# So what shortages are you personally seeing? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [July 24, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268 "2020-07-24T23:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/261 "2020-10-09T01:35:51Z")
Can’t say if it is true, but the October _Harper’s Index_ claims there is a 1 in 10 chance a store is out of a given product, due to Covid. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/262 "2020-10-09T03:59:12Z")
My mom wanted a loaf of pumpernickel bread, had serious trouble finding it. The pre sliced stuff was gone everywhere, I found one loaf of fresh baked at one grocery store. Not sure if its bad luck or they just quit making it due to covid ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/263 "2020-10-09T10:39:56Z")
Are mangoes available year round? Last night I made mahi-mahi with mango salsa. When I stopped at the grocery store I couldn’t find any mangoes! I ended up buying a container of diced mango. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/264 "2020-10-09T17:09:36Z")
Sounds about right to me. There’s always an item or two or three that’s on my list that I can’t find - and a lot of bare spots on the shelves in general. Thinking about it, one in 10 sounds about right. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/265 "2020-10-09T18:25:05Z")
Almost always I am able to find the item I want, just not the brand I prefer. Other than canned pumpkin. Cannot find that stuff anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/266 "2020-10-10T02:40:25Z")
Try Amazon? ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/267 "2020-10-10T03:31:03Z")
I stopped into a tiny mom and pop superette - like eight shelves (not units, just eight 3’ shelves). They actually had a few cans. Guess who’s making pumpkin bread? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/268 "2020-10-10T17:05:53Z")
Oooh – good idea. I have some canned pumpkin left over from last year. And I usually make pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, but that’s mostly for my son and mother, neither of whom I expect to share food with this year. But I really like pumpkin bread. I was wondering what to do with those cans! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/269 "2020-10-10T17:09:19Z")
When I think of canned pumpkin I think of fiber for constipated cats. Pies are made with pie pumpkins that are roasted in the oven. But at Giant Eagle yesterday there were signs posted that only one can to a customer was allowed. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/270 "2020-10-10T17:17:22Z")
I don’t like pumpkin pie nearly enough to roast my own pumpkins. 🙂 And every says they like my pumpkin pie, and it always gets inhaled. So… good enough. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/271 "2020-10-10T18:28:29Z")
Hm. I have a butternut squash. Looks like I might be roasting that and pureeing it for our ‘pumpkin’ pie. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/272 "2020-10-10T19:50:16Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Pies are made with pie pumpkins that are roasted in the oven. > [@romansperson](#): > > I have a butternut squash. Looks like I might be roasting that and pureeing it for our ‘pumpkin’ pie. Most winter squash will make excellent pumpkin pie. Hubbard, butternut, buttercup, nearly anything other than spaghetti squash. Pumpkin, after all, is a winter squash. There’s no botanical distinction – it’s pretty much an ‘I know it when I see it’ issue. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/273 "2020-10-10T19:52:53Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Most winter squash will make excellent pumpkin pie. Hubbard, butternut, buttercup, nearly anything other than spaghetti squash. Sweet potatoes make a good pie also, canned sweet potatoes will work if canned pumpkin is in short supply. The good earth will provide (if we humans will only stay out of her way). ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/274 "2020-10-10T19:53:56Z")
My grandmother always used Hubbard squash - as a kid, I always wondered by her pies were yellow. My mom didn’t tell me until I was an adult because she thought I wouldn’t eat them if I knew! ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/275 "2020-10-10T19:58:29Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Sweet potatoes make a good pie also, canned sweet potatoes will work if canned pumpkin is in short supply. True. And a winter squash/sweet potato mix is also good. Reduce the sugar in your pumpkin pie recipe; at least, unless you like your pie a whole lot sweeter than I do (which is quite possible, I usually about halve the sugar in most dessert recipes.) ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/276 "2020-10-10T20:06:53Z")
Two suggestions for pies in shortage situations: > **[Classic Chess Pie](https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/classic-chess-pie)** > > Gooey, buttery, and supremely sweet, the chess pie has been a staple of the Southern dessert table for generations. This old-fashioned chess pie recipe is sure to please. > **[Buttermilk Pie](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/13802/buttermilk-pie/)** > > This buttermilk pie bursts with flavor, and it's so easy! Just whip up buttermilk, eggs, butter, and sugar and bake for a tender, tangy custard pie. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/277 "2020-10-10T21:53:56Z")
[Pumpkin Streusel Bread](https://stripedspatula.com/pumpkin-bread/). It’s fabulous (although I omit the nuts) ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/278 "2020-10-11T21:43:54Z")
Yes, one year I baked whole sweet potatoes, scooped them out of the skin and mashed, then used about two cups in place of a can of pumpkin. I otherwise followed the Libby’s pumpkin pie recipe from the back of the can. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/279 "2020-10-11T21:52:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > When I think of canned pumpkin I think of fiber for constipated cats. That conjured up a vivid image of orange extrusion. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/280 "2020-10-11T22:48:55Z")
Keep the politics out of this! 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268.md?page=15)