General Chat Thread II

Comerman · 25-10-2020 11:08PM

I remove the drawers and use a hairdryer to defrost the freezer in about 15 minutes stick them back in, simples

New Home · 25-10-2020 11:48PM

I use the jet of steam from the steam cleaner. Bonus: I can pretend it's a light saber and that it cuts through the ice like a laser. Works very well with chest freezers.

the beer revolu · 26-10-2020 10:30AM

phormium wrote: »

I defrost my freezer regularly, never empty it first, I take out all the drawers full of stuff and stack them up in the kitchen, cover them up with a few big towels (old ones for these sort of uses) and stick a tray of boiling water in the freezer, repeat when cool, by that time you can chip off any ice easily. All thawed and cleaned out within hour and half or so, nothing thaws in the drawers in that timeline.

Before anyone tells me that's bad for them I have been doing it that way all my life, only on my second freezer, first one lasted over 30 yrs, in fact it never gave up but I thought a newer one would be better/cheaper to run, not true but anyway this one is about 10 yrs old

This is what I do, too.
I put what I can in cool boxes and put the rest in a pile with blanket under and over.
A big mass of frozen food takes a long time to defrost!

Dial Hard · 26-10-2020 10:48AM

the beer revolu wrote: »

This is what I do, too.
I put what I can in cool boxes and put the rest in a pile with blanket under and over.
A big mass of frozen food takes a long time to defrost!

You'd be amazed how many people don't realise that. We had a power outage for about two hours a couple of weeks ago and my neighbour was giving out about having to throw everything in her freezer out. I was like "It won't even have started to defrost!"

the beer revolu · 26-10-2020 10:59AM

Dial Hard wrote: »

You'd be amazed how many people don't realise that. We had a power outage for about two hours a couple of weeks ago and my neighbour was giving out about having to throw everything in her freezer out. I was like "It won't even have started to defrost!"

The kneejerk reaction to throw out the contents of a freezer hurts my heart!

New Home · 26-10-2020 11:02AM

Exactly! Besides, even if it thaws, lots of stuff can still be cooked and re-frozen then!

rubadub · 26-10-2020 11:00PM

New Home wrote: »

I use the jet of steam from the steam cleaner.

the high temp can warp plastic so go easy

New Home wrote: »

Exactly! Besides, even if it thaws, lots of stuff can still be cooked and re-frozen then!

and many can be just refrozen without cooking. Some do it on purpose to tenderise beef, repeated freeze/thaw cycles. Some meats like chicken would fare worse though.

beertons · 27-10-2020 01:49PM

Dial Hard wrote: »

You'd be amazed how many people don't realise that. We had a power outage for about two hours a couple of weeks ago and my neighbour was giving out about having to throw everything in her freezer out. I was like "It won't even have started to defrost!"

Did you take all her food?

rubadub · 30-10-2020 11:29AM

In tesco the tilda pouches of rice are 2 for 2euro for many of them, including more expensive egg fried rice and coconut.

https://www.tesco.ie/groceries/SpecialOffers/SpecialOfferDetail/Default.aspx?promoId=R32924179

Shenshen · 02-11-2020 09:16AM

My first attempt at making kimchi :

Seems nice so far, but it's only just starting to ferment. I suspect I'll need to use more salt next time, as I didn't use fish sauce but soy sauce.

Gloomtastic! · 02-11-2020 12:50PM

^ Colour looks about right. You may run into space problems when it starts to ferment, it will leak. If it does, maybe take some out.

How does it smell?

confusticated · 02-11-2020 01:17PM

I got 10kg of pizza flour in May from Pallas click & collect. Just running out now, but that service isn't open to the public anymore. Anyone know somewhere in Cork you can get decent pizza flour? I know it comes into Lidl on special sometimes but would prefer to be able to get it now - doesn't need to be in bulk obviously since it took five months to get through the 10kg!

the beer revolu · 02-11-2020 01:57PM

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

^ Colour looks about right. You may run into space problems when it starts to ferment, it will leak. If it does, maybe take some out.

How does it smell?

as long as the contents are carefully but firmly pushed down with a slotted spoon a couple of times a day to expel the fermenting gasses, it should be ok, I'd say.

Shenshen · 02-11-2020 02:23PM

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

^ Colour looks about right. You may run into space problems when it starts to ferment, it will leak. If it does, maybe take some out.

How does it smell?

So far, only of the things I put into the paste. I only put it together yesterday

I've another jar sitting empty, so if it does "grow", I can move some over.

rubadub · 02-11-2020 10:45PM

confusticated wrote: »

Anyone know somewhere in Cork you can get decent pizza flour?

Tesco do an Italian 00 flour which is cheap, only 1 euro for 1kg so worth a try, some in the pizza thread use it. There might be other recommendations in that thread.

https://www.tesco.ie/groceries/product/details/?id=306938540

New Home · 03-11-2020 08:17PM

Only thing to keep in mind is that the 00 refers to how finely the flour has been milled, not with what type of flour (strong, "weak", etc) it is. 00 is usually used for cakes.

04-11-2020 10:08AM

New Home wrote: »

Only thing to keep in mind is that the 00 refers to how finely the flour has been milled, not with what type of flour (strong, "weak", etc) it is. 00 is usually used for cakes.

Never knew this!

rubadub · 04-11-2020 12:07PM

New Home wrote: »

00 is usually used for cakes.

tesco use to have one in their finest range listed as 00 but then change the name to "pastry flour", it was still 00 with the exact same nutritional makeup so likely the same flour.

I think "weak" 00 flour would be rare to find here, any I have seen has a decent protein content.

I see supervalu have a long fermentation one.
https://shop.supervalu.ie/shopping/food-cupboard-flour-caputo-00-red-long-fermentation-1-kg-/p-1483707000
which as 13% protein vs 12% for the regular

https://shop.supervalu.ie/shopping/food-cupboard-flour-caputo-00-blue-all-purpose-1-kg-/p-1483707001

and there is another clearly labeled pizza flour
https://shop.supervalu.ie/shopping/food-cupboard-flour-stagioni-00-pizza-napoletana-1-kg-/p-1483707003

There are other numbers on the packages to look out for, it was discussed in the pizza thread.

Mollyb60 · 04-11-2020 03:20PM

Opinions please! I've been thinking about getting an air fryer for a while now and I was going to see if I could pick one up on Black Friday. I'm now starting to doubt myself though. Should I get the instant pot instead? I use the slow cooker a lot and we eat a lot of rice so I think the instant pot might be put to more use than the air fryer. The only pro I can think of with the air fryer is (slightly) healthier fried foods but we don't eat fried foods too much anyway. Chips would be the most regular thing.

What do you guys think? Air Fryer vs Instant Pot?

Shenshen · 04-11-2020 03:39PM

Mollyb60 wrote: »

Opinions please! I've been thinking about getting an air fryer for a while now and I was going to see if I could pick one up on Black Friday. I'm now starting to doubt myself though. Should I get the instant pot instead? I use the slow cooker a lot and we eat a lot of rice so I think the instant pot might be put to more use than the air fryer. The only pro I can think of with the air fryer is (slightly) healthier fried foods but we don't eat fried foods too much anyway. Chips would be the most regular thing.

What do you guys think? Air Fryer vs Instant Pot?

I would probably look for an all-in-one solution. There are some things out there that are pressure cooker, slow cooker and air fryer all in the one pot. Something like this, but there may be cheaper options out there.

Mollyb60 · 04-11-2020 03:45PM

I think the instant pot does quite a few things which is why its appealing to me. pressure cooker, slow cooker, saute option, warming function.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Instant-Pot-Electric-Pressure-Stainless/dp/B00OP26T4K

So it may be similar to that product, just way less money and no air fryer. I'm not sure if I'm willing to spend a ton more money just to get an air fryer option.

rubadub · 04-11-2020 04:10PM

Mollyb60 wrote: »

The only pro I can think of with the air fryer is (slightly) healthier fried foods but we don't eat fried foods too much anyway. Chips would be the most regular thing.

What do you guys think? Air Fryer vs Instant Pot?

I have both and the airfryer gets far more use. But of course it depends on what you typically are making. I use the airfryer for reheating food quite a bit.

It is not a replacement for a deep fat frier, the name is a misnomer and only leads to lots of negative reviews and disappointment. It is a minature counter top convection oven with a fast fan and timer, but that does not have the same ring to it!

New Home · 04-11-2020 09:40PM

Mystery Egg wrote: »

Never knew this!

This and this might help (ignore the advertising). Oh, and this, too.

Shenshen · 05-11-2020 08:26AM

Mollyb60 wrote: »

I think the instant pot does quite a few things which is why its appealing to me. pressure cooker, slow cooker, saute option, warming function.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Instant-Pot-Electric-Pressure-Stainless/dp/B00OP26T4K

So it may be similar to that product, just way less money and no air fryer. I'm not sure if I'm willing to spend a ton more money just to get an air fryer option.

I'll be honest, when my husband got the airfryer, I thought it was a bit of a fad. But I find using it quite frequently these days. Initially I thought ok, it'll be just for chips, but now I do a lot of things I would previously have put in the oven. Things like falafel, various Indian kofta and pakoras, roasted vegetables, sausages.. it's a long list. They turn out nicer from the airfryer, I find.

caviardreams · 09-11-2020 07:11PM

Has anyone tried apple cider vinegar on fish & chips? Been tempted to try it for ages but don't want to ruin a good dinner!

rubadub · 09-11-2020 07:14PM

caviardreams wrote: »

Has anyone tried apple cider vinegar on fish & chips? Been tempted to try it for ages but don't want to ruin a good dinner!

I have, sure just try it 1 or 2 chips first. Put a splash on a saucer and dip them it.

igCorcaigh · 09-11-2020 07:42PM

caviardreams wrote: »

Has anyone tried apple cider vinegar on fish & chips? Been tempted to try it for ages but don't want to ruin a good dinner!

Personally, i don't like acv at all! But if it's sour enough and you like the taste, yeah why not.

My problem is i can't get sour enough vinegars! Even the Sarsons has seemed to lack the punch for me.

caviardreams · 09-11-2020 07:53PM

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Personally, i don't like acv at all! But if it's sour enough and you like the taste, yeah why not.

My problem is i can't get sour enough vinegars! Even the Sarsons has seemed to lack the punch for me.

I agree - try the chef chip shop condiment maybe? I find that better than sarsons - we need a support group :-)

igCorcaigh · 09-11-2020 07:55PM

caviardreams wrote: »

I agree - try the chef chip shop condiment maybe? I find that better than sarsons - we need a support group :-)

Totally! I might take the advice in the recent discussion and source my acetic acid. Always loved chemistry anyway

RasTa · 11-11-2020 08:17PM

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Frys-Selection-Box-Peppermint-Vegetarians/dp/B07YNY8BP1/ref=sr_1_28?dchild=1&keywords=chocolate+bar&qid=1605125775&sr=8-28

+ the strawberry cream one

Seen all these in the pound shop over here. Never knew there was so many flavours.

General Chat Thread II

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