Get the most out of your groceries
Reducing food waste at home can not only save money on your grocery bill, but it can also improve your nutrition.
Learn the benefits of reducing food waste at home.
Here are some important tips to save money on groceries by reducing food waste at home.
1. Know and reorganize your fridge and pantry
• Keep your refrigerator and pantry clean and organized so you can see what needs to be eaten first. If fresh food is “out of sight, out of mind,” it may be forgotten and ultimately wasted. Food is less likely to go bad when you use the more perishable and older items first.
• Storing food in clear containers can help you see what you have available in your fridge and pantry and can help you avoid buying food you already have. In the fridge, extend the life of your food by putting it in the right place. For example, the temperature in the refrigerator door fluctuates more than the cabinets or the back of the unit so don’t store perishable foods like milk in the door.
2. Download the FoodKeeper App
• FoodKeeper provides guidance on safe handling, preparation, and storage of more than 650 food and beverage items. With the app, you can track storage times for different foods, learn cooking tips, watch helpful videos, and get information on food recalls. Users can set up calendar reminders for when products are nearing their recommended storage date.
• FoodKeeper is available free at the Google Play or iTunes stores, or via desktop at FoodSafety.gov.
3. Don't throw out those scraps & love your leftovers!
• Give leftovers a makeover when you reuse them in recipes.
Get creative with your scraps/leftovers with these simple ideas:
• Add broccoli stems to a salad or omelet
• Blend overripe fruit like bananas and avocados, you can even add peels into a low-fat smoothie or mousse.
• Make broth from vegetable and/or meat trimmings, and freeze what you don’t plan to eat right away.
• Create a fried rice stir fry using day-old rice and leftover vegetables
• Be creative while keeping leftover safety in mind. If you cook often and typically have loads of leftovers, consider having one dinner a week designated as Leftover Night.
• Many foods can also be safely frozen indefinitely, so if you can’t use something perishable before it may spoil, pop it in the freezer. Check the FoodKeeper to see if your item may be frozen.
Learn the benefits of reducing food waste at home.
Here are some important tips to save money on groceries by reducing food waste at home.
1. Know and reorganize your fridge and pantry
• Keep your refrigerator and pantry clean and organized so you can see what needs to be eaten first. If fresh food is “out of sight, out of mind,” it may be forgotten and ultimately wasted. Food is less likely to go bad when you use the more perishable and older items first.
• Storing food in clear containers can help you see what you have available in your fridge and pantry and can help you avoid buying food you already have. In the fridge, extend the life of your food by putting it in the right place. For example, the temperature in the refrigerator door fluctuates more than the cabinets or the back of the unit so don’t store perishable foods like milk in the door.
2. Download the FoodKeeper App
• FoodKeeper provides guidance on safe handling, preparation, and storage of more than 650 food and beverage items. With the app, you can track storage times for different foods, learn cooking tips, watch helpful videos, and get information on food recalls. Users can set up calendar reminders for when products are nearing their recommended storage date.
• FoodKeeper is available free at the Google Play or iTunes stores, or via desktop at FoodSafety.gov.
3. Don't throw out those scraps & love your leftovers!
• Give leftovers a makeover when you reuse them in recipes.
Get creative with your scraps/leftovers with these simple ideas:
• Add broccoli stems to a salad or omelet
• Blend overripe fruit like bananas and avocados, you can even add peels into a low-fat smoothie or mousse.
• Make broth from vegetable and/or meat trimmings, and freeze what you don’t plan to eat right away.
• Create a fried rice stir fry using day-old rice and leftover vegetables
• Be creative while keeping leftover safety in mind. If you cook often and typically have loads of leftovers, consider having one dinner a week designated as Leftover Night.
• Many foods can also be safely frozen indefinitely, so if you can’t use something perishable before it may spoil, pop it in the freezer. Check the FoodKeeper to see if your item may be frozen.