[Percocetti]

When I was a kid my mother would make jam and pickles and bottled fruit when stuff was in season, this woud usually last us through the winter and into spring - some things even longer. No refrigeration, just a normal (for those days) large cupboard on an outside wall and ventilated. We rarely if ever lost any due to mould or other deterioration.

On farms some stock was kiled and preserved (especially bacon/ham, salt beef and smoked meat and fish) this also lasted through the winter, potatoes and other veg was stored in "clamps"

Nowadays shop bought pickles, jams etc bear warnings to keep refrigerated, use within a short period etc.

Has pickling lost its power to preserve? Why doesn't bacon and ham keep, even in the frig?

Or are we just being conned to get through stuff quick or throw it away and buy more?

My son in law has a whole shelf of the frig full of jams and pickles! (He also puts the lid down on the loo, not just the seat, even though there are no women in the house!)

[gSjQEEmq]

Oh yes, we are being conned - Throw away and buy more!!! Following the guidelines for canning, pickling, and preserving which was handed down through the generations, one never had problems. Todays "throw it away" society has caused us to break away from time-honoured traditions - No doubt about it!!!!!!!!

[theonsushv]

I agree definitely we are being conned. My mother would make jams, pickles and marmalade, the taste was so much better than the stuff you buy now.


Margaret

[CKDIWEQ]

I agree definitely we are being conned. My mother would make jams, pickles and marmalade, the taste was so much better than the stuff you buy now.Margaret

Absolutely spot on with that Margaret ... today's stuff is filled with preservatives to help them last longer ... pretty soon it will be all preservatives and no food value and at that time we will probably take a pill instead of eating a plate of food.

Indeed we are being both "conned" & canned, in more ways than one.

[Yessaniloas]

"Conned and canned" - So right you are, Kh........

[RalfDweflywex]

We do not take too much notice of eat by dates. Also we brougt lamb, sasuages and bacon home from Wales. Tastes fantastic as the animals there are feed on grass, crop not crap.

teddy

[Grewlybreekly]

Even now I still can some fruits/veg. and make preserves every summer/fall for winter time as I live in a rural area. With Dec 2012 coming up I plan alot more this fall just in case we can not buy things for awhile if we lose power..nothing will work for awhile if even available.