Simple Ways To Reduce Food Waste At Home

Finding spoiled food in the fridge and bins overflowing with food waste could expose your family to health risks. Not only is food waste an agent for contamination, but too much of it has adverse effects on the environment, especially on a national scale.

If you still throw out excess food and want to make smarter choices to minimise food waste, then you’re in the right place. Kurt’s Rubbish Removal, a leading rubbish removal company in Sydney, suggests the following ways you can do to reduce food waste at home.

1. Plan your meals to reduce excess grocery

You may want to plan your grocery at least a week ahead if you want to use all of the perishables in time. That includes leafy greens, fruits, meat, and spices.

By doing so, all your groceries are less likely to spoil, allowing you to reduce food waste. You can use a simple planning list to plan your meals and groceries every week.

1. Shop smarter

Aside from planning your grocery, it’s also best to make sure you’re buying fresh produce and food with longer best-before dates. As much as possible, we recommend against buying foods that expire the next week.

Here’s a quick guide in shopping smarter to reduce your household’s food waste:

Perishable goods

• Always keep meat products like poultry, pork, fish, and milk products separate from other groceries, especially detergent, to avoid cross-contamination.

• If you can, try to bring a food cooler/warmer with you to make sure your perishables stay fresh from the shelves to your fridge.

• Take your time to shop for perishables, but we recommend picking them up only when you’re about to check out.

Fresh Produce

Fruits and vegetables are prone to bruising when crammed with solid groceries in the cart, causing them to spoil faster. To prevent bruising your fresh produce, always put them on top of other groceries and away from other foods.

Canned and packaged foods

Always look for signs of a broken seal, leaks, dents, and bulges when buying canned goods. It’s also best to read the labels and check the expiration date, so it doesn’t end up in the bin sooner.

1. Store perishables properly to maximise their shelf life

As soon as you get home, we recommend placing the perishables in your freezer or fridge. Doing so preserves their life span and prevents microbial growth, thereby keeping the food safe.

For fish and meat, make sure to wash it first and drain most of the liquids before storing them in your freezer to prevent unwanted odour from sticking into other food in your fridge.

1. Stock non-perishable goods in a clean and dry pantry

Keeping non-perishable products in a clean and dry pantry will help you organise your food. Aside from that, you can also reduce your food waste by using several ingredients that you can find in one spot.

The most common foods you can store in your pantry are:

• Canned/Dried beans such as lentils and chickpeas

• Canned tuna, salmon, or sardines

• Canned fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, mushrooms, peaches, and citrus fruits in light syrup

• Grain products and cereals, including rice and pasta

• Vinegar, soy sauce, and other condiments

• Cooking oil

• Baking products such as sugar, flour, and baking powder

We also suggest that you organise them by shelves in your pantry to avoid spillage. You can also purchase non-perishable goods in resealable packaging, especially for oil and condiments.

Always follow the first in, first out method when stocking and taking out products from your pantry. Don’t forget to read the food labels to know which products require refrigeration after opening them.

1. Make the most out of food leftovers

You can find clever ways to maximise your leftovers and transform them into a different gastronomic experience for your family. Look for creative meals online to cook your leftover meal and reduce your food waste.

As for fruit peelings and vegetable clippings, Kurt’s Rubbish Removal recommends composting them to be used as garden fertiliser. Most organic wastes decompose within weeks, so you get nutrient-rich compost out of your food scraps.

Final Thoughts

Having a reliable plan and following the above methods should help you develop safe and effective food waste management at home.

Moreover, proper waste management will go a long way in helping curb Australia’s rising waste output. To ensure your rubbish doesn’t end up in the wrong places, it’s best to partner with a time-tested rubbish removal company that serves your area.

Jennifer Lee is a Content Strategist based in Sydney, Australia. She has over 5 years experience in creating engaging content for the home improvement, sustainability and eco-friendly sector.