Keeping your preps stocked due to cost of living

[Arzosah]

And even today, there are plenty of medical professionals who really aren't very skilled at helping with chronic or low level conditions. For an infection, or a broken bone, or cancer, of course, but I've been to a doctor plenty of times feeling absolutely terrible, and they've said my tests have all come back fine, I'm really well, when I'm in tears at how unwell I feel.

I'm sorry you are feeling so unwell and have an unsympathetic GP I had one of these, he was very unpleasant so I changed to a new surgery with a much more pleasant bedside manner. It may be worth changing if this is an option as a new GP may be willing to carry out more tests or have better knowledge or extpertise.

Thank you! I have to tell you that the worst of it was many years ago - no medical professional ever helped me with that feeling of unwellness. I went to all sorts of private practitioners - acupuncture, herbalism, kinesiology, that sort of thing. Kinesiology wasn't bad, surprisingly, but the only big difference came from cleaning up my diet - no booze, no sugar, no processed foods except quorn and baked beans.

My current GPs aren't really any better - the town I now live in had about 40,000 people at the time, so, not that big, and they didn't know about a clinic specifically concerned with chronic fatigue, I'd found it online. And when they eventually referred me for 6 (!!!) sessions of CBT to work on the clinic suggestions, the "counsellor" sacked me for laughing at something she'd said (something which wasn't a joke ). I put a complaint in, they showed willing, but didn't really understand what was going on. And that's my experience - if I need a vaccination, or there's a foreign body in my ear, or a day operation on my arthritis, then the NHS can cope. Otherwise, no, they've never helped.

I really appreciate your concern! Chronic fatigue is what it is, but its no longer acute for me the way it was. I find I'm missing out on things where the energy demand is quite intense, but I can do short-ish days and gentle exercise. And its a lot better than the alternative

Regarding your earlier post about cooking rice consider one of these (if you have a microwave) well cooked rice in about 15 minutes for about 4 portions https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sistema-Microw ... r=8-5&th=1 I think they do smaller ones too. one cup of rice to two cups of water and it doesnt risk burning like in a pan.

Interesting, thank you! I've just gone down an internet rabbit hole with those, back in a minute.

[Arzosah]

Sistema Micowave rice cooker
Very interesting! Made from "Phthalate free and BPA free materials", which sounds good. And they call it a cooker. But about halfway down the page you linked to is this paragraph:

"These containers are made of microwave safe materials that can be used to reheat precooked foods to the proper recommended temperature. These containers are not intended for cooking. Note: Excessive reheating time in the microwave may damage the container. Reheating implies the maximum short term service temperature of a Sistema container is 165°F followed by a cool down period. Maintaining temperatures at 165°F or higher for more than 30 seconds is considered cooking, and is outside the intended use of these products."

I'm very doubtful about cooking food in plastic of any sort, I think heat is known to release complex molecules (is that the BPA stuff?) into the product. With the contradictory phrasing as above, I think I won't use the Sistema stuff, but Medusa, you've got me going again on cooking rice for myself, rather than comparatively expensive microwave pouches (that take two minutes ). I could use the biggest pyrex, lidded bowl I have, for a single portion (hopefully two portions eventually, but lets start small) very unlikely to overflow in such a big bowl. The glass lid is enough to let the steam escape, like their steam vent, but secure enough so that drips don't fall into the food.

I'll report back tomorrow Much appreciated, costings would be good too.

[Arzosah]

Sistema FAQ at https://www.sistemaplastics.com/uk/faqs:
Q:I am concerned about microwave cooking in a plastic container, is it safe for my family?
A:Sistema food containers are considered safe for food contact. They passed the necessary food safety tests based on food contact regulations, including microwave heating.

The question asks about cooking, but the answer refers to contact and heating. I'm afraid I won't try them out - I'd eat rice prepared this way occasionally, but not for my own regular use.

Still, thank you Medusa - it clarified something that's been nagging at me for a while, and that's always helpful.

[jennyjj01]

Sistema Micowave rice cooker
Very interesting! Made from "Phthalate free and BPA free materials", which sounds good. And they call it a cooker. But about halfway down the page you linked to is this paragraph:

"These containers are made of microwave safe materials that can be used to reheat precooked foods to the proper recommended temperature. These containers are not intended for cooking. Note: Excessive reheating time in the microwave may damage the container. Reheating implies the maximum short term service temperature of a Sistema container is 165°F followed by a cool down period. Maintaining temperatures at 165°F or higher for more than 30 seconds is considered cooking, and is outside the intended use of these products."

I'm very doubtful about cooking food in plastic of any sort, I think heat is known to release complex molecules (is that the BPA stuff?) into the product. With the contradictory phrasing as above, I think I won't use the Sistema stuff, but Medusa, you've got me going again on cooking rice for myself, rather than comparatively expensive microwave pouches (that take two minutes ). I could use the biggest pyrex, lidded bowl I have, for a single portion (hopefully two portions eventually, but lets start small) very unlikely to overflow in such a big bowl. The glass lid is enough to let the steam escape, like their steam vent, but secure enough so that drips don't fall into the food.

I'll report back tomorrow Much appreciated, costings would be good too.

Great Research!!!
It darned well calls itself a 'Rice Cooker', even on the label on the product!

But then they say we mustn't cook with it, even defining what cooking means!

165F is 74C, so simply having this reach boiling point for 30 seconds would be a disqualified use.

Back to the drawing board.

[Frnc]

Microwaving food in plastic containers is a bit iffy re microplatics ingestion. For instant rice, presumably you can do it in a different container?

[grenfell]

Looking at this from a different angle we could probably view it as a portent of a future. We prep for when things go tits up but in reality that brown smelly stuff is nowhere near the big spinney thing yet. Ok so some prices have gone up a bit but pretty much everything is still available and relatively abundant.. If we are struggling now try to imagine just how bad it might be should something serious and long term happen...
As to what to do , anything free or freeish for certain such as trying to grow ones own food for instance , learning to repair things and not worrying about wearing a,pair of trousers with a patch on it ( I mention that because I use a picture of a builder with patched trousers as a work logo) . Buy in bulk if possible , differentiate between needs and luxuries , it might be less pleasant but needs must and all that.

Indeed. Simple inflation and slow impoverishment of families might be the inevitable fate that we all suffer, rather than some SHTF 'crisis'. But our current and day to day prepping mentality puts us at an enormous advantage to our non-prepping peers.

I'm confident that we preppers are more intrinsically careful/frugal/savvy and that we are better able than most non-preppers to cope with such grinding impoverishment. We already cut back and make do and mend, while many of our non-prepping peers confidently stretch their spending to match their income.

We suffer a bit today, in preparation for worse time. If / when a depression arrives, we'd have already done our share of suffering and we will need to be ready to look as badly off as everyone else.... Lest they get jealous.
If things never do go bad, the joke might be on us... But I'll accept that risk.

To use what is probably a poor analogy I see two people on top of a cliff , ultimately they'll both end up at the bottom . One just falls off and the other goes down a rope or path. That's how I see prepping , it won't stop us getting to the bottom of that cliff but with luck we'll get there a bit slower...

[Arzosah]

For instant rice, presumably you can do it in a different container?

You're right, I should have said, that's what I do. Sometimes the rice is a bit hard, because it doesn't get the "steam bath" effect of being in the pouch, but putting a plate over the top sorts that out.

[Arzosah]

Sistema Micowave rice cooker
Very interesting! Made from "Phthalate free and BPA free materials", which sounds good. And they call it a cooker. But about halfway down the page you linked to is this paragraph:

"These containers are made of microwave safe materials that can be used to reheat precooked foods to the proper recommended temperature. These containers are not intended for cooking. Note: Excessive reheating time in the microwave may damage the container. Reheating implies the maximum short term service temperature of a Sistema container is 165°F followed by a cool down period. Maintaining temperatures at 165°F or higher for more than 30 seconds is considered cooking, and is outside the intended use of these products."

I'm very doubtful about cooking food in plastic of any sort, I think heat is known to release complex molecules (is that the BPA stuff?) into the product. With the contradictory phrasing as above, I think I won't use the Sistema stuff, but Medusa, you've got me going again on cooking rice for myself, rather than comparatively expensive microwave pouches (that take two minutes ). I could use the biggest pyrex, lidded bowl I have, for a single portion (hopefully two portions eventually, but lets start small) very unlikely to overflow in such a big bowl. The glass lid is enough to let the steam escape, like their steam vent, but secure enough so that drips don't fall into the food.

I'll report back tomorrow Much appreciated, costings would be good too.

Great Research!!!
It darned well calls itself a 'Rice Cooker', even on the label on the product!

But then they say we mustn't cook with it, even defining what cooking means!

165F is 74C, so simply having this reach boiling point for 30 seconds would be a disqualified use.

Back to the drawing board.

Thanks Jenny! This is really disappointing, because Sistema products are really high quality, but that doesn't matter if they cause problems down the line.

[Frnc]

For instant rice, presumably you can do it in a different container?

You're right, I should have said, that's what I do. Sometimes the rice is a bit hard, because it doesn't get the "steam bath" effect of being in the pouch, but putting a plate over the top sorts that out.

That's exactly how I cook cauliflower, broccoli and carrots. They cook much better with a plate on top. I put a bit of water in the bottom. I wear oven gloves to pick the bowl and plate up. I usually give them 2.5 minutes, take them out, do my peas and sweetcorn (no need to cover them), and then put them back in for another 2.5 minutes. Peas and sweetcorn are frozen, so I mix them up a bit half way through. Of course times increase for bigger quantities.

[ForgeCorvus]

Looking at this from a different angle we could probably view it as a portent of a future. We prep for when things go tits up but in reality that brown smelly stuff is nowhere near the big spinney thing yet. Ok so some prices have gone up a bit but pretty much everything is still available and relatively abundant.. If we are struggling now try to imagine just how bad it might be should something serious and long term happen...
As to what to do , anything free or freeish for certain such as trying to grow ones own food for instance , learning to repair things and not worrying about wearing a,pair of trousers with a patch on it ( I mention that because I use a picture of a builder with patched trousers as a work logo) . Buy in bulk if possible , differentiate between needs and luxuries , it might be less pleasant but needs must and all that.

Indeed. Simple inflation and slow impoverishment of families might be the inevitable fate that we all suffer, rather than some SHTF 'crisis'. But our current and day to day prepping mentality puts us at an enormous advantage to our non-prepping peers.

I'm confident that we preppers are more intrinsically careful/frugal/savvy and that we are better able than most non-preppers to cope with such grinding impoverishment. We already cut back and make do and mend, while many of our non-prepping peers confidently stretch their spending to match their income.

We suffer a bit today, in preparation for worse time. If / when a depression arrives, we'd have already done our share of suffering and we will need to be ready to look as badly off as everyone else.... Lest they get jealous.
If things never do go bad, the joke might be on us... But I'll accept that risk.

To use what is probably a poor analogy I see two people on top of a cliff , ultimately they'll both end up at the bottom . One just falls off and the other goes down a rope or path. That's how I see prepping , it won't stop us getting to the bottom of that cliff but with luck we'll get there a bit slower...

"Graceful Degradation"
We'll all end up at the bottom, but preppers will take the long route