Help keep food fresher for longer
Proper storage techniques play a big role in reducing food waste. These techniques apply both when you get home from the store and when you have leftovers you want to save.
Try these tactics:
- When you get home from the store, wash, dry, chop, dice, slice, and place your fresh food items in clear storage containers for snacks and easy cooking. Remember the first law of food waste: if you can see it, you’ll eat it. That’s why neat, transparent food storage is so important.
- Store fruits and vegetables properly to ensure longevity and tastiness. For more information, visit Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Better Taste.
- Designate an area in the refrigerator for food that should be eaten relatively soon to prevent spoiling. You can use an “Eat First” tag as a visual reminder.
- Freeze food you don’t plan on eating immediately. Prepare and cook perishable items, then freeze them for use throughout the week or month.
- Date label your food whether it’s leftovers, fresh food or perishable dry goods. It will take the guesswork out of what is still edible and speed up your fridge and pantry cleanouts. All you need is a marker and masking/painters’ tape if you’re writing on a glass container. Make sure your labeling supplies are always within easy reach when you’re putting things away.
