6 Practical Ways To Reduce Food Waste at Home
“I keep buying fresh produce but can’t eat it fast enough!”
“I throw out so much food by the end of the week, I feel bad for wasting money.”
“I never buy fresh produce anymore because it ends up going bad anyway…”
Do any of these statements sound like you? Food waste is a very common issue in industrialized countries. Though most of the food waste happens in the industry, a lot of it can also take place at home. However, if you are reading this, it probably means that you’re aware of the situation and would like to remedy it, and that’s great!
Plan meals ahead
By planning meals ahead, you also know which ingredients to buy in approximate quantities. This will avoid buying ingredients that aren’t useful in the recipes you end up cooking, or buying them in too large quantities.
Store food correctly
Especially fresh produce! Learn about which vegetables can be stored at room temperature, and separate those who produce ethylene gas from those who do not. Ethylene gaz is a natural compound released by some produce such as (Apples, apricots, avocados, ripening Bananas, cantaloupe, kiwifruit,mangoes, Nectarines, peaches, Pears, Persimmons, Tomatoes, among others). When exposed to the gaz, produce ripens much faster.
Save leftovers in the freezer
Many full meals store well in the freezer!
Include fruit/vegetable peels in recipes, or compost if you can
When in doubt, use them to make a home-made veggie broth that you can use in future recipes.
Understand expiration dates
In fact, expiration dates are just an estimation. Some foods are still good to consume even after the ''best before'' date. Be careful, though.We also have to learn to visually identify when foods have gone bad (example, signs of moody cheese).
Have canned, dried or frozen foods ready-to-go
They are convenient, last longer, and nutritionally speaking, aren't much different from most fresh food items. You can opt for the lower sodium version of canned foods, and rinse them well before eating.