Reducing the Amount of Food Wasted

Reducing the Amount of Food Wasted

Plan and Prepare:

Before going shopping, take five minutes to consider the coming week’s meals.
Have a look in your cupboards, fridge and freezer to find out what you already have
If you buy a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, consider buying smaller quantities in order to reduce the amount you have to throw out
If you plan to make something that freezes well, make lots so you can freeze some for another day
Oversized or three-for-two offers are only a bargain if you are going to eat the extra food.

Store your food properly

Rather than waste excess meat and bread, place it in the freezer before it passes its “use by” or “best before” date. Big packs can be separated into smaller ones for the freezer
Make sure containers in the fridge are well sealed
Avoid leaving food out when it should be put back in the fridge. If it is hot, cool it down as quickly as possible (ideally within one or two hours) and put it in the fridge.
If you are storing meal leftovers in the fridge, eat within two days
Check regularly to see what food you have at the back of your freezer and rotate your older items to the front
Store fruit and vegetables in a cool dark place. Ripe fruit and veg can also be refrigerated (except bananas)
Keep your raw meat and fish in a suitable container on the bottom shelf of your fridge
Eggs should be stored in a cool, dry place, ideally in the fridge, away from other foods
Consult wasteawarelovefood.org~ and lovefoodhatewaste.com~ for more information
Use lovefoodhatewaste.com~ for their readymade meal plans and shopping guides

What the labels mean?

“Use By”: This is the key date in terms of food safety. Foods should be used by this date. Only use food after the “use by” date if it has been frozen.
“Best Before”: This appears on a wide range of foods that last longer, such as frozen, dried and tinned food. It should be safe to eat food after this date, but it may begin to lose flavour and texture after an extended period of time.
“Sell By” or “Display Until”: Provides information for shop staff

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