15 Easy Ways to Reduce Food Waste at Home

Shop smarter

Most waste starts at the store.

• •Plan meals before you shop and stick to a list.
• •Don't shop hungry — it leads to over-buying.
• •Buy loose produce so you take only what you need.
• •Be realistic about how much you'll actually cook this week.

Store it to last

Good storage can double the life of your groceries.

• •Keep your fridge at or below 40°F (4°C).
• •Store herbs and greens with a paper towel to absorb moisture.
• •Keep potatoes and onions apart and out of the fridge.
• •Freeze bread, meat and leftovers you won't use in time.

Use what you have

Get creative before things go off.

• •Cook an 'use-it-up' meal weekly — stir-fries, soups and frittatas welcome almost anything.
• •Freeze overripe fruit for smoothies and baking.
• •Turn stale bread into croutons or breadcrumbs.
• •Save vegetable scraps for homemade stock.

Know when food is still good

'Best before' is about quality, not safety — many foods are fine well past it. Trust your senses: look, smell and (for some foods) taste. When genuinely in doubt, throw it out, but don't bin food just because of a date.