When you hear that more than a third of food is wasted around the world, it sends a strong signal that it’s time to stop and think about how we shop, store and consume food. Reducing food waste is good for the environment and also our wallets as it means we don’t buy groceries unnecessarily. Obviously, cooking with leftovers is one easy way to reduce wastage but, here, we bring you other tips on how you can use food wisely before it goes past its best.
Cook it
Compost bins are becoming more and more commonplace in homes and are a great way to ensure your food waste helps Mother Earth by producing compost to fertilise plants. But scraps and leftovers can also be cooked to make a whole new dish. Potato peels, for example, can be roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper to make home-made crisps. Blitz lifeless salad leaves and transform them into Italian pesto, which makes a great pizza base layer or a simple dinner when stirred through warm pasta. Toss an old cheese rind into a soup or stew to add creamy texture and pungent flavour. Chicken bones can be boiled to make a soothing broth. Stale bread can be cubed and fried to make croutons for salads and soups. Veg that might look a little limp is quickly revived as the filling for an omelette or the foundation for a hearty soup.
Wrap it up
If leftovers are carefully stored in sturdy boxes with airtight lids, they will last longer and give you more time to conjure up ideas on how to use them. Add a label with the date it was cooked to the box to keep track of the dish’s use by date.
Shop smart
Before your supermarket run, make a list of what you need and draw up a meal plan for the coming week to avoid buying excess groceries. Cast your eye over your fridge and cupboards, too, before you go shopping to see what you already have as it will help you avoid doubling up.
Hot date
Understanding the difference between ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates will help you to save food every time. Use-by dates denote when the food becomes unsafe to eat, but best before dates are merely a suggestion as to when the food will start to lose its flavour. If an item has passed its best before date, it’s still good to go. If the use by date has passed, it’s time to toss it in the bin.
Portion control
Resist the urge to pile lunch and dinner plates with mountains of food as it’s likely that most of it will remain uneaten. Cook sensible portion sizes and your food will go further.
Neat and tidy
Organise your fridge with older items at the front where you can see them and newer purchases towards the back. Maintain this layout by rotating your groceries to avoid finding a tub of hummus at the back of the fridge that you’d forgotten about.
