The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

Shropshirelass

For years I have also been using recycled jam and chutney jars with their lids, never had any problems, some jam/jellies 4 or 5 years old and still perfect. I wash jars first in dishwasher, then warm them with boiling water just before filling. The lids are dunked in boiling water just before reuse. I wish I could find a use for the 200gm  Kenco coffee jars. They have plastic lids with cardboard lining, so not really able to sterilize. 

dandy-candy

Just drove to Mr T, took one look at the queue and drove off again. There was certainly 100+ people making a snake three folds long. We decided to try the Budgens nearby and omg the prices! Ended up just getting some bread. They sold all veg by the kilo, even cauliflowers and aubergines? Normally those are sold per item. 

GreyQueen

dandy-candy said:

Just drove to Mr T, took one look at the queue and drove off again. There was certainly 100+ people making a snake three folds long. We decided to try the Budgens nearby and omg the prices! Ended up just getting some bread. They sold all veg by the kilo, even cauliflowers and aubergines? Normally those are sold per item. 

  I read somewhere recently that first thing on a Tuesday morning is the quietest time to do supermarket shopping, mebbe worth  a try?

Si_Clist

Shropshirelass said:

... The lids are dunked in boiling water just before reuse. I wish I could find a use for the 200gm  Kenco coffee jars. They have plastic lids with cardboard lining, so not really able to sterilize. 

Yes, I should have pointed out that we keep the lids simmering in a pan of water while bottling/canning/jarring.  Problem is we've been doing this stuff for so long now that everything's automatic and I really have to think about what we do!

Ref the coffee jars, the only thing we've found that works with jars other than those with quarter-turn lids is some very thick, tough plastic film called "Porosan" that was sold for preserving that you used to be able to get in the supermarkets.  If you can ever find any of the stuff on Ebay or whatever, it'll still be perfectly fine for use as it doesn't go off in any way.  Ours must be at least 15 years old since it came from Safeways when they reduced a lot of odds and sods before Morrisons bought them out ...

C_J

I have one of those electric canning/water bath gismos which I was given a couple of years ago, and I must get it out of the cupboard and re-visit the process. I was originally put off by all the WARNING DANGER BOTULISM things I read on the internet, but I think if I read up on it all properly I should be okay. I also have a goodly stock of Kilner and Leifheit jars.

Thriftygifty

dandy-candy said:

Just drove to Mr T, took one look at the queue and drove off again. There was certainly 100+ people making a snake three folds long. We decided to try the Budgens nearby and omg the prices! Ended up just getting some bread. They sold all veg by the kilo, even cauliflowers and aubergines? Normally those are sold per item. 

My sister went to Morries yesterday to get petrol which was quiet the petrol station was still fully stocked with food. The main supermarket they were queued right round the large car park this was mid day in the heat. Im wondering if they are busy now as maybe all the panic buyers have used up supplies.
On another note we heard a noise in the garden last night looked out the window with a torch and there was a badger, ive had my suspicion for a while buy yep they are there which may be an issue with veg beds?! 

DigForVictory

Can vouch for early morning queues being slightly shorter than afternoon ones & that there's more on the shelves at Tesco & Asda am than pm.

dandy-candy

C_J the botulism thing is what always put me off preserving but I think I might start trying it now.
I got onto the site for Suttons seeds without too long a wait and ordered some veg seeds and a few flowers as DH likes making the garden look cheery. DD has shifts at the supermarket for the next 3 days so I will give her a list and hopefully some deliveries will bring in the bits we need. It’s DS2 birthday on Wednesday but I can’t find much online for him. I have ordered two things he wanted but usually get him novelties for a laugh but will have to skip that until this is all over.
I’m getting quite nervous about how this will play out long term. I’m worried that there will be issues planting and harvesting crops this summer what with supply lines and labour issues. It maybe that the real food shortages kick in later in the year, what do you all think?    

Shropshirelass

Many thanks for your advice Si_clist, I have just found and ordered from *mazon a pack containing 24 circles of this stuff, along with odds and ends which I normally have lying around (rubber bands, labels etc) for preserving. Not expensive, so worth the punt just to see what it is like.
 I seem to remember in my long-ago childhood, seeing jars of home made jam finished with a circle of greaseproof paper and another of fabric, held in place with elastic, bit like a garter, which little boys used to keep their knee socks up in those days!!

thriftwizard

You can still get the circles of waxed paper, plus cellophane "lids" & elastic bands from Lakeland or a local cookshop, if open. There's a stall at our market that does them too.

Just cooling 7½ (well-re-used) jars of raspberry, lime & a hint of mint jam, having picked up 10 large punnets of slightly-going-over raspberries for £5 at the market this morning. Some of those jars are on their 4th or 5th re-filling - it's usually the lids that let them down eventually.