Bread and flour prices to rise after poor harvest

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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,

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

''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

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!

^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.

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.....)

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!

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.

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

I make all my own bread, a bag of flour goes a long way!

When you have kneaded proved, baked etc you tend not to waste, partly because it’s so delicious it gets eaten and because you appreciate the finished product so much more.

I’m sure a large percentage of supermarket bread is binned.

I am ordering more plain and SF flour from Asda this week, but they are quite small packets that are available. Might have to resort to getting a large sack if it is going to be difficult to get - heaven knows where I'll keep it!!

Can you freeze flour? Asking for a friend

Farmers who haven't already sold their milling wheat will hang on to it now to get a higher price if they are in a financial situation where they can do that.

It happened with potatoes after the 1976 drought. Supply and demand.

Who can blame them? It's often the other way round with supermarkets squeezing the life out of them.

On another food note - there’s a poor blueberry harvest (in the US) so I wonder what other food shortages we can look forward to during the Winter.

Hunt out Keto King bread on u tube, it’s flour free and just amazing. I only have this now and don’t bother with any other bread

The food consumed in the UK is the cheapest in Western Europe - costing 8% less than the EU average, according to EU statistical body Eurostat. It is also much cheaper in relative terms than the food bought by Britons' parents and grandparents.

It is, *WOODMOUSE^

I think the UK is about 3rd on the list of countries which spend the lowest proportion of average income on food.

That is not to say that some people are not struggling but our food is relatively cheap.

Quick!! Rush out, panic buy, don't delay. There is a very strong rumour that unicorns will be scarce. Lots of love, Project Fear

The food consumed in the UK is the cheapest in Western Europe - costing 8% less than the EU average, according to EU statistical body Eurostat. It is also much cheaper in relative terms than the food bought by Britons' parents and grandparents.

Arable farmers grow what’s needed to meet a demand. A good harvest is when all the seed farmers sow grows. I’m not a farmer but why should we expect the farmer then lower the price?

Cost of bread, flour and cereal hasn’t gone up in my supermarket. I bought one of each yesterday, as I do every week.

We all saw and heard of those struggling to get essentials during lockdown. I’ve been very disappointed to read on here others being encouraged to stockpile.

Maybe we'll have to eat a little less things with wheat in. Pies, cakes, biscuits, bread, pasta - would do most of us good. Sorry to be a bit po faced about it, but as someone who can't eat wheat without getting a hangover, I suspect it is not really good for a lot of people, but they don't know it.

mittenma - yes. Exactly. That's what I said???