Grocery shopping tips during Coronavirus quarantine #3

[Tbone144]

We raided the freezer stash for Easter dinner. MIL bought a smoker so we smoked a ham we picked up cheap, some ribs that I had for a long time and a turkey I picked up for free or almost free after thanksgiving. We filled the smoker to maximize its use and then portioned things out into vacuum bags and put about half back in the freezer. Saved the turkey carcass for turkey and wild rice soup and the ham bone for split pea and ham soup in the future or maybe a black bean soup.

 

[weepingangel]

Parents face empty shelves as baby formula shortages worsen

 

[PayrollNerd]

Parents face empty shelves as baby formula shortages worsen

That’s going to be really hard on babies with allergies. Plus Moms without the means to travel to multiple stores trying to find formula.

 

[PayrollNerd]

May 8th, the Saturday before Mothers Day, is the USPS Food Drive. Time to peek in the pantry and see what you don’t need. Bag it and put it by the door. Then you won’t forget to take it to your mailbox that morning.

 

[SeattleStew]

I looked at the air fryers on Amazon. Too pricey and too big. I can’t imagine I’d use it more than a few times. Then, I looked at the combo toaster oven / air fryer. There’s one for $69 or so. The reviews mention that it’s not going to cook food like a traditional air fryer. I’m not swayed. I don’t want to have to clean it either.

I had this little Black & Decker toaster oven for years. We used it to do a single serving of tater tots, bake 2-3 cookies, toast, etc. That’s all I will use it for, especially now that the girls are in their own place. Cooking for one doesn’t warrant a huge expense.

At Publix, they barely had any tater tots and zero bags of the Crispy Crowns! I have my stash tho. I forgot cooking spray, dang it.

I haven't been able to find shredded style hash browns for weeks. No Ore-Ida, no store brands. I wonder why?

 

[PayrollNerd]

I haven't been able to find shredded style hash browns for weeks. No Ore-Ida, no store brands. I wonder why?

There’s a shortage here in SWFL too. That’s how my youngest determines a crisis…. When there’s no tater tots to be found. I had to tell her not to steal my stash. LOL!!

 

[Tbone144]

I haven't been able to find shredded style hash browns for weeks. No Ore-Ida, no store brands. I wonder why?

I found some for Easter weekend to make Funeral potatoes. Had to go to the Baytown Kroger for them. They were really sparse, was surprised I was able to get some. Most stores are completely sold out with signs saying “sorry”.

 

[JrzyGirl70]

I haven't been able to find shredded style hash browns for weeks. No Ore-Ida, no store brands. I wonder why?

They are hard to find here in New Jersey as well

 

[PayrollNerd]

I went to 1 small and 1 medium food distribution this week. I noticed the quantity of protein items is lower lately. Not pictured is a pkg of ground beef and a chicken breast meal. That’s plenty for me so I’m not complaining.

It was great to get a gluten free pizza and dairy free milk. My oldest is going to try the pizza. The youngest was happy to have the milk to go with all that cereal I gave her.

A friend is going to take that Hot Capicola. I have no idea what she’s going to use it for! I had never seen asparagus in a can before. My oldest likes fresh asparagus.

I have 4 bags of apples now. I need to make cooked apples and freeze them. I don’t think anyone will eat that apple pie.

I organized my chest freezer yesterday. Now I need to do the fridge’s freezer.

 

[PayrollNerd]

This is a helpful idea. Many houses sit empty for months.

Snowbirds asked to donate food to local food banks before leaving Suncoast

 

[155etta]

They are hard to find here in New Jersey as well

I live in Idaho and we are potato farmers. I live within 15 miles of 3 different potato processing plants and our local Walmart is also out of frozen potato products, go figure.

 

[mickey2942]

I went shopping last night, our kids are coming home for the weekend, I asked them what they wanted...steak. Of course.

Rib Eye, Top Sirloin steaks were marked down at the store, significantly. I think that folks are not buying expensive meat right now. Even marked down, they were pricey. Good thing these adult kids are grown up. Ha ha, maybe I should serve hot dogs, and tell them I thought they meant "tube steaks"!

 

[JrzyGirl70]

I live in Idaho and we are potato farmers. I live within 15 miles of 3 different potato processing plants and our local Walmart is also out of frozen potato products, go figure.

That is not the first I have heard that about potato's in Idaho!

Idaho is my retirement dream. BF and I are in the midst of planning our fall trip a few days in Boise and then up to McCall!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I went shopping last night, our kids are coming home for the weekend, I asked them what they wanted...steak. Of course.

Rib Eye, Top Sirloin steaks were marked down at the store, significantly. I think that folks are not buying expensive meat right now. Even marked down, they were pricey. Good thing these adult kids are grown up. Ha ha, maybe I should serve hot dogs, and tell them I thought they meant "tube steaks"!

Several weeks ago, Nino's was featuring whole beef tenderloins for $14.99#. We talked about getting one since we have no red meat in the freezer right now. We planned on leg of lamb and a spiral sliced ham for Easter, so we decided against another major meat purchase. Whole beef tenderloin is now 17.99# so we will not be getting one right now. Meat prices are just too high; we will only buy meat when it's on sale.

Nino's is raising prices on all of their store brand bakery products, so customers will pay about .50 more for most baked goods. Egg prices are ridiculous.

 

[JrzyGirl70]

Surprised your grocery store had Ribeye on sale right now. Ribs always get strong right now for Mothers Day, Memorial Day. Filet not a surprise at all for the same reason. Poultry always gets a little stronger in spring, but these prices are crazy and are going up again next week.

 

[mickey2942]

Surprised your grocery store had Ribeye on sale right now. Ribs always get strong right now for Mothers Day, Memorial Day. Filet not a surprise at all for the same reason. Poultry always gets a little stronger in spring, but these prices are crazy and are going up again next week.

They were not on "sale", they had been marked down, because of the date. No one seems to be buying expensive meat right now. So, these were way marked down, to get them off the shelf.

 

[JrzyGirl70]

Oh yes, sorry I misunderstood your post..

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I had to return something purchased through Amazon at Whole Foods yesterday. I had not been in WH since the beginning of the pandemic and had only been in the store a few times since it opened in the Village of Rochester Hills several years ago. The new store was gorgeous, and I thought I might like to shop there occasionally. Covid came, and I never went there but DH might have stopped in a few times. I was shocked to see the deterioration in the store now that it is run by Amazon! What was once a beautiful food emporium now looks like a tacky thrift store. Whole Foods always had an aisle of homeopathic/natural remedies, skin care products, etc., but now there are multiple aisles of non-food items - underwear, socks, swimwear, flip-flops, toys/games, greeting cards/paper goods, soaps, candles, etc. I was anxious to get out of there and didn't even want to visit the wine and cheese departments

The Troy Whole Foods store that I used to visit fairly regularly closed a few years ago, with a new store opening just down the street in Birmingham. I'd always hoped to visit the newest local Whole Foods after the pandemic, but I doubt that I'd go now since it opened following the Amazon takeover

 

[PayrollNerd]

After being in the hospital for 5 days, I needed some convenience foods. I feel guilty but I’m too tired to cook or food prep.

$5.29 pkg of scalloped potatoes. I got hot soup on the soup bar, 12 oz $4.99. A Publix brand thin crust frozen pizza $$5.50.

These particular items seemed high to me. Not that everything else isn’t but anyway.

My kids ate 1/2 a bag of my tater tots but they found some. The section was being restocked when the youngest went to Publix.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

After being in the hospital for 5 days, I needed some convenience foods. I feel guilty but I’m too tired to cook or food prep.

$5.29 pkg of scalloped potatoes. I got hot soup on the soup bar, 12 oz $4.99. A Publix brand thin crust frozen pizza $$5.50.

These particular items seemed high to me. Not that everything else isn’t but anyway.

My kids ate 1/2 a bag of my tater tots but they found some. The section was being restocked when the youngest went to Publix.

Hey @PayrollNerd I am sorry you were in the hospital. I hope you are on the road to recovery. Take good care and for sure take advantage of convenience foods!