Whether you’re cooking for one or you’re cooking for a family of five, it’s important that you learn to really maximize and use all the food you buy from the store. Sadly, various researchers have found that up to about 30% of food that individuals attain is actually subsequently wasted. Not only is that harmful to the environment, but it also is harmful to your finances.
Shop Smarter
According to FoodieCrush, preventing waste in the kitchen starts with your grocery shopping habits. Make sure that when you go to the grocery store, you don’t go hungry. Going to the store hungry means you will probably buy more than you actually need.
Then, make sure you have a real grocery list. Adding to a list periodically throughout the week will mean that when it’s finally time to go shopping, you’ll be able to buy only what you need.
Avoid Throwing Out Leftovers
Another important skill to learn is the art of repurposing and reviving leftovers. Sure, most kids will happily eat leftover pizza from the fridge. But convincing your family to get excited about reheated soup might be harder. Find different ways to incorporate this food into different meals.
Additionally, when you have extra food left over from preparing a meal, make sure that you don’t throw it away. Either freeze the leftovers for future use or use vacuum seal bags to lock in all the freshness of the ingredients or meal. According to Vacuum Sealers Unlimited, vacuum sealed bags can store virtually any food imaginable, such as soups, meats, and vegetables.
Keep a Clean Fridge
While it might not be the first idea that jumps to your head when it comes to preventing food waste, keeping a clean fridge makes it a lot easier to know what you already have to eat. When your fridge is carefully organized, you’ll know exactly how many onions you have and won’t need to guess at how many to buy at the store. As a result, you’ll waste a lot less food.
Eliminating food waste should be one of your main priorities when it comes to your food strategy. Figuring out how to reduce your waste starts with taking a few small steps towards better planning. Figure out why you tend to waste food and work to eliminate those issues—if you tend to buy food with the intent to make a certain dish but never do, focus on setting aside specific time for meal prepping so you avoid wasting those ingredients.
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