Don't know if you've noticed but one of the things that's been sneakily creeping up in price is parsnips. There was a time when they were one of the cheapest vegetables around during the winter months. Now, like many seasonal veg it seems, they sell at a premium.
Unless they're dirty, that is. Yesterday I bought a handsome quartet at my local greengrocer for just 48p a lb. In Tesco they were selling at over twice as much at £1.28 for a 500g pack. Just because they were washed.
I'd rather have my parsnips dirty, thankyou - and my carrots and spuds (£1 for 5lbs at Terry's) It only takes a couple of minutes to scrub them clean. Worth 50p in anyone's book I would have thought.
What do you reckon? Do you mind a bit of mud or does it put you off?
I grow most of my own stuff at the moment, so no, dirt doesn't put me off in the slightest. And if getting stuff out of the garden sometimes feels like too much effort at the end of the day, especially when you've realised that you've left it late, and it's dark, and wet and muddy, and the vegetable in question will need more than just a quick wash because of the creepy crawlies lurking within - then I fall back on frozen peas or stuff I've frozen from an earlier season. I really object to plastic wrapped and bagged vegetables.
ReplyDeleteFair point, Catherine, and there's nothing wrong with frozen veg. Some, such as peas, broad beans and spinach can be every bit as good as fresh though not, curiously green or runner beans, which I never think quite work frozen
ReplyDeleteI know someone who only ever buys their veg peeled, sliced and packed in those little plastic packs. What a waste of money!
ReplyDeleteI am quite happy to have dirty root veg ! it actually should keep better with the dirt on. I have had problems in the past where I have bought, say, washed spuds, only to find that beneath the pristibe surface they are largely manky within.
ReplyDeleteAlso if are going to peel the veg before cooking, you can peel them with the dirt still on then rinse the veg after.
It is a waste, NSM, and not as healthy either.
ReplyDeleteSo if we're all happy to buy dirty veg why don't more shops sell them?
Nothing, in fact its reassuring that its not been over treated (although this may not be true)! It almost makes it a bit more authentic. It's also good because it serves as a logical reminder to give it a clean...
ReplyDeleteMy view exactly, Robin. Thankyou!
ReplyDeleteI'd take the dirty but cheap ones any day. Why bother paying for them to be cleaned?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to wash them at home, before using anyway - so a little extra scrubbing is no problem.