Bread and flour prices to rise after poor harvest

If ever you holiday abroad in self catering accommodation you realise how very cheap our food is here...
Still hard for some though, I am definitely aware of that.

Ever since the shortages at the start of lockdown I'm keeping my cupboards filled. I'm not hoarding, just buying new as soon as I use something rather than waiting 'til I'm down to the last one of something. I used to keep well stocked but after wasting a few things that lurked at the back of the cupboard that went badly out of date I kept my cupboard less full so I could easily see what was there. Now I'm going for fuller cupboards again. I suspect a no-deal brexit will result in shortages again and I don't intend to be fighting in the aisles to get necessities. As usual it will be the poorest who suffer as they can't afford to stock up and can only buy just enough to get by!

netflixfan

Can you freeze flour? Asking for a friend

Yes you can. In fact, it’s advantageous to do so as it kills any weevils that may be present ( not a nice thought I know.....)

^Missfoodlove
Just googled it! 44% of supermarket bread is thrown.^

I wonder how much more was wasted when people hoarded back in March/April. Lets just hope that doesn't happen again.

Thanks for this. Just done a click and collect grocery order, and am going to add flour and assorted dried fruits. I usually make 3 Christmas cakes in October, so will buy the ingredients now. Might even make them earlier this year, as have plenty of time on my hands!
Better safe than sorry!

''If ever you holiday abroad in self catering accommodation you realise how very cheap our food is here...''

Have never asked for cheap... just tasty and good quality
We can eat the traiteur stuff we buy in France with joy. a little goes further and it does not signal that it contains a whole load of substitutes

Would appreciate a simple/reliable recipe for sourdough bread/rolls please. Be gentle. Assume no knowledge. I'm a complete novice. Thanks.

Don’t eat bread so don’t really care.... but stocking up!! Doesn’t that cause shortages for people who can’t ‘stock up’. Doesn’t seem nice,

Perhaps when we shop we should make sure we buy some items for the local foodbank .

Kim19

Would appreciate a simple/reliable recipe for sourdough bread/rolls please. Be gentle. Assume no knowledge. I'm a complete novice. Thanks.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sourdough-bread

It also includes if you do it in a mixer. My daughter uses this recipe. Her sourdough is lovely.

My arthritis is bad so I can't kneed (don't have a mixer) but I love sourdough and buy it every week. Good luck.

Saggi

Don’t eat bread so don’t really care.... but stocking up!! Doesn’t that cause shortages for people who can’t ‘stock up’. Doesn’t seem nice,

I so agree. It both saddens and angers me to see GN comments encouraging panic buying. Lessons are never learnt by some.

MandL

netflixfan

Can you freeze flour? Asking for a friend

Yes you can. In fact, it’s advantageous to do so as it kills any weevils that may be present ( not a nice thought I know.....)

Also you can keep flour in a freezer indefinitely, without it degrading in any way. Just remember to get out the amount you need well ahead of using it so it can reach room temperature. Not a problem if you don't, but it will take longer to rise if used straight from the freezer and may affect the texture of the finished product.

When the individual is presented with scarcity, they will make the rational choice that optimises personal satisfaction.

It is no good going off the deep end about panic buying etc. The only way to mitigate against such behaviour is to introduce rationing.

Rationing won’t be necessary if either a rational deal is done with europe, or we cancel brexit. As it is unlikely that either will happen then you must expect this sort of behaviour.

@NotSpaghetti I'm sorry but you seemed to be saying that import tax was the problem and not climate impacts, which is the problem this time and in the future. Deals with other countries will not make any difference as, all countries will be struggling to feed their populations.

panic buying is people not being organised for eg a coming cold season and perhaps snow, so the weather forcast comes on and there is snow and they panic buy. Many of us are preppers and have been rural/semi-rural during bad winters, we never let bad winters catch us out. It is called being prudent and we have well stocked cupboards. That is good housekeeping, nothing less

craftyone

panic buying is people not being organised for eg a coming cold season and perhaps snow, so the weather forcast comes on and there is snow and they panic buy. Many of us are preppers and have been rural/semi-rural during bad winters, we never let bad winters catch us out. It is called being prudent and we have well stocked cupboards. That is good housekeeping, nothing less

?

If anyone does buy a sack of flour keep it well enclosed in a cool place. Flour can become infested, especially in warm damp weather.

There are 3 basic types of wheat grown in the UK, used for Bread, Biscuits and Animal feed. They are not interchangeable, in a good Year UK wheat can supply our needs but some is imported for special products.

This year Bread wheat is going to be very short and probably 50% will have to be imported, prices will be higher but there will be no shortage. There is ample global supply and flour mills are geared up to efficiently handle imports likely to come from Canada and the US.

I wonder how much flour got chucked because it was out of date before people used it, those who over bought in lockdown.

It doesn’t help to be told there will be shortages, and that prices will rise. Sometimes I think ignorance is bliss.

Saggi

Don’t eat bread so don’t really care.... but stocking up!! Doesn’t that cause shortages for people who can’t ‘stock up’. Doesn’t seem nice,

Buying a little extra over a long period of time does not cause shortages. “Prepping”

Buying 6 at once when a shortage is likely is what causes the issues. “Panic buying”

mittenma yes, you are right about my earlier post - I didn't mention the inexorable effects of climate change. I do think that this will change everything especially longer-term.

The OP was about this year though, and although the harvest has been very poor here as well as in many parts of Europe and the Black Sea region, there are other areas (according to the IGC) that haven't been so badly hit.

I don't know what has happened in Canada for example - which grows a lot of wheat that produces strong flour.

If we are having to import more, wherever it comes from, after Brexit it's likely to be more expensive because of taxes than it would be otherwise.

WOODMOUSE49

Saggi

Don’t eat bread so don’t really care.... but stocking up!! Doesn’t that cause shortages for people who can’t ‘stock up’. Doesn’t seem nice,

I so agree. It both saddens and angers me to see GN comments encouraging panic buying. Lessons are never learnt by some.

Who's encouraged panic buying though? Stocking up at a slow pace, maybe adding one or two extra to your usual shop, but leaving plenty for everyone else, doesn't strike me as panic buying.

I've been doing this for weeks now, anticipating a second lockdown with a return to actual panic buying. I've a good stock of tins, jars and packets and I don't believe that by buying two extra cans of chopped tomatoes a week has left shortages for anyone else.

To me, panic buying is going in and literally clearing the shelves of things you don't even necessarily need, want or use.

HurdyGurdy

WOODMOUSE49

Saggi

Don’t eat bread so don’t really care.... but stocking up!! Doesn’t that cause shortages for people who can’t ‘stock up’. Doesn’t seem nice,

I so agree. It both saddens and angers me to see GN comments encouraging panic buying. Lessons are never learnt by some.

Who's encouraged panic buying though? Stocking up at a slow pace, maybe adding one or two extra to your usual shop, but leaving plenty for everyone else, doesn't strike me as panic buying.

I've been doing this for weeks now, anticipating a second lockdown with a return to actual panic buying. I've a good stock of tins, jars and packets and I don't believe that by buying two extra cans of chopped tomatoes a week has left shortages for anyone else.

To me, panic buying is going in and literally clearing the shelves of things you don't even necessarily need, want or use.

An example of rational behaviour!

I bet a lot of us are doing the same.

W49, you're a gem. Really appreciate your help. Thanks.

I am surprised about the food being cheaper in the UK than other European countries it certainly doesn’t feel like it! Certainly our shopping bills are very high but we do eat a lot of plant based things and tons of fresh fruit and veg which is all quite dear!