Prepping for Brexit thread

AndyCF

Slinky wrote: »

If you can find the point at the back of the freezer where the copper pipework joins the steel, put something like silicon grease or even vaseline on it to keep the air away. This is a common point for the freezer to fail.


I had 'hamster baskets' recommended to me on MSE as a means to organise my chest freezer. They've proved themselves a good buy. https://www.hamsterbaskets.co.uk/

I think its called Galvanic corrosion (I've not Googled to check) where different types of metals can corrode together, its seen in various other things too, probably one of the most common is where engine spark plugs (being steel) can corrode into the cylinder head (being aluminium based these days, used to be iron many moons ago) , similar principle though aka "mixed metals"

The blob will also act the other way and prevent loss of vacuum or reduce it too.


Those baskets look nice actually Slightly more sturdy than the usual plastic 'divider' affair you sometimes get as an erm 'luxury' with some freezers in addition to the drawers. I have on occasion found after a few years the cold does effect the plastics of the dividers or drawers in some cases, old freezer the drawer door snapped off a couple of times, two-part expox glue fixed but only lasted a few months at a time.

Farway

AndyCF wrote: »

I think its called Galvanic corrosion (I've not Googled to check) where different types of metals can corrode together, its seen in various other things too, probably one of the most common is where engine spark plugs (being steel) can corrode into the cylinder head (being aluminium based these days, used to be iron many moons ago) , similar principle though aka "mixed metals"

Yep, I had spark plug stuck in engine block once, in the end it I had to fit a recon engine engine as a cheaper option than getting it drilled out with subsequent labour costs

DigForVictory

Hence the warnings about alloy wheels needing to come of once a year - which I find easy (fitting snow tyres) but before then had a flat & six husky wanting-to-be-helpful chaps (awaiting match kickoff) nearly shoved the car off the jack. The AA applied a hefty mallet & all was more or less well..

[Deleted User]

The contents of both freezers are now in half of the big one, I think from a prepping point of view this purchase is a sensible one and will mean I can now start to process seasonal gluts for the freezer as I always have because we've always had the garden and allotments, and not waste anything home produced and be able to use it up in the winter. I'm going to buy in plums and apples to that end this morning . If you have a source of apples I can fully recommend a gadget I got a few years ago that you spike the whole apple on and turn the handle and it peels and cores the apple and makes the flesh into a long spiral which you can then cut into half circle pieces, it saves so much time and makes processing for freezing much quicker.

Pooky

I've been looking at a chest freezer of a similar size Mrs LW, glad to hear it's bottom is reachable. My 2 freezers (both part of fridge freezers) are full to bursting and both fridges are full of stuff from the allotment ready to process - think I shall order it later today.

[Deleted User]

I know that feeling so well Pooky and the produce keeps coming by the bagful. Thankfully this morning it's only a box of mixed raspberries and blackberries and a pumpkin which is manageable.

Primrose

There is nothing more frustrating on the financial side than growing more than you can process and store simply because of lack of storage space, especially when your home grown produce is of good quality, and obviously cheaper than you can buy.

We are in a similar situation with a kitchen fridge freezer and a garage freezer. Part of our problem has been storing stuff that ultimately doesn't,t get used in a reasonable timeframe so a learning lesson is to be more aware of.what gets eaten and what doesn't,t and also to menu plan more diligently.

Another dilemma in this household is do we make the most of our fresh garden produce and eat it when it's at its best newly picked or be disciplined and use up previous crops from the freezer first?

It seems obviously sensible to use up older stock first but the fresh French bean season for example is relatively short and it seems almost criminal not to pick and enjoy them at their best straight from the garden while we have the opportunity. So the older beans lurk in the freezer even longer !

Does any anybody else have this dilemma or are you all better organised in how much you grow? I find germination and weather factors are something I annually battle with, perhaps sowing too much to build in an element of crop and weather failure. Feast or famine is often the end result.

AndyCF

Logic would say to use the freezer items first although the 'fresh fresh' would appeal more. Unless that is the items in the freezer have been having a erm 'rest' for so long you know it is time to eat or dispose of. I appreciate it is difficult sometimes. Perhaps a small compromise in that one 'frozen' item and one 'fresh' when preparing something ? That way you get a bit of the best of both worlds.

I'm assuming the issue is rather one of storage life rather than needing space to obtain another freezer (used ones can be a good buy if from a reputable place with warranty, but I'm only telling you what you know!)

I don't have the ability at this moment to attempt any growing unfortunately , I know I should as I have to start somewhere. In regard to your dilemma although not terribly helpful the mix/match from both fresh and frozen seems to be a way forward as that way you also get a bit of freezer rotation too.

[Deleted User]

Do you think the people who voted to leave are still of the same mind now? a green party co leader being interviewed this morning was of the opinion that the majority of people in the UK who had voted to leave the EU now wanted to remain and I wonder if this is the truth or if it's only what they want to believe. I don't know what to think except that neither HWK or myself or anyone I know has had a change of mind or heart since the original referendum vote, I shall continue to make preparation for us to leave in all areas I am able to and wait to see what happens in the future, near or far depending on how long the process drags on for.

kah22

As I’ve said before I’m a Remainer but I acknowledge that someway has to found around the mess the politicians have landed themselves in

My suggestion would be a Referendum AND a General Election on the same day.
I believe that would let the politicians know what the people want at this point.

For a referendum I would pose three questions along these grounds
Leave on Theresa May’s negotiated deal
Remain or
Leave with a clean break

While it wouldn’t be perfect a General Election could have a reasonable chance of returning a majority Government

Kevin