if the quality is good enough for tiny, helpless babies, they're good enough for storing bulk purchased staples such as rice, oatmeal, breadcrumbs, pasta.

The tops are usually densely coloured so protect the contents from light into the bargain. I use mine mostly as above but also for any fruits or veg I dry during the summer months.

vivaladiva

I'd keep the tablespoon, and get rid of the measuring spoons.
B&S have kids who have probably had Calpol or something in the past, so if they are anything like me they will have loads of 5ml/2.5ml medicine spoons in the draw. For a quarter of a teaspoon I rough guess at half of the 2.5ml one. I'm sure nothing needs to be terribly accurate.

zippychick

vivaladiva wrote: »

I'd keep the tablespoon, and get rid of the measuring spoons.
B&S have kids who have probably had Calpol or something in the past, so if they are anything like me they will have loads of 5ml/2.5ml medicine spoons in the draw. For a quarter of a teaspoon I rough guess at half of the 2.5ml one. I'm sure nothing needs to be terribly accurate.

For baking bread and goodies,it does IMO. If they have disasterous results due to innacurate measurements, that wastes more money than the measuring spoons cost.

Each to their own though of course

rosieben

interesting thread :T

I think that any couple with teenage children will already have a tin opener though?

re the knife sharpener - my dad used our back door step for 40+ years and it worked a treat

vivaladiva

zippychick wrote: »

For baking bread and goodies,it does IMO. If they have disasterous results due to innacurate measurements, that wastes more money than the measuring spoons cost.

Each to their own though of course

Must admit I'd guess at 1/4 teaspoon, but there is no way I'd give up the kitchen scales:cool:.

ceridwen

ariarnia wrote: »

I know this won't apply to anyone else, but are B&S going to have enough empty tubs soon enough in the week for what they need to freeze? I'm not sure if they have any freezable excess in the meal plan - I remember half the pizza dough was excess but other than that I'm not sure - but it takes a while to build up sufficient stocks of tubs to freeze enough leftovers for 4 people. Of course, they could only be freezing one extra portion, but all the meals on the meal plan are accounted for so this *extra* meal would have to sub in for lunch somewhere and might mess up the nutritional requirements?

Over a period of time Bob and Shirley will likely find they have bits they wish to freeze - leftovers/donations from other peoples gardens/etc - so I think everyone needs freezer containers.

To get those freezer containers (and storage containers as well) from leftover food containers they can always ask other people for "donations" of these things. Its certainly been my experience that other people are glad to see someone get some use out of something they would only throw in the bin anyway:)

ceridwen

Kaz2904 wrote: »

Just to clarify what you mean by silicone baking sheet. You can get a thick one (same thickness as the silicone tins) or you can get the very thin ones (used for lining baking trays etc).
I have had both in my time and flung both out because you can't get the grease off when they catch when cooking. They're too flimsy to be able to give a good scrub to so you can't get stuff off.

WRT the roasting tin etc debate.... I have a large pyrex rectangular dish. It came in a pack of 3 from asda (it's blue and came with a 2l casserole dish and a flan dish which I've charity shopped now). I think it was called a lasagne dish. I use this for roast dinners, quiche, cakes, baking tray when pushed, pasta bakes (never lasgne as it's bleurgh!). This is my favourite and most used dish. I have a smaller le creuset lasagne dish and two single person le creuset lasgne dishes (I'm not loaded, asda did them as a Christmas gift with cheese one year, wish I'd bought more!).
The only thing really is to know that you may need to allow slightly extra for cooking time if using a glass/ pyrex/ stoneware dish.

That slotted thingy is a fish slice. A spatula is used for spreading cake mix and scraping the bowl.

As an aside, would it be possible to use the circular glass tray from the microwave to use as a pizza dish? Would it be safe in a conventional oven?

I have added after silicone sheet "thin lining sheet" - after the comment from a posters son that he thought this would save him buying further greaseproof paper.

A microwave isnt on either list - the basic subsistence list or optional extras one. A real-life Bob and Shirley may have one anyway (all those ready meals they have probably been living on so far:cool:). I couldnt actually answer that question myself - not having a microwave - but I would imagine its perfectly possible to double-up on the use of the glass tray from a microwave (should they have one anyway at the outset). I have no idea whether it would be safe in a conventional oven I'm afraid. Its not a thing I've gone into - because a microwave isnt on our lists.

I've cut out the roasting dish - in view of the fact that you feel the large rectangular Pyrex dish would double up as a roasting dish. I certainly find mine one of the most useful things I have in the kitchen.