Pantry Attacked! Oh, The Horror!
That summer cold knocked me flat for a solid week. Worse, was that sinking feeling when you find yourself throwing back Nyquil cocktails just to keep going. Deep down I knew a quick recovery was futile. I was doomed.
This is the first sickness in 15 years that I didn't have to manage alone. Husbands, I've discovered are very handy. The dogs were sweet too. It's funny how they know when you're not feeling well.
There's something about getting sick that:
1. Makes me think of all the things I have on my to-do list.
2. Drives me into purging mode as soon as I feel better.
On Sunday, I attacked my pantry. I have a wonderful, big pantry, but it was time to whip it back into shape. It had begun to look like a catch-all for every little thing, and I was having a hard time keeping track of my staples.
Because it's a long drive into town, I try to keep my pantry and fridge stocked. Most of my grocery runs are for fresh vegetables and anything that goes on clearance. If I wanted, I could go for weeks without hitting the stores, but I'd miss fresh veggies. My summer garden is all but spent.
I've started the fall garden which is looking great. I'll share some of the details on the next State of the Homestead report.
Back to the pantry. Even a small pantry can increase your ability to save money on food. In the early days, I started small, buying a few extra cans of whatever went on sale. I'm fastidious about checking expiration dates. And while I sometimes "try" something new, I generally stick to the things I know we'll use regularly.
Loyalty cards: In the US, many grocery stores offer loyalty cards. Kroger, my local chain, regularly sends me coupons and freebies. I may not always use the coupons but I always grab the freebies. Even if I don't use it, it can be donated to a food pantry.
Double down on holidays: In the US, you are guaranteed some great food prices right before major holidays. Set aside a little extra cash to use in November when grocery stores have their biggest sales on baking supplies, turkeys, roasts, and frozen foods.
Freeze it: Every box of baking mix, flour, rice, or pasta goes straight to the freezer for two weeks. I don't take chances with weevils which you'll find in almost every package if you don't use it up quickly. Food distributors can't help it. For the record, weevils aren't harmful, but I still don't want to see them.
Use Glass: I retired nearly all my plastic containers years ago. Although glass is heavier, I find it easier to clean and disinfect. Plastic tends to absorb the smell of whatever was in it last.
Go in with a friend: Those big warehouse stores are great for large buys. If you can't use up a whole bag of flour or sugar, divvy it up with a friend that way you both save.
When I lived in an apartment, I dedicated one bank of cabinets to food. I stored my pots and pans in the dishwasher because I never used it. Big Reveal: This is the first year (in 40) I've used a dishwasher regularly.
I know most people can't live without a dishwasher but it was only me and Greg and I felt it unnecessary to use the extra energy. Now I'm just busy. Easier to load the dishwasher and go on to another chore than do them by hand.
So how about you? Do you store food for more than a couple of weeks? Are you lucky enough to have a pantry? Do you use a dishwasher, or ever use it as extra storage?
What tips do you use when buying in bulk?
Because Melissa McClone reminded me...
If you want more tips on grocery shopping, try this book: smart grocery shopping
This is the first sickness in 15 years that I didn't have to manage alone. Husbands, I've discovered are very handy. The dogs were sweet too. It's funny how they know when you're not feeling well.
There's something about getting sick that:
1. Makes me think of all the things I have on my to-do list.
2. Drives me into purging mode as soon as I feel better.
On Sunday, I attacked my pantry. I have a wonderful, big pantry, but it was time to whip it back into shape. It had begun to look like a catch-all for every little thing, and I was having a hard time keeping track of my staples.
Because it's a long drive into town, I try to keep my pantry and fridge stocked. Most of my grocery runs are for fresh vegetables and anything that goes on clearance. If I wanted, I could go for weeks without hitting the stores, but I'd miss fresh veggies. My summer garden is all but spent.
I've started the fall garden which is looking great. I'll share some of the details on the next State of the Homestead report.
Back to the pantry. Even a small pantry can increase your ability to save money on food. In the early days, I started small, buying a few extra cans of whatever went on sale. I'm fastidious about checking expiration dates. And while I sometimes "try" something new, I generally stick to the things I know we'll use regularly.
Loyalty cards: In the US, many grocery stores offer loyalty cards. Kroger, my local chain, regularly sends me coupons and freebies. I may not always use the coupons but I always grab the freebies. Even if I don't use it, it can be donated to a food pantry.
Double down on holidays: In the US, you are guaranteed some great food prices right before major holidays. Set aside a little extra cash to use in November when grocery stores have their biggest sales on baking supplies, turkeys, roasts, and frozen foods.
Freeze it: Every box of baking mix, flour, rice, or pasta goes straight to the freezer for two weeks. I don't take chances with weevils which you'll find in almost every package if you don't use it up quickly. Food distributors can't help it. For the record, weevils aren't harmful, but I still don't want to see them.
Use Glass: I retired nearly all my plastic containers years ago. Although glass is heavier, I find it easier to clean and disinfect. Plastic tends to absorb the smell of whatever was in it last.
Go in with a friend: Those big warehouse stores are great for large buys. If you can't use up a whole bag of flour or sugar, divvy it up with a friend that way you both save.
When I lived in an apartment, I dedicated one bank of cabinets to food. I stored my pots and pans in the dishwasher because I never used it. Big Reveal: This is the first year (in 40) I've used a dishwasher regularly.
I know most people can't live without a dishwasher but it was only me and Greg and I felt it unnecessary to use the extra energy. Now I'm just busy. Easier to load the dishwasher and go on to another chore than do them by hand.
So how about you? Do you store food for more than a couple of weeks? Are you lucky enough to have a pantry? Do you use a dishwasher, or ever use it as extra storage?
What tips do you use when buying in bulk?
Because Melissa McClone reminded me...
If you want more tips on grocery shopping, try this book: smart grocery shopping
Comments
I love my dishwasher. If it's a light night, I rinse everything and leave it until the next day. I rinse everything anyway, but it's not like actually washing the dishes so I don't have to worry about drying or having everything in the drainer.
My only tip for buying in bulk is to look for sales on large meat purchases - roasts, whole turkeys, big hams. The roasts I cut down into smaller roasts or into stew meat, and then freeze. The turkeys and hams, we cook and then freeze the leftovers. I use the bones for soup. (Always bone-in hams.)
Re: meats
Normally I cut my own meat, but on occasion, I sometimes ask the butcher to cut steaks or chops from one of those cryovacced packages. They can slice it any thickness and repackage it, all for free.
Yay for another bone saver! There's nothing better than soup made from fresh stock.
I do not buy bone-in meat often but do buy roasts, steaks, pork chops and chicken in large packages to repackage into smaller portions before freezing sand then cooking.
My dishwasher is brand new (well over a year and a half or so old anyway) but never used as we hand wash, it works well for overflow that needs a place to store until dry or can be put in the tiny dish drain we use once it is empty enough.
I am glad you are feeling better, I hope. :-)
The big/tall items are the tricky ones to store. Mine are almost always on the floor where I have the most room.
Re: dishwasher
And here I thought I was the only one who didn't use her dishwasher. My family thought I was nuts--but that could be a separate issue. :)
Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better!
betty
I've kind of cleaned out my pantry by using up all the old stuff. You don't realize how quickly time flies until you pull out a can of soup and notice the exp date was two years ago. Ooops. Right now I try to stick with buying what I will use in the next week. At least until I figure out what I want to do. I'm so flip-floppy at the moment. :)
You inspire me! I'll have this thing whipped into shape by this weekend. I promise you. haha
Susan Says
I think the most critical part about stocking up is being organized. I try to keep all my foods sorted by type. It's not so easy when someone else helps you put stuff away. That's how the pantry got so messy in the first place. Greg is slowly starting to learn where I keep everything. :)
Welcome to the 21st century!
Re: freezer
Oh, yes. Please do. Chances are there are bug eggs in all our foods, but freezing them will keep them from hatching.
Throw some pictures up of your cleaned out pantry when you're done. I almost always see your updates on Facebook.
Sadly, the boys in the family were exempt. (pre-women's lib!)
Kids make the most dishes. It only seems right to make them clean up. LOL.
He pulled out a ladder and put in two new LED lights that made it nice and bright. It's a pleasure to go in there now.
You got me. When I get home I'll update the post. Thanks for reminding me.
My next victim will be the big freezer. It won't take as long, but I hate getting cold. :)
I generally stock enough canned and nonperishable food in the house to keep us going for about three or four months and, during hurricane season, enough drinking water to drink, bathe and use the bathrooms for at least a month. We have the well and a generator to run it if the power goes, but after the nightmare season of 2004 I take nothing for granted.
I like to handwash dishes when I can, because it helps to soak my hands, but I'll run the dishwasher when we have guests so I can spend time with them instead of the sink.
I don't like to freeze too much because we're plagued with power outtages here, particular during the summers, and I had to lose three freezers full of meat before I learned not to store too much perishable food at one time. But when buying in bulk I always try to go for variety versus a big quantity of any one thing. Canned peas are great, but after a week of eating just peas you never want to see one again. :)
Since it's just me and the kiddo, we don't use the dishwasher either. Our pantry isn't large but I try to purchase staple foods that can last for a few weeks then go for the fresh fruits and veggies on the weekend.
Thanks for the tips. Will have to make use of them.
I am woefully neglectful of storing water. We've been discussing having a well built, but we're not sure where to start drilling. Our area is kind of dry so a well would be a godsend.
Re: variety
Good point! When we got hit with Hurricane Rita we got tired of canned foods fast. It was 90 miles to the nearest operating grocery store so you ate what you had or went without.
Variety and a few sweet foods would've helped a lot.
I wait all year for the pre-Thanksgiving sales. I'm making room in my freezer right now in anticipation.
I love pantries :)
PS Glad you're back on your feet
Years ago, we bought in bulk and split it with friends. We don't have anyone nowadays to split with, though, but I remember it being very handy.
One of the downsize decisions we made when we transitioned from the rented condo to the house was giving up a dishwasher and a garbage disposal. I haven't really missed the garbage disposal that much, but the lack of a dishwasher is something I notice from time to time. Especially post-dinner when there's a stack of dishes to be done.
At present we keep about a dozen 25 gal. plastic containers to store water (we keep them empty and only fill them when we get a hurricane warning), but they're getting old and eventually we'll have to replace them.
I don't mind doing dishes, but it is disheartening to see a pile of them and no volunteers to help me. ;)
We have several 300 gallon cisterns Greg acquired from his company before he retired. They'll do for the animals and garden, but they're too far away from the house. I'm really hoping we can drill a well for home use as our rainfall is limited. We'll have to check its potability though. I'm hoping since the neighbors' wells are potable, ours will be too.
When me and my guy first got together we began buying one or two new 25 gal. water storage containers every hurricane season, which is why we ended up having so many. The problem with them is actually storing them somewhere. We kept them in the attic until we realized the heat was making the plastic brittle. Now we keep them stowed in a little room under the staircase that is cooler. They're still getting old, though, and there's no way to permanently patch them if they crack.
I think I might bite the bullet and do what you did, every spring buy at least one large water storage container a year. The plastic cisterns are good for animals and flushing toilets, but I'd like a more portable and potable container for drinking water.