[juliec]

Hi all,

after asking on the growing forum about cauli leaves  and whether they can be eaten, every one was very helpful and told me that just about everything goes in their stock pots.  This now poses a cooking question, If I put everything in the stock pot, how long does vegetable stock last in the fridge and what can I do with it appart from make soup?

any and all help is gratefully received as im very new to growing my own and cooking it and I dont like to waste anything.

happy cooking and growing.

Jools

xx

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Juliec, I only use my stock for soups, stews and curry bases, but I freeze it in margarine tubs, lasts forever then!

[juliec]

Thanks granny Annie

[Aidy]

As granny, all my stocks are frozen but I use bags.

[GrannieAnnie]

Funny you should say that Aidy!  I once had a lady on freecycle asking for margarine tubs for freezing soup as she never gets many of them. 

I told her what I do sometimes if I'm short of tubs, is wait until soup, stock or whatever is cold then tip it into a bag inside the tub.  take all the air out and freeze it.  Then take the bag out of the tub.  Takes up less room in the freezer, and they stack well because of the 'tub' shape! 

[madcat]

Hi Juliec, I only use my stock for soups, stews and curry bases, but I freeze it in margarine tubs, lasts forever then!

A good stock is the making of a rissotto!  A sunday roast chicken is often a thursday rissotto with stock made from the carcass sometime in between.  Easy when the week is taking its toll ...

I do the bag in a box thing with leftover stews etc too ...  its really efficient.

I wouldn't put brassiccas in a stock pot - personal taste perhaps, but I'm not keen on the resulting flavour.  Try before you go mad with caulis and cabbage in stocks would be my advice just in case your taste buds are like mine. 

[Trillium]

I find the same thing, Madcat - brassicas simply overpower the chicken flavour. I save them for tomato soup based soups and go easy on them, otherwise, it's windy season around here.

My favourite is to fill serving sized freezer containers with finished soups and freeze them for days I've been working hard outside and need a nourishing fast meal. My soups always include beans or lentils as well as veg and some meat.

[1st time veg grower]

Funny you should say that Aidy!  I once had a lady on freecycle asking for margarine tubs for freezing soup as she never gets many of them. 

I told her what I do sometimes if I'm short of tubs, is wait until soup, stock or whatever is cold then tip it into a bag inside the tub.  take all the air out and freeze it.  Then take the bag out of the tub.  Takes up less room in the freezer, and they stack well because of the 'tub' shape! 

That is such a good idea! I have just run out of tubs for my soup... 

[GrannieAnnie]

     My good deed for the day obviously!!   

[Jonajo]

a freshly made stock will last several days in the fridge.

I am a real-stock lover: not that bland, expensive liquid stock you can buy in pots from the fresh chiller at the supermarket, and not the over-salted and not-too-nice stuff in cubes that need rehydrating (and cannot be reduced at all without becoming vile - and a stock really should be able to be reduced to give the best sauces!!).

But a great homemade vegetable stock or else one made with a chicken carcus (and simmered for a few hours): pure heaven.

I use plastic sealable take-away cartons (of which I have scores in the larder) and freeze stock in them: I have a shelf in one of my freezers precisely for stock varieties and a great soup, a lovely risotto or a tasty sauce are only 20 mins or so away....

[GrannieAnnie]

Well after the Dexter was cut up on Saturday, Brian said I'll put some of the bones in the stock pot for you!  That was nice of him wasn't it?  But the cooker switch blew up, so it was sunday before they got cooked properly.  The stock was doing really well, then I took the bones out and left the stock to cool.

Brian came in the lounge and said that stock is going to be really nice.  Yes I know it is I said.  Yeah, because I put an oxo cube in it he replied!!!!

I give up!!!!  He put an oxo cube in my stock pot!   

I asked him why he put a stock cube in the stock and he said its not a stock cube, its beef extract!

I give up!

[Oliveview]

Did you not take him out side and give him a good hose down with the cold water Ann for being such a numpty?
Pamela

[madcat]

    If 'im indoors did that to my stock, he would be singing treble for the rest of his days! Are you sure he wasnt winding you up?   

[catllar]

Our milk here comes in Plastic bottles with nice wide necks, perfect for freezing stock and soups.

[juliec]

what a brilliant idea Catllar!