Thinking ahead

The Recycled Cook

By Adrian Sleeman

Thinking ahead


It might seem like a strange idea to buy with the idea of recycling in mind but the benefits, both in terms of flavour and value are worth the effort.

 An obvious example is chicken, why buy pieces of chicken, (breasts, legs, thighs) when you can buy a whole chicken for not much more.

 Apart from the fact that you are paying your supermarket to joint the chicken for you, you are also paying for all the individual packaging. I would also suggest that by doing this you afford to buy free range chickens rather than factory farmed ones, which personally I wont do. I might not be a vegetarian but I want to know that what I buy has been well treated.

 Getting back to the point of the exercise, buying a whole bird lets you plan ahead for several meals. After jointing the bird, you can freeze whatever meat is not going to be used immediately and break up the carcass to use for stock.

The same of course applies to any cut of meat that can be jointed and boned, why waste all that goodness and it is a great opportunity to use up any bits of herbs or vegetables that look like they are past their best.

 If you really want to take this to the extreme buy your fish from your local fishmonger or the fresh fish counter at your supermarket and fillet it yourself, a bit more demanding but with a little practice well worthwhile. I will cover how to prepare and fillet fish fully in a later blog as it is needs special attention.

See previous blog on making stock: http://therecycledcook.making stock


When it comes to vegetables, we have become so used to buying pre-packed and washed vegetables that have little or no flavour, go back to basics, buy fresh fruit and vegetables that have not been force grown. You will be amazed at the difference in flavour and, if kept in a cool dry place, rather than the fridge, well will not go rotten in a week.

 Once again you are making savings by not paying someone else to wash, peel and even chop (I know sad isn't it) your vegetables. If you really want to get the most from those vegetables you can always prepare a batch, blanch them for just a few minutes (I will cover this in another blog) and then freeze them. 

 Bag them in amounts that you can comfortably use in a singe meal to avoid waste. It is not easy separating a large volume of frozen vegetables. I was recently given a large quantity of runner beans from a neighbour's allotment which are now sitting in my freezer, freshly blanched and ready to cook.

 If you don't have friends with allotments make some, they are friendly people and will often produce far more than they or their family can use. Believe me they will be grateful to see their crops going to good use and of course you can always contribute towards the cost of growing them, which I guarantee will be far less than you are paying now.

 The same technique of blanching and freezing comes in useful too when you buy marked down supermarket produce which is close to its sell by date. I also find that often, market stall holders, particularly farmers markets are receptive to offers late in the day when they are about to close because they will most likely not sell what they have left over on another day.

 I have always been impressed by the way food markets in Europe display their produce, maybe if we took as much care here more people would by fresh produce rather than supermarket food. Saying that I am very impressed with the way some supermarkets have started to display their fresh produce with humidity control sprays to keep them fresh.

Disclaimer: The suggestions and tips on these blog pages are meant to be used in conjunction with common sense. Keeping your family healthy is the priority. Do not use food that is unfit for human consumption and always follow sensible food hygiene guidelines.  

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