Global records show that the world throws out 1.3 billion tons of food a year. That’s one-third of all the food that we produce every year. That’s a lot of resources that we throw out. Considering it can save money, it’s a surprise we haven’t learned how to stop wasting food.
With the amount of food that we are producing, you would think that it would make everyone have access to free food.
Having better practices at home can significantly reduce our food waste. But more than that, it is a collective action that communities and governments can work together to solve. With that, here’s how to stop wasting food at home.
Maximize your fridge and freezer
One of the best ways to avoid wastage of food is to just freeze items in bulk. Grocery days can be pretty overwhelming, especially when restocking your fridge with food items. This causes pretty large amounts of fresh produce to go bad. You can par-cook most vegetables and store them in bulk in the freezer; it will help them last for weeks or months longer.
On the other hand, before stocking up on food, make sure to check if your fridge is at the right temperature. For those wondering, fridges should operate below 5 degrees Celsius.
Lose the plastic wrap
Contrary to what supermarkets make us believe, plastic wraps on food do not keep fresh for longer. In fact, it not only brings the illusion of freshness, but it also brings unnecessary trash into our homes. Apart from that, It also makes us buy more than we need.
Buying fresh produce can help you better manage the food you’re taking home. Now, this does not only help you lessen food waste, but it also enables you to avoid plastic in your daily life.
Organize your pantry
Part of learning how to stop wasting food is also being more mindful of our decisions. Keeping track of dates and planning your meals even before going to the market are ways to cut down on food waste. Also, try to look for recipes where you can use your grocery haul to the fullest.
Keeping your pantry visually organized also helps too. Try to keep items that perish earlier in places where you can easily see them. This way, you’ll be less likely to forget what items you have in your pantry.
Finally, you can plan your meals and explore new recipes to ensure that your pantry is thoroughly cleaned out. Try looking for pantry pasta recipes or other creative dishes that will use up your remaining produce.
Learn your dates
It also pays to learn the difference between use-by and best before dates. Use-by dates mean that the product will be unsafe to consume after the date. Meanwhile, best-by dates are more of a measure of quality.
More than dumping food based on packaging dates, it may be high time to consider doing sniff tests. Look, smell, and taste your produce before throwing it out.
Leverage food apps and online communities
Install a mobile app to help you connect with communities and people trying to learn how to stop wasting food. It’s a great tip for how to stop wasting food at school. If your school cafeteria provides lunches, then leftovers can be donated to communities where there’s a shortage of food. The same goes for individuals looking for someone to help them take food off their hands.
There are many ways how to stop wasting food. Whether it’s by starting at home or changing grocery habits, there are definitely different means to be involved in solving the food waste issue.
And for other how-tos and stories, read more here at Owner’s Mag!
