I don’t know about you but I am not the type of person who knows how to cook for the correct amount of people… I always make that little bit extra – in case someone wants a little bit more – and for some reason, that ‘little bit extra’ somehow becomes an extra full meal size. Cue the leftovers.
But then the next day comes around, and I feel like making something else, so those leftovers can sometimes just be, well, leftover.
Knowing how to store food properly is so important, not just so you have the chance to eat it a day-or-so-later, but to reduce the food that’s going to waste.
According to research by GLAD, almost two in three (63%) of Australians believe they throw away around 10% of the food they buy, which they estimated to be about $1,250 worth of groceries per year. However, calculations released in 2019 from Foodbank indicate this could be even higher, with estimations that Aussie households could be throwing away up to $3,800 worth of food per year. Ouch.
In light of this, we reached out to celebrity cook Dani Venn to show us the simple things we can do at home to reduce food waste – including how to store those leftovers properly.
“If you’re like me, then you’ve had plenty of moments where you’re cleaning out your fridge and notice just how much food has ended up going to waste,” explains Dani. “With the most significant things contributing to food waste being unused fruit, vegetables, perishable items and throwing out leftovers, here are some of my top tips on how you can store your staple pantry items and make the most of your leftovers so you can help to do your part in the fight to reduce food waste.”
Check them out below.
1. Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables need to be stored properly to ensure they are kept fresher for longer. Place your fruit and vegetables with a shorter shelf life in different compartments of your fridge than the rest of your produce. Identifying what produce needs to be used right away versus what doesn’t will help you determine what to cook first and save you from having to waste any food.
2. Cheese
Everyone loves cheese, but it can spoil quickly if suffocated in their own packaging or tightly wrapped plastic. To make sure you’re keeping your delicious cheese fresher for longer, unwrap it from its plastic packaging and wrap it in Glad to be Green® Compostable Bake Paper to give it room to breathe.
4. Herbs
A quick and stylish way to store your herbs is in a glass of water! I have found that storing your parsley, basil, or coriander in a glass of water allows you to have quick access to your herbs when cooking and keeps them hydrated and fresher for longer. It also brightens your kitchen up with a bit of greenery – who doesn’t love that!
5. Jars
When you are coming to the end of your tomato paste jar, but there is still a little bit left, instead of throwing out your leftovers – scoop out those last bits with a spoon and place in a Glad to be Green® Reseal Bag and freeze. It is quick, simple and will guarantee you reduce the amount of food you are throwing away. What’s more is that you can recycle the reseal bags through REDcycle at your local Woolworths and Coles stores nationwide once you’re finished with them.
How To Properly Store 20 of The Most Common Fruit & Veg
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