Checking Our Food: Throw or Save??

[@leslieliptak7218]

I’ll never forget cleaning out my grandma’s apartment and going through the cupboards and finding all the surprises in there. Bulging cans, 10 year old cake mix, ancient jars of peanut butter…. This was back in the 70s when there were no expiration or best by dates. My sister and I took markers and drew skulls and crossbones on the stuff and wrote POISON on everything before we threw it in the dumpster out back because we were terrified that some homeless person would pick them out and eat them. Still makes me laugh thinking about us trying to get those cans outside without them exploding.

[@suzz1776]

Lol. Funny story and glad u guys were thinking of others b4 u just tossed them. Good on u!!!

[@chips1031]

“If in doubt, throw it out”

[@shelly8387]

Yes. Words to live by when it comes to many things in our life.

[@maxibake9323]

Absolutely 100% my Mantra. 👍❤️🙂🐶

[@amandamodin4912]

This was my mom’s saying & I too live by it.

[@bakokat6982]

That’s my criteria too.

[@dawnbellaman1559]

I think that your are a great teacher and I have learned so much from you. This is a great, helpful video.

[@monicaricher8248]

I love your hair curly. Actually it’s beautiful.

[@beth4463]

I had to make a safety decision a few minutes ago. I was making relish and when I went to grab turmeric from the cabinet, a jar fell out and chipped my bowl. I couldn't locate all the pieces, so I had to assume some went into the cucumbers. I decided it wasn't worth having a health problem from eating relish with ceramic chips in it, so it's going to be thrown out. Like you said, our health is more important than the waste. And now I know for next time to get everything on the counter before I start a canning project.

[@cynthiafisher9907]

If they were tiny, you probably could have washed them off in a colander. Even if they didn’t all come out, they probably wouldn’t hurt you.

[@daisy8284]

@@cynthiafisher9907 why take the chance with our health? And I’m sure ceramic chips, no matter the size, definitely could hurt a person. No need to go to the hospital to avoid throwing out a cucumber.

[@Monnon55]

Use your “newbie mistake” ground into a powder in fruit bread or in a bunt cake, it gives a true flavor better than any extract!

[@Annawaj]

Good idea. I take my dehydrated fruit, powder it, and make smoothies with them.

[@sherylh4780]

Another channel, that does almost exclusively dehydrating, pulls out the items she knows take time to rehydrate and plans to use for the next day. She rehydrates them in a jar the night before in the refrigerator. She says it just requires more time for some foods. Not every food rehydrates quickly. Love your channel.

[@donnabryson7145]

As I have said before, I love learning from you! Thanks to Jim for all he does behind the scene. The 2 of you are a good team!

[@annabarnett8558]

I watch this video, went to pantry. The first three jars I checked was unsealed thank you for the reminder to check. Saved me from a mess

[@dutchgram3799]

I always learn something when I watch and listen to your videos. Thank you.

[@bakokat6982]

Rose those freeze dried, strawberries and bananas will be yummy to snack on, and are excellent to use with breakfast cereals and oatmeal.

[@nadinefrandsen6087]

Great presentation! If it were me, I’d make a trail mix or snack mix of sorts and package in baggies with your freeze dried bananas and strawberries for when you’re away from home running errands or whatever. Good little purse snack💗

[@francesbunderman8096]

Thank you much,I use many of your great,hints and ideas

[@tracyhardwick2695]

Thank you for showing what went wrong. This is such a learning lesson for all of us.

[@sonyareeder7855]

I sure appreciate beyond words that you are NOT perfect. Whew! What a relief! That helps me know that it's "okay" it make mistakes. Even the experts do. Like I tell my husband, "at least I'm trying, which better than nothing at all" it's always a learning experience and will always be.

[@brendadunham2442]

Thank you for spending your time producing these videos. It just breaks my heart that children are not taught home economics. I will admit I did not take it, I didn’t need to because my family was already practicing self reliance in food, sewing, gardening, repairs ect…. Yes we were farmers, hunters gatherers. I raised my children to be self sufficient thinkers as well and it has paid off for them in many ways throughout their lives so far and I hope in these tough times their struggles will be fewer then most. It is sad that most of society doesn’t have a clue and if they do they just don’t know where to begin. So thank you for your videos, I sincerely hope those that are struggling are watching and learning. Ok I have to go take my venison out of my All American canner, I process venison from the previous year to empty my freezer so I can start again this fall. My freezer will be filled with a whole beef in a couple weeks, hopefully a hog this fall and 3 whitetail deer this fall. I will also have another freezer just for frozen vegies. My hubby likes frozen string beans and sweet corn. I will be canning tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin, jalapeños and dehydrating peppers garlic and onions. Still haven’t decided on canning potatoes maybe a few for grins otherwise they are going into food cellar along with sweet potatoes and onions and apples from my orchard. I have 50 cans of beans already canned, various types, blueberries canned, cherry pie filling, pineapple, chicken thighs in Mexican spices, pears, pea soup, bean soup, and tomatoes from last year 12 quarts remaining from 75. 30 salsa pints remaining from 2021. I have beef broth and chicken broth along with 12 pints spicey Mexican venison and 14 wets venison burger with garlic and onion. I am frugal. Lol. I do not like grocery store prices!

[@marylaborde6151]

Girl! You are an over achiever! 😂

[@MonkeyToDaddy]

Thank you for showing this video. I watch you and you always amaze me with your knowledge and I always second guess myself. Knowing at some point, I'll fall short of...I don't know...being perfect in food preparation and food safety. This video helps me see I am not alone. I appreciate you sharing the issues that can and will arise when making and storing food. Safety always has to come first. PS...Jim always does a wonderful job answering our questions. You two are so giving of yourselves and I thank you for that 🙏💯

[@RoseRedHomestead]

PJ: Thank you from both from both of us. Jim

[@feduptexan311]

Same principle applies in the surgical world…….No matter what it is that is sterile if any question of sterility comes into play….when in doubt throw it out…..even if it happens to be something that is in limited supply and delays the case…..SAFETY first….

[@sueeus4869]

Strawberries & bananas- trail mix comes to mind. And overnight smoothies or oatmeal. Love these videos! I always, always learn something new! 🌹❤️

[@greenfoxgaming6721]

Watching your video has been another learning experience for me. Thank-you ❤

[@floridaglitz]

I love those meatballs….I love them even more canned with beef broth…So delicious 😋 We had meatball subs the other night….It was melt in your mouth Yum! Thank You….!

[@imeverywoman3582]

The Costco meatballs can be canned??? That’s a game changer!!!!!

[@nancyst.john-smith3891]

@@imeverywoman3582 there is a video on canning them and a follow-up as to why it’s safe even though there is a bit of flour in them. Search “Roseredhomestead canning meatballs” on KZbin.

[@denisewoodward3486]

If you powder the freeze dried strawberries and bananas, dip homemade ice cream or yogurt popsicles in the powder. I've seen others doing that.

[@BigRedNavyChick]

Hello lovely lady! :D I'm new to dehydrating/canning/freeze drying. So far of the three I've only done dehydrating. I'm grateful for your videos because they explain why things should be done, rather than just telling people what to do or showing a final product. It's been very helpful for me and I appreciate all that you're teaching me through your videos. Thank you so much. :D God bless you and your wonderful family. Have an awesome day! :D

[@RoseRedHomestead]

Frosty: It sounds like you are off to a great start. We agree, if you just tell people to do something without the reason(s) behind the action, then what is the point? Jim

[@wendydronen4418]

Thank you

[@lotus....]

You could also chop the bananas & strawberries to use in muffins etc. or in smoothies (once rehydrated).

[@dianeanderson8933]

Or in yogurt, or just to snack on.

[@cathydavis9259]

rehydrate the bananas and strawberries with strawberry juice. Make a glaze from the remainder juice and use as a filling in a cake or top an angel food cake plus whip cream.

[@juliesmith7669]

Thank you that was very helpful and a good reminder and thank you for sharing that even a season canner or dehydrator still has issues

[@yardenrice]

Love your channel and all the knowledge you freely share with us! Thank you!!

[@osageprairie4211]

I have a can of Keystone canned meat that I accidentally left in our R.V. I discovered that the seal had popped. I set it aside trying to determine if it was safe. Plus they are so expensive right now. Pam you gave me the motivation to just get rid of it. I won't leave any canned foods in our camper any more. We live in Oklahoma and it's just too hot. Lesson learned!

[@kellygarnet6329]

Any can of food even if commercially canned is not safe if the can has swollen or changed shape. Toss it. I'm glad you did the right thing.

[@suzieblair8089]

Pam, you crack me up! Every video you start out with thanking us for watching and supporting your channel, it is us that thanks you and Jim for everything! For me and I am sure for many others, every video I am thinking how grateful I am to have found you!!!! Thank you

[@RoseRedHomestead]

Suzie: You are welcome and thank you for watching our channel. Jim

[@dianemramsey1]

I like to think of food storage as being like car insurance. I buy it and hope to never use it. If I have to throw it out and lose money it’s ok. I don’t get money back from car insurance either. Thank you for all you do!! FYI I freeze dry cooked cream of wheat and eat it like cookies. Adding sweetened condensed milk to the pot makes it extra delicious. I have some batches with blended blueberries or mixed fruit. It’s a big hit with family and friends.

[@cm9743]

Hi Diane, you know I never thought about food storage that way. You are right about car insurance, for example, as well. We need car insurance and if we never make a claim, does that mean it was a waste of money all those years? Of course not!

[@crystald3655]

It's far safer to regularly rotate through your stored food, replacing old with new. As a low income person that doesn't have the best food security, I would rather be able to eat it and save some money than throw that money into the trash.

[@gardengrowinmawmaw8642]

Use the strawberries and bananas as a snack right out of the jar, put in cold or hot cereal, throw in smoothies. Powder them to add to foods to flavor; puddings, cake icing. Put them in Mylar bags for your GO-Bags.

[@stacyberry6097]

I have dehydrated things I probably won't eat or eat in time. My idea for those items are chickens need food to. I make a big bucket of food for my chickens with the items we are not interested in eating. Saves big on my feed bill. My friends give me foods, fruit or greens they don't want, so I dehydrate for my chickens. They love it.

[@sweetcasiopea2080]

Valuable information, impeccable timing! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!!

[@carlapickard6579]

Oh Pam, you are such a good teacher! Thank you for driving home the point that food safety must always be more important than thriftiness!

[@RoseRedHomestead]

Carla: You are so welcome and thanks for watching our channel. Jim

[@RainbowSoupGardener]

Use the lemons to freshen your garbage disposal. You did your best, don't beat yourself up. It's good that you share your successes and "opportunities" with us, so we can all learn. The only true failure is the failure of not trying. I would try the meatballs in the instant pot, under pressure, to rehydrate. Love the channel, keep up the great work! Peace and blessings to y'all. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@tammyhall3770]

Thank you for all you do.... I appreciate all i'm learning..

[@sheilathomas4654]

Thank You for reminder to check your jars❣️

[@susanaditter2522]

Condition Condition dehydrated foods before vacuum packing IS my mantra

[@lindacostelloe2361]

Brilliant, thank you. Great to see a visual.

[@sheilam4964]

Bravo. SHOWING this, the not so good, is just as important as TALKING about this. All food preservers learn and SEE this after a while but NEWBIES have not. Way back, when I was growing up, the learning mantra was "SEE, HEAR, DO". It was drilled into us regularly. It isn't done so much nowadays. I think that is why your channel is so successful. You do this and show it while explaining it on a regular basis and people are learning so much better from you. And now you have presented the 'not so good' in the same manner. Bravo. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@janetdw]

I grew up with “see, hear, do” as well. When I was doing my student teaching, my master teacher (who had been teaching for over 30 years) drilled that into me again. It was a kick to see that I’m not the only one who’s heard all that.

[@bakokat6982]

Rose, what a great and honest video. Very important information to be careful to assess our preserved foods and to remove and toss the failed preserved items. Thank you!❤️

[@RoseRedHomestead]

BakoKat: Glad it was helpful! Jim

[@piggyacres]

While I hate to waste food in my food storage program, I think of it as a kind of insurance. If something spoils, that is a claim on my "policy" just as when we need to use our storage for a disaster or other type of emergency situation.

[@danniemcdonald4903]

The first things that came to mind with the strawberries and bananas were yogurt mix-ins and milkshakes! Or, pick out the strawberries and make Strawberry Lemonade, All sound so good in this 100+ weather.

[@SandyVos2012]

Sweet lady, I am so grateful you are not perfect! That standard would be impossible for the rest of us to meet! Love watching your videos.

[@sherrymann1121]

You are amazing..know that what you do makes a difference

[@jayc6159]

The berries would go quick in my house powdered into smoothies and yogurt 🍓

[@cleotaylor1860]

Don throw your lemon wedges away. Fill your jar with white vinegar for a quick spot cleaner.

[@vannatran7934]

Mụch appreciate you both for your work and share.🥰

[@chelinfusco6403]

Thank you for sharing. I was thinking, wouldn't it work to powder the mix vegetables? You could use this powder for vegetable stock. The same with the extra jars of strawberries and bananas. Powered them and use them as flavoring on smoothies or milkshakes, or what ever you could think of. They look beautiful.

[@kellygarnet6329]

Great idea for the mixed veggies.

[@mpat23]

Great knowing what to look for. Thank you for sharing

[@elainediantonio1504]

I just purchased The Beginners Guide to Dehtdrating Food. It is an awesome tool to safe & great dehydrating. Great pics, descriptions, instructions & recipes. The tip you give to keep the color is great!

[@pamelarogers6143]

Thanks for the video. I will be checking my jars. Much appreciated

[@cindybehn9801]

Sure appreciate you learning and teaching us too!

[@realitycheck6]

Love you and your videos!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom!

[@paularizzo5217]

Mixed vegetables- add to stock making scraps; strawberries & bananas- mix in strawberry jello and to with whip topping....just a couple of ideas. I'm amazed at the difference in the dehydrated celery. Got to remember to add a bit of baking soda when blanching!!

[@kathygarner419]

Pam and Jim, I have always put a lot number or letter on every item in my stored food supply. Especially the home canned vegetables, it only takes a second to put a letter or number as well as the date. I do this for every batch processed. If you can 100 jars of one product then if a few jars start to suffer quality issues I can check that run or batch this prevents guessing and cuts down on food losses. Who wants to guess if that one jar among dozens of identical jars of product is from the batch with an issue. It also enables me to eliminate those items that are degrading faster to be place at the front of the line to be consumed.

[@shelbylamothe8833]

My grandkids and I would eat the heck out of those freeze-dried strawberries and bananas just as a snack. But, yes-they are great with oatmeal and yogurt! You can also use in quick breads, cookies and cakes! I can hardly wait for our freeze dryer to get here!!

[@donnamullins2089]

Anti Wasteful that's you. Well add the lemon wedges to the compost. There you used it. Mix strawberry and bananas in Jell-o or puddings, smoothies etc, Meatballs hydrate overnight in the refrigerator. Problems always have a solution. Good video. Thanks Pam and Jim.

[@krys7640]

Love all the ideas and tips! To add to the ongoing list- I use freeze dried strawberries to make the loveliest homemade strawberry buttercream frosting 😋

[@annswann1941]

Great reminder to check up on our shelves

[@hollyhancock2319]

Than k you for all you show. I ❤️ this channel

[@Monnon55]

I once heard a story and it has always stuck with me about dark fruit. (I do understand the difference about your lemons) A Relief group of women sent food after the war to a European country. The women noticed a burlap bag of dried fruit and almost didn’t send it because it was dark in color. However, the dried fruit was still good and they sent the burlap bag with the other food to Europe. When they received a thank you note from the European women; it had a special comment about the bag of dried fruit. The Orchards had been decimated by bombing and the Women had not had fresh fruit literally in years. They bragged about the burlap bag of fruit that almost didn’t get sent to them because of the dark color. I have always remembered this and thought about during the war and no “fruit fresh “ product to keep the drying fruit from turning dark. I totally understand your desire to salvage everything from being thrown away.

[@tendogman8222]

I love your videos. I love your knowledge and most of all I love your honesty. When I have a question about something, the first thing I do is go to your videos and 90% of the time. You answer any questions I may have. Jim you’re right. I’m 65 yrs old and I have always had a saying, “if in doubt, throw it out”

[@nancypatterson868]

Thanks so much for your honesty in sharing things that did not work. You both are great at making these videos to help us keep on going on our own paths.

[@pamt3915]

This is a great video! If you bake, turn the strawberries/bananas into powder & add to cake mixes or fresh homemade whipped cream. Congratulations on nearing 200,000 subscribers!!! 👏👏👏

[@Jport3]

Thank YOU for all you have done for us!! You are truly a blessing!!! God bless you!

[@sallyward9218]

Strawberries and bananas would also be good in smoothies!! - lots of great ideas ❣️

[@sandraw4763]

Oooh! Strawberry banana yogurt or ice cream!

[@redeemedbygrace9236]

I think the freeze dried strawberries & Bananas would be good on the kids cold cereal for breakfast as well as just snacking the way they are. We love freeze dried strawberries & Bananas but can't get the kids to eat fresh fruit. Someone commented on adding them to jello. What a great idea. Jello is loaded with protein as well.

[@jrae6608]

Powder strawberries and banana, use with plain yogurt, white cake, or just snack on.

[@nancyst.john-smith3891]

Another great video! My son in law would eat food long after the rest of us would have thrown it out. He has never been sick to my knowledge. He is lean and lanky, and athletically talented. May he always stay healthy! My daughter, who has a degree in nutrition, says her husband’s gut biome is so healthy she’s envious! I would definitely toss the two items you chose to toss, but leftovers and perishable foods now get a pass from me when the Best By date has lapsed if all else looks good.

[@terrym5786]

Excellent information. Thank you.

[@carriejones9890]

Make lemon vinegar for cleaning purposes!

[@bettyolis6228]

Ok, nearly perfect.Pam.😃

[@robertamarsh1712]

Smoothies work great with your choice of milk, juice 😋

[@katielin2379]

Powder up those strawberries and bananas. Put in ice cream for milk shakes or juice smoothies. Add to pancake batter camping.

[@jopou9166]

Just wanted to thank you for showing us how to make Ghee. I tried my hand today. I made 4 pints and 2 8 ounces. I am so amazed. Thank you for your video and all you do to help. I’m from SC.

[@RoseRedHomestead]

Jo: Thanks for letting us know the results of your ghee making. Jim

[@melodyvoss4074]

Thank you for sharing your “mistakes”. Gives the rest of us a lot of hope learning from you. I appreciate your eye for details. I’m doing all I can on a limited income so that hopefully can help daughter & son’s families and also my granddaughter. I write done notes bc my 2 brain cells don’t always work together. But all kidding aside I have brain fog from MS & fibromyalgia so I really appreciate you making my life easier. Now I just wish I could afford a freeze dryer but I do dehydrate

[@audreyherbest872]

I’m working on it

[@anointedrivers]

Always thankful and blessed for all you share .

[@jomarie6860]

I use my mixed veggies - dehydrated and powdered - in scrambled eggs. Eggs help me control my blood sugar and adding the mixed veg powder nutrition loads my breakfast!

[@dawnhumphries8912]

Rehydrate and turn your bananas and strawberries in a smoothie.

[@skylineranches]

Great info and valuable lessons. PS Love your jewelry.

[@omearica-rc6fp]

One point, the dehydrated celery that was not blanched with baking soda rehydrates easily. The colorful ones are not. They require much more effort, in fact boiling in order to rehydrate. I no longer use baking soda when dehydrating celery if I don't plan to use that celery for anything other than soups and stews or recipes where it will be boiled for quite a while. While I use the regular (not blanched in baking soda) will rehydrate in a bowl of water after about 5 minutes and is good for putting in tuna salad sandwiches. Point is there are other differences than merely retaining the color, baking soda makes the celery harder to reconstitute/rehydrate fully.

[@RoseRedHomestead]

omearica: Interesting information. Jim

[@idahohoosier8989]

Excellent! Blessings, julie

[@rebeccaknudsen6190]

I always look for your videos! Thanks so much for all you both do and teach! You're making the world a much better place one tutorial one book one visit at a time!

[@amyholden6706]

I’d use those lemons in little batches to freshen the garbage disposal!

[@sweetpea6843]

Great video..... Thank you for sharing

[@aftermidnight4867]

Firstly, we want to thank you and Jim for your awesome generosity! My husband and I have made the chicken meals already- and they’re fantastic! And oh so cost effective! We are grateful for your sharing! We love watching your channel- it’s like watching family to us! Thank you both for all you do! ❤️

[@cm9743]

Thank you for the info! Excellent video!

[@christinesoper3492]

Frugal/ great to compliment each other’s ideas

[@neilmunro6683]

Great vireo.. If they reconstitute well, they may go in fruit salad or as a filling for marang or as fruit pastries..Kindness your way Lochness Scottish Highlands..

[@minnietomlinson8761]

Another Great video. Thank hou

[@3Meitli]

Use the strawberries and bananas in a Swiss Birchermuesli. You can soak them over night with the oats.

[@Mary485]

I'm new to long term storage and I was thinking about this the other day. Great timing on this video. Now I know what to look for when we do our weekly check on our food storage. Thank you for your video.

[@jaha5761]

Those mixed vegetables can go into a fried rice with a dark soy sauce. I used up a 6-year-old jar of mixed vegies by making fried rice and also pancakes with a red miso base. Definitely keep 'em! As for the meatballs, I wonder if they rehydrate faster in a pressure cooker?

[@australianwoman9696]

Also if your making meat balls make them mini meat balls so it doesn't take so long?

[@jmcdaid620]

I appreciate this video. Started pressure canning 2 years ago and question some of the things I canned that first year. Would love to see more videos like this.

[@fedxiii]

I have freeze dried bananas that I plan on powdering and using to make banana muffins with when bananas become hard to get.

[@adsrentals]

Crush the meatballs...make anything you desire! I freeze dried a beautiful vodka meat sauce...but it left signs of fat on the parchment paper. I trimmed and ground London Broils (which were very lean to start) but wasn't confident finished product for long term storage. So I bagged up, took to work for my lunch selections. Anything can be repurposed... step out of the box! Fabulous channel, love you diligence to present accurate content!

[@RoseRedHomestead]

Thank you.