How to reduce food waste in your house

Best before

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When cooking, give preference to foods that are close to their expiry date. Write these down on a list and stick it on the fridge so you don't forget.

List

Best before, Focus on the details, Arranging your food, Arrange your fridge, Promotions, Use the good bits, Fruit and vegetables, Canned foods, Supermarkets, Make another list

Before you go shopping, check what is in the fridge and pantry and make a list accordingly. This way you will not run the risk of doubling up with foods you already have.

List

Best before, Focus on the details, Arranging your food, Arrange your fridge, Promotions, Use the good bits, Fruit and vegetables, Canned foods, Supermarkets, Make another list

Always use a shopping list at the supermarket. It reduces the chances of you forgetting what to buy.

Focus on the details

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Plan your meals for the week in advance. This will allow you to plan weekly food shopping and avoid waste. Pay special attention to fruit and vegetables.

Arranging your food

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Pay special attention to the way you store foods in the pantry and the fridge. Products that have to be consumed first or have a shorter shelf life should be easily accessible and visible.

Arrange your fridge

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It is very important to pay special attention to how you arrange products in your fridge.

Promotions

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Supermarket promotions are usually great but they also encourage us to buy more products, some of these may end up going to waste, due to their reduced shelf life. Can you freeze the extras?

Fruit

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Do you have too many fruits or vegetables close to spoiling? Make a smoothie or a soup. It's a great way to enjoy food and avoid food waste.

Peels

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Lemon peel, for example, can be used to make tea. So take advantage of this part of the fruit and enjoy a healthy drink.

Wine

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Wine should be drunk on the same day of opening the bottle because it is subject to oxidation. Oxygen enters the bottle and reacts with the drink, changing its flavor and aroma. You can still use oxidized wine for cooking, however.

Use the good bits

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If a fruit or vegetable is bruised, simply cut around the bad parts and use the good bit. There is no need to throw it all away.

Fruit and vegetables

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If they cleaned and dried before being stored in the fridge, these foods can last for five days. With the exception of tropical fruits like bananas and avocados, which will become darker.

Storage

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After a meal, store any leftovers in closed containers with a lid and put them in the fridge. This will make the food last up to three days without spoiling.

Meats

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Meats usually have a short shelf life and if not consumed in time, they will spoil. Alternatively, you can freeze them to prevent any unnecessary waste.

Canned foods

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All canned products have great shelf life, but once opened, they should be consumed quickly. On average, once it is open, canned food lasts no longer than 5 days and if it is left outside the fridge it is even less.

Cookies

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Like cereal, cookies also have a shorter lifespan if you do not store them correctly. In this case, they may become soft and their taste may change.

Supermarkets

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Studies indicate that when the supermarket is full, people have a tendency to buy more than they usually do. Try going to the grocery store on a quieter day and choose the foods you really need and will consume.

Make another list

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This time, make a list of the food you have thrown away lately. This will help you to understand which products have shorter shelf life as well as the foods you consume the least.

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