Our food-wasting habits can have a negative impact on our resources and environment. Here is how you can minimise your kitchen waste:
While shopping, we sometimes buy more food items than we actually need and then are unable to finish them within their shelf life. Plan your meals and accordingly buy only what you need. This will prevent food wastage and also help you save money.
Store the food products properly in conditions that they won’t spoil quickly. Keep products that have short shelf life in front and the ones that can last longer at the back. This way you won’t forget to finish them timely.
Don’t just throw away your leftovers. Freeze them for later use or utilise them to create another dish. For example, leftover rice can be used to make fried rice the next day and leftover meats can be used in a sandwich. This way you can creatively reduce waste.
Know the difference between ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ dates on the labels of products. The products with ‘best before’ may be safe to eat after the date while the ones with ‘use by’ are not.
If your food items are starting to get stale, try to use them in some way instead of just throwing them out. Wilted lettuce can be kept in cold water to make it fresh again, old bananas can be frozen to make smoothies or desserts, and spoiled milk can be used in various recipes.
Instead of throwing food waste like peels, stems, or other scraps into a bin, compost it. This way you are returning the nutrients back to the soil while also reducing your carbon footprint.