Between March 1942 and November 1946, more than 200 Ministry of Food short ‘Food Flash’ films were shown in British cinemas. With each film reaching an estimated audience of 20 million, the Food Flash series was a way for the British government to help people better understand rationing as well as provide tips on everything from keeping milk fresh to cooking with dried eggs.
Here are eight helpful hints from the Food Flash series.
“There are more potatoes about now. Some of them are a bit smaller than usual. They’re little and good. And, like this, they’re equally good with jacket on or off.”
1. Potatoes Are Equally Good With Jacket On Or Off
Food Flash - Small Potatoes.
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“Enjoying those herrings? Oh, yes, I see what you mean, the bones. Well, why don’t you bone them like this? Hold the herring with the fork and cut down the back with a knife and open out flat. Lift out the backbone. It’s a good idea, make no bones about it if you see what I mean.”
2. Boning A Herring Is Easy
Food Flash - Demonstration of how to bone a herring.
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“They may not be in uniform anymore but there are still plenty of dates about. See what I mean. This kind of date for instance is only four points a pound. And this other kind of date, what’s the best point about this one? Mm-hmm”
3. There are plenty of dates about
Food Flash - Dried Fruit: Dates.
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“You’ll want your personal ration book now if you want to buy sweets. You can go to any sweet shop, yes, this one will do, young fella. And for a start everyone will get the same amount and that is two ounces a week.”
4. Your ration book can be used at any sweet shop
Food Flash - Personal Ration Book.
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“If you want to cook well, you must measure well. Not as carefully as this, but not as carelessly as this. Here’s an example: Put in the spoon, scrape off the surplus with a knife and there you have a level spoonful, the basic measure in most recipes.”
5. If you want to cook well, you must measure well
Food Flash - Demonstration of how to measure well.
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“Tea ration is up to two and a half ounces a week and two and half ounces a week means ten ounces every four-week period. Four ounces, eight ounces, we can’t break this packet in half, so you’ll get your tea like this: Twelve ounces one period, eight ounces the next, then twelve, then eight and so on.”
6. Keeping track of your tea ration is easy
Food Flash - Tea Ration.
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“If it was me, now that the fat ration’s been cut like this, why not arrange to take it up every two weeks instead of every one? It will save you a lot of trouble and will save me trouble, too. And besides, look what it will save in this.”
7. Save time and paper by collecting your fat ration every two weeks
Food Flash - Fats Reduced.
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“The war is over but the whole world is short of food for a while. You can help your neighbour and yourself by making the most of every crumb and avoiding waste like this. Bread is worth more than dough these days.”
8. Avoid waste - bread is worth more than dough
Food Flash - Waste Bread.
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