Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

realthing16

I am going away for 10 days, would it make sense to use everything up and switch off the fridge and freezer?
Thanks

Debsnewbudget

realthing16 said:

I am going away for 10 days, would it make sense to use everything up and switch off the fridge and freezer?
Thanks

I have never turned mine off.  You can turn the thermostat down.  The power usage is mainly from reducing the temperature when doors have been opened and it has got warmer nside.  I don't think it will use much electricity in the 10 days as its not having to do any work.
tThe other point is that can you really use everything up…. I have opened things like tomato puree, jam, mayonnaise etc that need to be kept cool, along with a freezer full of stuff, so would possibly waste things that could not be used up.

Would be interesting what others do though

joedenise

I have a holiday setting on my fridge but don't use it as it only cools to 12 degrees and I think that's too high for things like mayo which are still in the fridge.  I always leave mine switched on.

Primrose

I agree with you abiut the holiday setting. Many of us leave bits and bobs in the fridge whilst away on holiday,, perhaps bulk item like cheese or unfinished butter packs  and I certainly  wouldn't dream of increasing the temperature and risking their safery

Baileys_Babe

realthing16 said:

I am going away for 10 days, would it make sense to use everything up and switch off the fridge and freezer?
Thanks

Freezers run more efficiently if they are full. If you don't have enough food to fill it, use bottles of water (not completely full) you need space for the ice to expand into) or newspaper. If the freezer is going to be completely empty I would turn it off. 

I do prefer to coming home to food in the cupboards and freezer so shopping for food isn't a pressing issue.

YorksLass

When we go on holiday we eat up the fresh stuff in the fridge before we go (sometimes makes for "interesting" meals ) or use for sandwiches/snacks for the journey, or cook and freeze what can be frozen.  Anything that can't, I give to my neighbour.  My fridge/freezer doesn't have a holiday setting so we leave them on.  I'm another one who likes to come home to food in the cupboards and freezer rather than have to dash out to the shops.

sammy_kaye18

Well used the first of a batch cook dump bag yesterday which was fajitas - spices, chicken, peppers and onion) and it was a success...Even more so that there is a portion left still which I suspect may be snaffled by the girl child when she comes in from school today. 

Also looking to practice some baking pre Christmas since Im not sure how our Christmas will be with a family member on palliative care and I dont want to revisit last Christmas when Asda cancelled our food shop for no apparent reason the day before christmas eve and then we couldnt find a chicken or turkey so ended up with an iceland frozen gammon joint that I delurked from the bottom of the freezer. Realsie I dont have enough spread though so that can wait till I get some tomorrow! 

PipneyJane

sammy_kaye18 said:

Well used the first of a batch cook dump bag yesterday which was fajitas - spices, chicken, peppers and onion) and it was a success...Even more so that there is a portion left still which I suspect may be snaffled by the girl child when she comes in from school today. 

Also looking to practice some baking pre Christmas since Im not sure how our Christmas will be with a family member on palliative care and I dont want to revisit last Christmas when Asda cancelled our food shop for no apparent reason the day before christmas eve and then we couldnt find a chicken or turkey so ended up with an iceland frozen gammon joint that I delurked from the bottom of the freezer. Realsie I dont have enough spread though so that can wait till I get some tomorrow! 

When I bake cakes, I frequently substitute oil for butter/margarine @sammy_kaye18.  I use the ratio 4oz/100g butter = 1/3 cup oil.  This is from the website www.foodlovers.nz 
which translates American cup measurements for butter into Imperial measurements for oil.



Hope it helps.

- Pip

kimwp

Don't know if people will think this is gross, but with appropriate cleaning of things, I don't think that it is-

I bought cat nail clippers, thinking I needed a specialised tool for the job, turns out my own nail clippers do the same job and are a lot easier to use than trying to angle big clippers around a wriggly cat paw.

MrsCD

We used to do the same with the rabbit and guinea pigs, @kimwp. Not gross at all if they're cleaned afterwards. They're just nails after all!