How to reduce food waste? Our 4 tips
1. First in, first out!
Organizing the refrigerator is strategic to avoid throwing away food. Are you coming home from the supermarket with your arms full of shopping? Place new purchases behind old ones, so you consume what was purchased first.
Also be careful not to overfill it, to allow effective circulation of cold air: this will ensure good preservation of your food. Finally, group all the leftovers in the same place, in transparent containers, so as not to forget them.
2. Master the etiquette
Cold meats, fish, meat… these products have a use-by date (DLC): beyond that, using them presents a health risk. In this case, do not hesitate to throw them away. But the majority of products display a simple minimum durability date (MDD).
The label then indicates “Best consumed before…”. After this date, the product may change its appearance and its taste may be altered, but it does not present any risk. Yogurts can even be consumed up to three weeks after their DDM, if their appearance remains correct and they do not smell bad.
3. Freeze to save better
Equip yourself with airtight containers to avoid “burning” food during the freezing phase. Almost everything can hope to find a second life after going through the extreme cold. Washed, cut and blanched, vegetables that you can’t use now will end up later in pies or gratins.
Damaged fruits will be reborn as a smoothie. Unused aromatic herbs, mixed with olive oil in ice cube trays, will be ready to serve for soups or sauces.
4. Dare to cook without waste
Damaged carrot cake, overripe banana ice cream… Throwing nothing away and using everything in the kitchen can be a source of joy. Blogs and social networks are full of recipes.
Sources: Too Good to Go, Yuka
To go further in the fight against food waste
- Find anti-waste recipes: I cook leftovers and save money, by Céline Mennetrier, Ed. Living Earth, 120 p. ; €12.
- Recover unsold food at low prices: download the Too Good to Go or Phenix applications to your phone (available on App Store and Google Play)
- Buy non-standard mass retail products: find the list of “Nous anti-waste” grocery stores on nousantigaspi.com
