Did you know that American households throw out an average of $175 in rotten food per month? This is food that is wasted and money lost just because something wasn’t used before its expiration date. This is food that was in perfectly good condition when it was bought, yet it was left on the shelf to go bad for no good reason at all. Some people have the bad habit of wasting food on a regular basis because they don’t get around to using it while it’s still fresh. If you’re one of those people, you’re losing money and practicing inefficient food management. In order to save money and improve your food efficiency, here are some valuable tips you should consider.
Keep Track of Expiration Dates
Consider creating a document on your computer or special calendar on your smartphone or tablet to help you keep track of expiration dates for the foods you purchase. When you buy something that is perishable, input the expiration date into the calendar. Adjust the settings so you’ll receive a reminder approximately a week before the expiration date. When you get the reminder, if you haven’t used the food yet, you can make a concerted effort to do so.
Get Creative with Your Cooking
When you realize that some type of food is going to expire shortly and you need to use it, get creative with the cooking you do. If you have a large quantity of something perishable, try to find a recipe that will help you use it all fast. For example, if you have a lot of peaches, bake a peach pie. You can do the same for many types of fruits. Banana bread requires overripe bananas. Or, cook a Shepherd’s pie for dinner and throw in all the meats and vegetables you have on hand that won’t last much longer.
If you find you’re often throwing foods away because they’ve expired, it may be time to reevaluate the way you grocery shop. You may be purchasing too much perishable food at one time. Try to take a close look at the eating patterns of you and your family. You may intend to eat more fresh fruit, for example, but you often find yourself throwing away a lot of it. If this is the case, start buying less. Only buy in quantities that you’re sure you’ll use. Even if you run out and need to go back to the store, it’s better than buying too much and throwing some away. If you find you’re always throwing the same types of rotten foods away, stop buying them altogether.
Utilize Your Freezer
A lot of the food people throw away is leftovers. You cook dinner, and the uneaten portion goes in the fridge, only to end up finding its way to the trash can at the end of the week. If you don’t want to decrease the amount of food you cook at one time, make it a point to freeze some of every meal. This way it can be eaten at a later time, whenever is convenient for you and without the worry that it will go bad too quickly. If you put leftovers into the fridge and they’re not eaten within two days, transfer them to the freezer before they start to deteriorate. Then, make sure you label everything and eat it within a couple months. If you do this on a regular basis, you may be able to significantly decrease your grocery bill by stretching every meal to its maximum potential.