Subsistence cooking equipment

thriftlady_2

ariarnia wrote: »

Well B&S are streaming a pudding (Suet I think) so if you can think of an alternative then it's not essential. But I wasn't sure if it counted as 'cookware' and if it didn't, when they would be buying it instead.

A bit of cloth. Isn't that how all puddings were steamed before foil etc?

ariarnia

I don't know, I'm doing it for the first time today.

angeltreats

ceridwen wrote: »

Hmmm...there you have me...personally - I dont possess any silverfoil or clingfilm. I DO have greaseproof paper - though rarely (very rarely) use it.

So - my own personal viewpoint would be - totally non-essential.

I reckon cooks have been managing without these things for QUITE some time - so I personally simply dont regard them as in the slightest bit necessary.

Do you think it would be a majority decision to regard these things as essential?

I might be wrong but I think greaseproof paper has been around for a long long time and my grandmother would have used it back in the 40s and 50s.

I buy foil and use it to wrap up DH's lunch (because I found that in a lunchbox it got too knocked about and fillings fell out etc) and I don't reuse it, but I could certainly do without it. Clingfilm I could also do without, I cover stuff in the fridge with it but could just use containers instead. But I don't think I could do without baking paper (which I use instead of greaseproof) as I always line the bases of tins and for meringues etc. If Shirley and Bob are going to be doing a lot of baking (of cakes etc rather than bread) I would think a roll of this is an essential. They could even reuse it if need be.

ariarnia

That's a point, are they having lunchboxes? and if so are the contents anything that need specific things to transport (little tubs for pate or hummus with CF on top?)

ceridwen

angeltreats wrote: »

I might be wrong but I think greaseproof paper has been around for a long long time and my grandmother would have used it back in the 40s and 50s.

I buy foil and use it to wrap up DH's lunch (because I found that in a lunchbox it got too knocked about and fillings fell out etc) and I don't reuse it, but I could certainly do without it. Clingfilm I could also do without, I cover stuff in the fridge with it but could just use containers instead. But I don't think I could do without baking paper (which I use instead of greaseproof) as I always line the bases of tins and for meringues etc. If Shirley and Bob are going to be doing a lot of baking (of cakes etc rather than bread) I would think a roll of this is an essential. They could even reuse it if need be.

Hmmm...you've made a good point re the possibility of re-using baking paper. On the other hand - our Weezl was specifically mentioning silicon breadbaking tins. Well - I've now tried said silicone baking tins myself - and I'm still uncertain about how they stand "health-wise" on the one hand. On the other hand - things tip out of them dead easily - so baking paper isnt in the slightest bit useful if silicone baking goods is what one has.

Bit undecided at this juncture - the jury is still out....

ceridwen

ariarnia wrote: »

That's a point, are they having lunchboxes? and if so are the contents anything that need specific things to transport (little tubs for pate or hummus with CF on top?)

Well - Weezl - correct me if I'm wrong on this....

BUT - my understanding is that we are taking into account people taking lunchboxes into work/etc.

Hmmm...

- first point = errr...what is CF please?
- second point - that IS a very good point as to what containers Bob and Shirley (and their children) would be using to transport assorted food items for those "packed lunches" into work/school/etc.

What do people think please as to what Bob/Shirley and their family would be likely to use for "transport" of the bits/pieces they would need for their packed lunches?

My first thought is - "well - I guess they could use some of those freebie containers I am assuming they are collecting = those margarine/bread spread containers". I also recently made a mental note when I spotted someone taking their lunchtime sandwiches out of an empty dried pasta cellophane packet (and have been keeping a few of these since for my own:)).

So - what ways does everyone transport their "packed lunches" to work/school/etc please?

ariarnia

sorry, being lazy - clingfilm.

A tub is a tub for sarnies, but if their having soup, or pate, or similar then it might be more tricky.

ceridwen

ariarnia wrote: »

I don't know, I'm doing it for the first time today.

Please let us know how you get on - ie with steaming a pudding in cloth:)

I've never actually done any steamed puddings ever - I do remember that I've often read that they would be steamed in a cloth though and the thought wouldnt have crossed my mind personally to do them any other way.

So - I would actually wonder myself what sorta cloth was necessary for steaming puddings, etc:cool: - hence I think it would be useful to specify what sort of cloth one could use for this.

Right at this moment for instance - I am wondering if I could use a spare pillowcase for this for instance???

Its at points like these where information that some people have taken for granted as "obviously being the way things are done" might not be so clear to many other people - so a little bit of explanation would be good please.:)

ceridwen

ariarnia wrote: »

sorry, being lazy - clingfilm.

A tub is a tub for sarnies, but if their having soup, or pate, or similar then it might be more tricky.

Right - so I'm thinking that old margarine/buttery spread containers would do for pate for instance:)

Soup though - my first thought is "would they have facilities to warm that soup up at work/school/etc?". I presume we are best assuming that they might not have such facilities - some people would (ie a cooker or a microwave). Those teenage children probably wouldnt though:cool:

Next thought then - do we need to put in a couple of "food flasks" on the equipment list then? How necessary do people feel they are? How effective do people think they are? (thinks - I've never found them that good myself at keeping things hot - but maybe other people have different experiences of them).

ceridwen

Right - I've put out a call then as to what type of cloth used to be used/is still used by some for steaming puddings:)

I think its little bits of "knowledge" like this about cooking that are in danger of being lost - certainly I'm in the Baby Boomer generation and I dont know myself - so its time to ask those who still retain "the Knowledge" as to specifics as to how to do these things:)

While this topic is "on my mind" - is there any other knowledge/techniques we are in danger of losing and that Bob and Shirley might well find useful please?:)