The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

-taff

Thriftygifty said:

Even the prepacked supermarket meat? 

You can either leave it in it's tray and freeze it or to save room, take out of the tray and put it in a ziploc bag of some description, or wrap tightly. I usually snip off the label and stick that in there too. Takes up much less room in the freezer. Squeeze the air out, shut the bag, good for at least a year...

greenbee

-taff said:

Thriftygifty said:

Even the prepacked supermarket meat? 

You can either leave it in it's tray and freeze it or to save room, take out of the tray and put it in a ziploc bag of some description, or wrap tightly. I usually snip off the label and stick that in there too. Takes up much less room in the freezer. Squeeze the air out, shut the bag, good for at least a year...

After a year, slow cooking is probably recommended

-taff

Depends what it is. I put a steak in there in August 2018, we had it in January this year [ it was a big steak, enough for two of us] and just defrosted and fried. It was lovely.

Thriftygifty

-taff said:

Depends what it is. I put a steak in there in August 2018, we had it in January this year [ it was a big steak, enough for two of us] and just defrosted and fried. It was lovely.

I doubt it would last that long before the kids and DH raid it. We're reducing and using meat wiser at the moment, ive got a big morries del due Monday which is abit earlier than I wanted but it was either that or no del for the foreseeable future, i'm not counting on them having everything. I've also hopefully found a local butchers who will deliver going forward from next month anything we can do to avoid the supermarkets going forward. I just wonder if we do go into lockdown if local food business will still be allowed to deliver?! 

DigForVictory

Thriftygifty said: I just wonder if we do go into lockdown if local food business will still be allowed to deliver?! 

If the supermarkets are not allowed to the Army will have to, as starvation is a one way ticket to civil unrest. The old adage of "you are two paycheques away from anarchy" doesn't quite apply when there is no food, medicine or power. That gives anarchy a head start.

I am so glad there are care packs for children going into hospital. I doubt they get a chance to say "Thank You!" so may I on their behalf?

unrecordings

MrsLurcherwalker said:

Put the pack of flour in a sealed plastic bag and freeze it for 48 hours before it goes into storage.  This kills off any insect eggs or larvae that might be present.  It doesn't stop an infestation in storage though if it comes from something else already stored.  It will however give you some protection if you store the flour in the sealed bag which will give protection from an external infestation.  Do the same with pulses.

Thanks Mrs LW for the good advice. We did have a nice stash of various flours but let it run down a year ago. as I was put off making food for a couple of years (with chemo hands - even natural sweat is slightly toxic)

[Deleted User]

You're welcome, you're all welcome to anything I know that might help get us all through what is likely to come just bear in mind that I don't know everything (despite being a bossy old bat most of the time) so may not be able to answer all the questions that need to be answered.

We took the car out for a spin this morning as it hadn't been off the drive for over a week and we wanted to make sure it will still be available should we need it.  It's the most beautiful spring day, the verges and banks and peoples gardens are absolutely ablaze with spring flowers, the field boundary hedges are popping bright little green leaflets, there are sheep with lambs in many of the fields around us, birds zipping from one hedge to the other across empty roads and very few people out and about and when they have been they are alone or in pairs with a dog.   It's eerily quiet and very few other cars on the roads so hopefully most people are being sensible and staying isolated at home.  We have DD1 with her OH and the baby coming in half an hour to sit in the garden with their own flask of coffee while we drink ours in the conservatory a good distance away.  The cards I got this morning had been in isolation for most of the week and are lovely beyond price because they're home made and the girls had me some water colour paints, a set of brushes and an artists pad sent early in the week from Amazon so I have something to do in the possibly trying week ahead bless them, fabulous stuff.


Stay safe, that's not a request it's an order!

unrecordings

-taff said:

Thriftygifty said:

Even the prepacked supermarket meat? 

You can either leave it in it's tray and freeze it or to save room, take out of the tray and put it in a ziploc bag of some description, or wrap tightly. I usually snip off the label and stick that in there too. Takes up much less room in the freezer. Squeeze the air out, shut the bag, good for at least a year...

Thing with freezing is that it only pauses the deterioration process. So if you're in the habit of buying YS (yellow sticker stuff) then you need to consider your options. When it comes to freezing shop bought stuff, write down the Use By / BB date and the date you froze it. The process of freezing causes havoc in foods with high water content (which is why some vegetables are traditionally blanched first) I tend to unpack & separate packs of meat then pat them dry with kitchen roll. Finally, not to scaremonger, but if you need to rely on frozen then come up with a drill to cover the freezer breaking down. That could include emergency meal plans and re-arranging stuff so that the most vulnerable items are easiest to get to. I think the biggest no-no is never to open the door unless absolutely necessary. I guess there other tips

elaine241

Yesterday was such a beautiful sunny spring day I sneaked off on my horse for a ride around the countryside and up onto the mountain. MrsLW was right the flowers in the hedgerows are beautiful, sun shining, beautiful scenery and peaceful. There were loads of families out and about along the canal and lanes all seemed to be smiling and happy. I was so glad I went and ended up out for three hours!! Everyone said hello but kept their distance not sure due to social isolation or the fact I was on a big horse!! I haven't ventured into town but feedback on social media is scary, its like a different country. Someone posted a video at 5.45 am showing a queue of hundreds with trolleys waiting outside A*da; no social isolation there! I am looking to go shopping on Monday on my usual weekly shop but if there are traffic jams, crowds and chaos I am turning right round and getting out of dodge! I haven't actually touched my preps just using what I have in the house as normal.
I am  concentrating on my veg garden more intently this year as I have a feeling I will need the fresh stuff through the summer and the storing veg/winter veg more than ever. I spoke to a neighbour who is doing the same, she is concentrating on veg that she can store such as potatoes and squash as she feels this may have fall out way beyond the virus. 
We have tourists turning up here in South Wales even though the new cases recorded were 50% within just our area! I hadn't even thought of them buying food in the shops etc. The holiday cottage closest to me is let out but it is a barn , down a long private lane in the middle of nowhere, so I suppose the people there are thinking they are social isolating!

Jazee

Hello preppers.  We also haven't used our stores yet.  DS and his girlfriend just visited and we were at opposite ends of the garden, but you know you've brought them up right when your Mother's Day present is a camping gas cooker with gas.  It's brilliant, two rings and a grill.  Apparently for me to cook outside should there be a power cut.  Let's hope the sun keeps shining.  Oh, and a box of fudge because I don't keep treats in my preps as it would be too tempting.  I would have hugged him if I could.