Reduce Food Waste

Friday, September 30, 2016 Unknown 0 Comments

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Food can easily go to waste if we don't first learn how to store it the right way. By making sure we only purchase what we need and learn how to store food the right way we can ensure that we limit the amount of food that goes to waste.

Here are my 3 tips for reducing food waste:

  1. The Right Containers
    Make sure you are using containers that are appropriate for the type of food you want to store. For example, if you want to keep frozen foods you can use glass or stainless steel to keep your food contents frozen without the fear of freezer burn. You might also want to avoid storing bread in a box if you live in a humid climate, but you should keep dry grains and flours in a tightly sealed container to keep moisture out.
  2. The Right Environment
    All foods have different types of conditions it can last best in. For example, potatoes are best in dark cool places, while flours are best stored in tight containers away from moisture and sunlight. Research and find out what environment works best for your food items. You can find some clues from www.stilltasty.com to figure out storage time and length of time the food item can last.
  3. The Right Amount
    Don't over purchase, you can always go back to the store and get more, especially if you live in a first world nation. There will always be plenty of food, and there's no need to prepare for an emergency situation unless your location requires emergency preparations. But usually nonprofits like the American Red Cross are there to help. However, for everyday needs you only need a little, and you should only purchase for less than a week's worth of cooking. Avoid overstocking things unless you use it everyday. Grains and flours might be good if your family eats it everyday, but for a single person or a small family you may be able to buy just enough for a weeks worth, and then go to the store again after work or school to pick up a few fresh produce from the store. 

These are just a few tips to get you started. But it's never too difficult to freeze food, buy fresh or focus on simple meals to make sure you don't end up wasting food.

Things You Can Freeze Without Prep
Pop these items into the freezer, making sure to wash and dry fruits and peppers, while meats and breads can just go straight in. Make sure to use tightly sealed containers. You can simply take them out and thaw them for use. I prefer fruits for smoothies, and peppers can be sauteed in meals. You may want to heat bread up at 350F degrees in the oven for at least 10-15 minutes before eating to get the nice crust and soft interior. Make sure for sauces/soups and milk you give an inch or two of space at the top of the jar to prevent breaking from the expansion of the liquid content.
  • Fruits
  • Peppers
  • Meats
  • Bread
  • Sauces/Soups
  • Milk
Things You Can Keep at Room Temperature
These items are easy to keep for a long time at room temperature, just make sure they don't get wet or overheated.
  • Potatoes (keep in dark cool spot)
  • Rice/Flours
  • Soy Sauce/Oils
  • Onions
  • Garlic