How do I stop wasting food?

[2moretrees]

Does anyone have a good way to keep from wasting food? I did my year end cleaning of my refrigerator and ended up tossing a lot of food that had been forgotten about and gone bad. How do you organize to keep this from happening?

[lgstarr]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

My solution goes against what everyone seems to recommend about shopping: I am against buying food in big weekly shopping trips. The healthiest food is the freshest food, number one (it tastes better and it's also much safer). Secondly, buying in small amounts as needed eliminates a lot of waste! It's also good for people with spontaneous lifestyles. (I think it is how people shop in Europe--or used to, at least.) If you live far away from markets then I suppose it won't work though. It's also good because you end up eating what you are in the mood for and not what you thought you'd like a week ago. I could go on, but you get the point. I think this helps stop wasting food--it sure does for me!
--Linda

[econ o'miser]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

After a shopping trip, freeze everything that is freezable, and make a note in a record book of what you have in the freezer and when it has to be used by - also whether you need to defrost it before cooking or can cook it from frozen.

For fresh foods, especially salads and vegetables, don't over-buy unless you have a planned meal or occasion coming up. It is tempting to buy things when you see them or when they are on offer, but it is a false economy if they get wasted.

This is somewhat obvious, but when you do your vegetable shop, try to use it up in the order at which it goes past its best - e.g. broccoli first, then sprouts, leaving things like carrots and leeks to the last as they tend to stay usable for longer.

[asrai]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

Make a weekly menu. Then buy what you need, and eat it. You won't eat out that way either.

If you need to buy more than you'll use. Like I only need 1/4 of a green pepper for a meal. Ichop it up and freeze the rest.

or you could look into bulk cooking.

[amomof4]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

I agree with asrai. I'm in the process of using up all the food in my cupboards and freezer. Then I'll start shopping just for the week with a list and a menu plan. They way I figure it is the $30 a month to run my freezer is probably more than I'm saving on bulk sale buying, and I have a lot of food get bad even in the freezer from freezer burn.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

CLean out the fridge every week or more, that way you might actually catch the food before it goes bad. Also figure leftovers into your menu, and I don't buy fresh unless it can be frozen or Guaranteed used, cause I know me, I will be in the mood for brocolii on Monday at the store and come friday whoops never used it.

[tag61usa]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

I buy in bulk when items are on sale. Seperate & quick-freeze on a pan, then place individual items in a large freezer bag. That way, I can take-out 2 or 10 pieces, as needed. It might be just me & hub or us, the kids, and several unexpected friends. When I start getting low on something, I then start looking for sale prices again.

I keep fruits (apples, oranges, bananas) on the counter in plain sight. Don't buy more than we will eat. I might buy a cantalope already halved, because more than likely it will spoil before we eat it all.

I save the small quantities of left over cooked vegetables in a large freezer bag and just add to it as we go. Then I'll use those left over pintos, peas, corn, etc. in a large pot of homemade vegetable soup.

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

I have some (generic made) microwavable rubbermaid type tv dinner trays with lids. I put all my leftovers in these after each meal. I label with the date. Since my kids are not good at eating mondays leftovers for tuesdays lunch at school--they get it in their lunch on wednesday. (i dont mind eating it for lunch the next day, but i always give them a day in between) i also use these for my lunch. on saturdays i fix up all the leftovers from the week and put them out buffet style--usually they are all gone. if you have teens, this is a good time to have them invite friends over to help eat! The containers are not high priced at the dollar shop.

[miclason]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

Check out your fridge or freezer for leftovers BEFORE you cook...either re-heat it or "recycle" it (use left over chicken to make chicken patties or chicken-a-la king, tacos or crepes, chicken and rice, chicken soup or even chicken pot pie, for example; mash the meatballs to make a bolognese sauce, or meatball sandwiches...boiled vegetables can go into a soup or a nice rice)

[PrincessPerky]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

back that up to check the freezer before you shop too .

[2moretrees]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

Thank you for the tips. I have to get myself more organized in this area. It killed me to throw out all that food.

[miclason]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

Another thing is that when you buy food, make sure you place the "new" stuff in the back or in the bottom of the fridge/freezer, so that the oldest items are in front/on top and you make sure to use those ones first.

[lieweheksie]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

Check the fridge and pantry regularly- and if you can't freeze it , then eat it or share it- just this week I sent DH to work with fruitcake and pecan pie- the guys think I'm wonderful but it was too much food for the two of us and would have been stale by the time we got around to eating it
I also share fresh produce with my cleaning lady and sometimes my neighbours

[pschale]

Re: How do I stop wasting food?

I check my fridge daily and my freezer weekly to plan my menus. Once a week or more ofter if I have a lot of leftovers we have a buffet. It usually all gets used then but if it doesn't then I put it either in the freezer or make soup depending what it is and how well it will go in a soup.