stored food

[paint]

Well that went down like a LED balloon.

haha nice one

[adam2]

Many basic or uninteresting foods are much better with butter, and of course butter contains a lot of calories and keeps well in a freezer. This however is reliant on an electricity supply.

USA doomers often recomend a stash of tinned butter, but this does not seem to be available in the UK.
Can anyone recomend a UK supplier of tinned butter ?

The butter brand sold in the US is Red Feather which comes from New Zealand. I don't know if it's available in the UK.

Not sold in the UK, AFAIK.
Unless anyone knows otherwise ?

After several years of looking, I have now found a UK source of tinned butter.
Regrettably though the source is the well known tax avoiding outfit, the one with a south American river named in their honour !
Can anyone suggest a more ethical UK supplier ?

[woodburner]

"adam2 daries" would be a possible alternative source, though it's likely to be in jars rather than tins.

[fifthcolumn]

After 6 months of true anarchy in the UK all bets are off as to the outcome.

I doubt the UK would last 6 months. In two months of real anarchy i.e. food supply cut off, most of the population would already have starved.

If you want a scary depiction of how that might go down, read "last light"

[woodburner]

It would last far longer than 6 months, centuries for example, just with far fewer people.

[fifthcolumn]

It would last far longer than 6 months, centuries for example, just with far fewer people.

Not sure it would be called the UK though you're right that the British Isles will last for a long time.

[kenneal - lagger]

"adam2 daries" would be a possible alternative source, though it's likely to be in jars rather than tins.

I think that I would go down the goat or two in a shed and buy a cream separator and butter churn route as I've got the space and will have a shed shortly. You could do this in a small garden as long as you have access to sufficient browse to keep the goats feed.

Thinking about it you would also have to keep the goats well protected from predators - human ones - who would see an immediate meal rather than the ongoing nutrition.

[adam2]

I have found a new brand of long lasting tinned meat that may be of interest.
"Tulip bacon grill" Made in Denmark and available from many UK supermarkets. This is a cooked prepared tinned meat that somewhat resembles Spam. The taste is in my view preferable and somewhat resembles smoked bacon. Can be eaten cold straight from the can in an emergency, but is better fried IMHO.
Shelf life is several years from purchase and it should keep well beyond the date stated on the can.

Worth buying a can to see if you like it, and getting in a good stock if so.

And yes I know that this is an old thread, but the points raised are of ongoing relevance.

Edited to state that this is made in Denmark, and not in Holland as I stated originally.

[Stumuz2]

Some years ago in my hyper travelling days. A good way to see new and very off the beaten track places would be go and see my brother in a far off distance land. He is an armament engineer, and would end up in the most unlikely of places.

Anyway, one day got the phone call with a destination. Fly from the UK, to a remote airport, then get a teeny weeny plane to a field. Where you would find brother and his cronies, in a ramshackle bar. The settlement would have a basic restaurant, and all the other things, a boy could want.

The one thing that sticks in my mind was the lively trade in 24hour ration packs issued to UK forces, being swapped for all amenities.
The protein in the ration packs? Bacon grill by Tulip. Although the tins came in khaki green, they were the same size and shape as the shop bought ones.

Tulip bacon grill. Brought back memories!

BTW, tastes great with baked beans.

[adam2]

A rather expensive prep that might be worth considering would be self heating cans or packets of food.
Several types exist. An almost instantly prepared hot meal is a great morale booster in an emergency involving being cold or wet and lacking means to prepare a proper meal.
The longer term answer is of course an off grid cooker in ones home, and the lighting of a campfire if out in the open.

What got me thinking about this was the recent week long power cut in the North East. Many of the utility company workers worked long hours in harsh conditions, away from their homes and usual work places. Some at least ate self heating cans of stew and were glad of these supplies.

"Hot Can" are arguably the most well known brand, but others exist.

At least two different technologies exist. The military ration heaters are a pyrotechnic device by which a self contained solid fuel and oxidiser mixture is ignited by a friction striker. Cheap and effective. Restricted for air transport. Do not use near flammables.

The hot can products use a special tin with three compartments, the largest inner compartment contains the food. The outer two compartments contain water in one and quicklime in the other. To activate these the water compartment is pierced with the supplied tool, and the reaction between water and lime produces heat. Very safe as no fire or flame is involved.

Another brand works in the same way but includes no water to save weight. Water is added at the point of use. Note that the water does NOT come into contact with the food and that unfit water such as urine or sea water may be used.

[mr brightside]

What's the best way to store small potatoes? I got 3kg today, but only needed 500g.

[Lurkalot2]

A rather expensive prep that might be worth considering would be self heating cans or packets of food.

At least two different technologies exist. The military ration heaters are a pyrotechnic device by which a self contained solid fuel and oxidiser mixture is ignited by a friction striker. Cheap and effective. Restricted for air transport. Do not use near flammables.

Another brand works in the same way but includes no water to save weight. Water is added at the point of use. Note that the water does NOT come into contact with the food and that unfit water such as urine or sea water may be used.

The second one sounds like what are known as FRH's , flameless ration heaters. Evidentally they can be s bit hit and miss if they are old although adding salt to the water can reactivate it.
For discussions of such types of foods there is little that hasn't been talked about or tried by this site
https://www.mreinfo.com largely the ir hobby is buying and eating military rations but interesting to look at.
With regards to storing potatoes , somewhere cool and dark . I have read that putting a cut cooking apple in the bag helps stop them chitting or sprouting but have never tried it.

[kenneal - lagger]

What's the best way to store small potatoes? I got 3kg today, but only needed 500g.

Depends for how long, Mr B. Most potatoes will store over a winter until next spring if they are kept cool and in the dark, unless they have been washed. If they have been washed though, all bets are off as the skin can be damaged and let in agents of rot.

[mr brightside]

They've been washed. It was a bag of 'less than perfect' new spuds from the supermarket, £1.10 for 3kg and i can't tell the difference between them and the ones that are £2.30 for 500g.

[adam2]

In this particular case, I would use the potatoes as quickly as is reasonable. Washed potatoes keep less well, small potatoes keep less well than large ones IME, And an unknown amount of the shelf life has been used up before you obtained them.