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One of the aims of the "Love Food Hate Waste" campaign is
to provide everyone with helpful and practical hints and tips on
how to enjoy the food we buy, and cut down on the amount of good
food thrown away. Here are some ideas we thought we'd
share:
Stop before you shop
-
Check what is in your cupboard or
freezer, not forgetting the back of the
 fridge, before you shop for more.
- Make a list and shop with meals in mind. This will mean that
you do not buy food unnecessarily and save you time and money.
- Be careful of special offers and multi-buys especially on fresh
goods - make sure you will use them.
Use it or lose it
Keep an eye on perishables you have and
plan to eat meals with in their "use by" date. View our advice
about
food date stamps.
Love your leftovers
Meals made from leftovers can be delicious
and timesaving- whether its dinner from the night before or food
left in the fridge or cupboard. Do your own 'Ready Steady Cook' and
see what meals you can make. Try using an
on-line recipe database to give you some inspiration.
When cooking for a family - take a few minutes to measure food out
- perhaps into a favourite cup - so you get the right portion per
person.
No more soggy surprises
 Keeping your fridge between 1-5°C helps you get
the best of your food
Leaving food such as milk, cooked meat and salad can cut shelf life
by 100%.
Make good use of the fridge and freezer to keep food better - for
example, most ripe fruit can be kept in the fridge to make it last
longer.
Consider your options 
Chilled and fresh food has become more
popular over recent years - however sometimes it may be worth
purchasing frozen or ambient food to increase shelf life at home.
This is particularly useful if your meal times are more unplanned
due to work or family schedules.
Also, remember that often fresh and chilled produce can be frozen
at home if it is not going to be used in time.
Storage Solutions
 You can also influence the shelf life of your
cupboard storage;
Store root vegetables in a dark place away from other fruit and
vegetables.
Store cereals, flour, rice, pasta and other dry goods in airtight
containers.
Close packets and bags with airtight bag clips. There are many
ingenious products available to protect the quality of your
food.
Start composting at home
And the answer for the peelings and cores
-
home composting is a great way to prevent unavoidable food
waste such as peelings, cores and teabags ending up in landfill and
can do wonders for the garden.
Log on to
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
for more advice and tips. |