For a household of four, thats an average of $1,800 wasted each year.
Here are 49 tips on reducing food waste, a veritable grocery list of ways to save.
PLANNING AHEAD
1.
Take stock of your inventory
Explore your refrigerator, freezer and pantry before making your grocery list.
This will inform your shopping decisions and prevent overbuying.
Changes to your cooking schedule contribute to waste, so plan for a few nights off each week.
Add those products to your grocery list and build meals around them.
Shrader also likes to maximize her shopping dollars by checking the clearance aisle for staples.
Or give some to neighbors and friends, she says.
Soups can be easily frozen and warmed up when needed.
Consult a portion calculator
Not a fan of leftovers?
Calculate exactly how much food to serve so that everyone at the table is satisfied.
Its an online meal-planning tool developed by SaveTheFood.com, a campaign from the NRDC.
Additionally, apps such asEat This MuchandBigOvencan help you plan meals and avoid food waste.
(Omelets are also great for using up extra veggies and meats.)
She says some ingredients have easy substitutions, like parsley for cilantro or milk for heavy cream.
If you do buy the special ingredient, look for ways to use it up beyond that one recipe.
Resist temptation
Do you really need items that arent on your list?
Think hard about impulse purchases, especially if youre shopping hungry.
Avoid stores altogether and use grocery delivery services like Instacart, Hungryroot or Shipt instead.
attempt to emulate this practice.
His first cookbook,Root to Leaf, focuses on using all parts of a plant to reduce waste.
Purchasing food in smaller increments means less chance of waste and more awareness of what you have on hand.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
12.
Rinse all produce
Even if they claim to be prewashed, give your fruits and vegetables a thorough cleaning.
On the other hand, lettuce is best stored in an airtight container once completely dry and moisture free.
Air-dry produce on the counter on top of a cloth or paper towel before storing.
Choose berries that look bright and firm with minimal soft spots, De La Hoz says.
Ensure that there are no signs of mold or liquid present in the container.
Pick the ugly fruit
Nobodys perfect, including fruits and veggies.
Theres no difference in taste between a curved carrot and a straight one.
This allows you to opt for freshest fruits and vegetables.
Synkoski says the farmers market is also an ideal place to pick up ugly fruits and veggies.
Separate certain fruits and veggies
Some fruits produce gases when they ripen.
Keep them away from other fruits and veggies to minimize adverse reactions, including diminished quality and over-ripening.
