Make sure to store your food in optimum conditions for prolonged shelf life, taking light levels, temperature and oxygen into account. Recent TikTok trends show storing carrots on a bed of onion skins and taping over the top of a tomato when it’s been removed from the vine will prolong their shelf-life by weeks.
It’s also important to take some time to understand food labelling - ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ are very different things. Use-by dates are deadlines but best before dates are guidelines, for when to eat your food - this golden rule will help you reduce your food waste no end.
You could also try your hand at growing your own fruit and vegetables at home. Even if you don’t have any outside space available, a windowsill with access to light is all you need to grow indoors. Then, you can plan your meals around what’s in season and pick only the ingredients you need for each meal.
Batch cooking and freezing meals, not only reduces waste but saves you time in the future. If you’re pushed for time one evening after work or need a speedy lunch, defrost a batch you cooked on a previous day and enjoy! Or perhaps share some of your food with a neighbour, friend or family member. For example, if you live alone but you’ve made a full cake, why not ask your neighbours if they’d like a slice? Suddenly you’ve reduced your food waste and you’re the most popular person on your street!
Finally, if you really have no other option than to dispose of your food waste, make sure to compost it. Composting the food waste you do have gives nutrients back to the earth and in turn reduces your carbon footprint. Kitchen and garden waste like grass clippings, kitchen scraps and even coffee grounds will naturally decompose and create nutrient-rich compost that will nourish your garden. Not only will following these tips save you time and money, but they’re small steps we can all take to address the wider problem of food waste in the UK and its impact on the environment. Producing, moving, storing and cooking food uses energy, fuel and water which emit greenhouse gases. Reducing your food waste is a significant step in tackling climate change.