Subsistence cooking equipment

ceridwen

paddy's_mum wrote: »

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.

Duly amended - thanks.

ceridwen

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

I've added in the measuring spoons to my original list - as many posters feel these are vital. Personally - I never use mine - but I "bow to the consensus" on this - and think it may well be that, in some recipes, accuracy is important (eg the amount of dried yeast one adds to bread or baking powder/bicarb added to baked goods). I dont know so much about dessertspoons or tablespoons - I would think they are pretty consistent in size. Teaspoons, however, do seem to vary a lot in size.

ceridwen

rosieben wrote: »

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

I never knew that one....

Hmmm....I wonder if that would work for garden tools as well - like spades, hoes, etc? What do you think Rosie?

Is there a particular technique used for doing this? - as I'm now looking meaningfully at my back door step wondering......:think:

ceridwen

JackieO wrote: »

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

I certainly think its worth Bob and Shirley's while to have a browse-round of a boot sale.:) I would imagine it would be quite possible for them to pick up a box of various bits and pieces for a couple of quid - which would contain a lot of bits they wouldnt want - but would also yield various items that are on our list. I think it highly likely to be a good place to look for casserole dishes:)

I think that they might well be able to get a few bits we have deemed too "luxury" to mention thrown into the mix at no extra cost (so if they get a couple of cake tins/posher storage containers/a few assorted eggcups/etc chucked in as well - then thats good news for them....).

lynzpower

ceridwen wrote: »

I never knew that one....

Hmmm....I wonder if that would work for garden tools as well - like spades, hoes, etc? What do you think Rosie?

Is there a particular technique used for doing this? - as I'm now looking meaningfully at my back door step wondering......:think:

Another 'garden' item that can be used- I read - not tried- is to use a paving slab instead of a pizza stone.

Id imagine it would be not particularly energy efficient to heat it hot enough for this use though?

hex2

Ceridwen,

It a reasonable assumption they will have tea spoons. Three teaspoons equals a tablespoon.

Prior to going on to maternity leave I used to ping ready meals. I still owned a sieve/colander, a rolling pin, mixing bowls and scles (because they looked pretty!). I think you have to make those assumptions, but if B and S don't have them then they need to invest X. I cook and bake a lot now but I still don't own a loaf tin or a pie dish.

HTH

ceridwen

hex2 wrote: »

Ceridwen,

It a reasonable assumption they will have tea spoons. Three teaspoons equals a tablespoon.

Prior to going on to maternity leave I used to ping ready meals. I still owned a sieve/colander, a rolling pin, mixing bowls and scles (because they looked pretty!). I think you have to make those assumptions, but if B and S don't have them then they need to invest X. I cook and bake a lot now but I still don't own a loaf tin or a pie dish.

HTH

Another fact I never knew - ie the one about 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon. But - I am remembering here that I personally have a range of teaspoons acquired over the years and actually the smallest one is half the size of the largest one - so there does seem to be this vast difference in teaspoon sizes for some reason.

The loaf tins are necessary because this thread is a spin-off from Weezl74's Subsistence eating thread - and she is assuming that our mythical family will be baking their own bread (being much cheaper than shop-bought bread - and healthier). Of course - these breadbaking tins could do double duty as caketins as well.:)

I have added a flan dish to the Optional list - not the basic Survival list. Reason = quiches are a good economical way of using up all sorts of bits and pieces - and we have a "major" recipe for the months recipe plan of an onion tart based on a Delia-type recipe frugalised. Certainly - its possible to make a range of very frugal quiches - and also fruit tarts (if one has been passed on some fruit for free or grown it oneself) - so I do think its a worthwhile addition to the Optional Extras list.

hex2

Ceridwen - standard teaspoon is 5ml. A tablespoon is 15ml, dessertspoon is 10ml. Not sure how Shirley could easily check though. How about a standard medicine spoon that comes free with cough mix etc? I bet we all have one of those. The £shop had measuting cups today.

I had a student cookbook that claimed a 34b bra cup was 4oz flour though.......

I agree on the flan dish and the loaf tin.

ceridwen

lynzpower wrote: »

Another 'garden' item that can be used- I read - not tried- is to use a paving slab instead of a pizza stone.

Id imagine it would be not particularly energy efficient to heat it hot enough for this use though?

I do have to admit to quailing a bit at the thought of trying to stick a paving slab in my oven:eek:.

I would imagine Bob and Shirley could perfectly well use the baking sheet (or freebie trays begged from the butcher) to make pizzas for themselves. I would imagine the amount of fuel used to heat a paving slab would be horrendous - and the health and safety aspects:eek:.

I'm thinking now that I must have another look at those trays Tru said meat comes on from the butcher next time I pass (being a vegetarian - I dont go in butchers shops myself:)). From memory - I would think they would be just the job. I recall that they are smaller than baking sheets - but thats not a problem - one could just use two of them. Regarding pizzas - well..theres no law that says pizzas have to be round in shape. The pizza slices I ate when in Italy were rectangular - so I would think 'tis more authentic maybe?

Me - I like smaller baking sheets anyway - I have been known to stand there in Lakeland (<cough> non-frugal alert time) going "Arent those tiny little baking sheets CUTE?":)

Penelope_Penguin

I have 2 of these, use them loads, and they're spatulas

ceridwen wrote: »

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.

Are we assuming that people who've never cooked before have significant freezer space? Isn't it more likely that they have a little ice box at the top of their fridge, at most?

ceridwen wrote: »

I've added in the measuring spoons to my original list - as many posters feel these are vital. Personally - I never use mine

If you've been cooking for ages, though, you'll have an eye for what;s a tsp and what's a Tbsp; not so for novice cooks.