Not fresh at the time of the apocalypse. Fresh at the time I seek it.
Of course that would mean I would also get a steady supply of clean water and of all the ingredients required to make the pizza. But that is simply a secondary side effect of having made my choice for the one, single thing.
If frying something in measurable quantities of oil, the oil can be filtered to remove solids, then stored to re-use later.
If cooking something greasy like bacon or sausage, either I'll cook other things in the same pan after, or I'll pour it through a strainer, let it cool, and freeze it. Once I've saved a bunch, I clarify it.
Fat is flavor. In my house, it doesn't get thrown away. There are lots of ways to reuse it.
You don't actually need to soak them before you cook them.
I've made plenty of bean dishes, starting with completely dry beans. It takes a little longer to cook because they are rehydrating while they cook, but they still come out great.
Paul Thorn - Bull Mountain Bridge
Jonathan Coulton - Shop-Vac®