The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

baggins11

MrsLurcherWalker that's a good question.  I think veg for us is the problem as it doesn't keep fresh that long.  I only have frozen peas, spinach and sweetcorn as don't like other frozen veg.  Maybe I need to start thinking about trying other tinned and frozen veg.

Any good tips on veg that keeps particularly well and how to keep it?   I remember my mum used to buy big sacks of potatoes that lasted ages but when I buy potatoes from the supermarket they barely last a week!  I am guessing it is the paper potato sack and a bit more soil on them that keeps them fresh.

Hope all ok Airthrey x

Airthrey

Thanks everyone.  My daughter and her partner have now been tested and think they may get the results on Sunday. She's feeling a lot better so I'm feeling less stressed. They have to continue to stay in isolation inside until they get the results. Once this is all over, I am going to fine tune my prepping.  This has been an educational experience!

C_J

The scientists with whom I work were saying today that the existing treatment for malaria also treats COVID19 very effectively. 

Good wishes to Airthrey’s daughter and family. 

[Deleted User]

Glad your DD is feeling better Airthrey and it makes sense to test her partner too as the close proximity means there is more likelihood of someone picking it up should it prove to be coronavirus, which I so hope it's NOT! It will be a very long time for you until Sunday but we're all here holding your hand even if at a distance and wishing all is well.


I think it's the varieties of potato that are grown commercially these days not lasting as well as some of the older varieties used to in storage, I certainly haven't had a sack of potatoes that didn't sprout after a couple of weeks for some years now.  I rub the sprouts off but the sack deteriorates and you have to sort through and reject the soft and wrinkly ones every week or the whole lot go and it's an awful faff! I fins all potatoes whether designated as all purpose, jacketers or new still sprout within a week no matter how they're stored. Things like carrots store for some weeks in the cold veg drawer at the bottom of my fridge and whole solid hearted cabbages like the ones you use for coleslaw or red cabbages keep for weeks because you can peel off a few outer layers if they get 'tired' and the rest is fine underneath.  The real problem is that years ago mums had the time to shop daily because they were expected to stay home when there were children and these days most folks work full or part time and we buy in supplies to last the week. Tinned veg is in the main OK, tinned beans and sweetcorn are fine, tinned carrots and garden peas just about acceptable but very soft textured, I have some tins of 'lazy onions' for when fresh aren't in my veg rack and they last 10 days from opening, tinned potatoes OK but again odd textured, fine in things but on their own ??? tinned green beans are OK, tinned tomatoes absolutely essential and the rest is pure experimentation to see if you all find them acceptable.

annieb64

Butternut squash keep well in a cool place.We like frozen broad beans too.

jk0

Tinned Carrots?!

They're vile!

MingVase

They're great for soup, with lentils.

[Deleted User]

Re potatoes in storage I had a chat with HWK who is a retired agricultural research chemist and he says that potatoes many years ago were sprayed with a chemical to prevent them from sprouting in the sacks they were stored in and they are n't nowadays.  I don't know what it was or why it's not used now but that answers many questions about why potatoes don't keep at all well today doesn't it?

Zentimes

Re potato storage life. I have found shop bought ones don't store for long (maybe because they are exposed to light for who knows how long before you buy them). My own home grown potatoes stored very well, straight from the soil into a dark box filled with shredded paper in a cool location. Our porch isn't insulated and is very cold during winter. Or even kept in dry soil up in a lidded garden container, I find they kept reasonably well that way, too.

pineapple

pattypan4 said:

mutations are happening so it becomes a different virus. This means that someone who has had coronavirus could get it over again and that is one of the reasons why it is a very dangerous pathogen. It can mutate just going between different family members and each mutation is designed to make it a more dangerous virus

Just to add that an anti back sanitiser has no effect whatsoever on viruses, Search out sanitisers containing alcohol

It's surpisingly difficult to find good information on effective sanitisers and disinfectants. Currently using a foam which claims to be anti bacterial AND anti viral, but I've seen claims and counter claims about most of these products. The one thing I do keep seeing is 'should contain alcohol'. However an expert on TV said that if used on hands that are actually dirty, sanitisers won't be as effective. Another article cautioned against using sprays for surfaces, as the force of the spray might move particles to where you don't want them. Anyhow my black nitrile disposable gloves arrived and they don't look at all bad - if you are fond of the cat burglar look . They will also come in for when I have to root around in the lean to - habitat of vermin and heaven knows what else