How to Prevent Food Waste

You’ve opted to cook more and bought delicious produce, but with the busy schedule, you forgot about some food in the back of the fridge and it’s spoiled. As you dump it in the trash, you feel frustrated and guilty to have wasted perfectly good food. If this situation sounds familiar, then you’ve come to the right place. With the tips below, we will have you reducing your food waste and saving money in the process.

Buy only what you need

Sounds simple enough, but one of the most important aspects of saving on food waste is shopping smart. Go into the grocery store with a list and a plan for what you’ll cook that week. Part of this is understanding what is a realistic amount of cooking for your schedule. If you know you’re busy in the evenings on Thursdays, then planning 7 nights of cooking, may not be the wisest decision.

Free time is fleeting, but by purchasing less and going to the grocery store more regularly, you can cook when you have time and only purchase what you need for the specific meal.

Use the whole vegetable

Did you know there’s plenty of flavor in the stems of cilantro and parsley? Or that broccoli stems can be cooked just as well as the crowns? Even the scraps from onions, garlic, and carrots can be saved for use in stocks and soups.

While restaurant meals may look picture perfect, the reality is that we can use a lot more of our produce than we might think. Consider doing a quick Google search when you end up with scraps of a particular food. You might be surprised at the uses you learn about!

Cook it

If you’re running out of time with your fresh food, then one of the simplest ways to reduce waste is by cooking it to extend the shelf life. For instance, raw chicken can’t last much longer than a few days in the fridge, but by cooking it, you can extend the time by another 2–3 days. This trick works in a pinch for vegetables and meats. With nearly expired produce, you can create a jam, relish, or sauce.

Freeze it

Similarly, for those looking to minimize food waste, then the freezer is your best friend. From herbs to leftover soups, rice, and extra vegetables, freezing can prevent waste, while also giving you access to a quick meal in the future.

Just be aware that freezing and thawing some foods can give them a mushy consistency. BBC Good Food has a great article with tips on what you can and can’t freeze.

The fridge

Sometimes it can be as easy as having your perishable produce in sight so it does not go to waste. Consider organizing the fridge in such a way that the most perishable ingredients are in the front. Purchase several clear fridge bins to keep your food organized by type. You’ll not only be reducing waste but also make the cleaning that much easier.

Storage

It’s important to know how to store your food for longevity. Some fruits, like bananas, give off gas as they ripen which, when near potatoes, for instance, can cause them to ripen significantly faster.

There is also an incorrect assumption that the fridge is an ideal spot for most produce as it keeps it cool, therefore extending the shelf life. While this may be true of many, some fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, peaches, onions, and garlic are likely to go off quicker because they retain additional moisture in the fridge.

Composting

Rather than going into the trash, food that’s no longer edible can still be put to good use. Composting is a way of recycling those nutrients back to the soil. If this is unfamiliar territory, the EPA has a guide on how to compost at home. Even if you don’t have a garden, check whether your local area has services for local curbside pickup of compost bins.

Have you discovered any tricks to help avoid wasting food at home? Share in the comments! 🙂