Reduce, reuse, recycle to prevent food waste

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Food Waste Action Week

1-7 March is Food Waste Action Week. Throughout the week we’ll be sharing posts from Love Food Hate Waste as well as tips to help you save both food and money but we've rounded up some of our favourite food saving tips below.

Food Waste Action Week

It’s a date!

a best before date on a can

Do you know the difference between a ‘use by’ and 'best before'? 'Use by' is about safety – food should not be eaten after this date. ‘Best before’ is about quality – food might not be at its best after this date, but will still be safe to eat for some time.

All foods with a 'use by', including meat, can be frozen right up to this date.


Compleating

Over two-thirds of the food we waste is edible, so using every edible bit of your food (‘compleating’) is essential.

Homemade stocks and soups are a great way to finish off the parts you’d usually throw away. Small changes like leaving the skin on when you make mashed potato will also make a big difference.

woman making soup

Savvy storage

woman looking in a fridge

It might sound simple but storing food in the correct conditions really makes a difference.

Most fruit and veg will stay fresher for longer in the fridge, while onions and potatoes should be kept in a cool, dark, dry place.

The average fridge temperature in UK homes is nearly 7°C, but foods will last longer if they are kept at under 5°C.


Freezer fan

Your freezer is a great way to store leftovers and excess, especially if you have been tempted by a buy one get one free offer or your meal plans have changed.

You can freeze all sorts, from staples like milk and bread to things you use less often like herbs and wine - make sure you label things first though!

person putting food into an organised freezer

Perfect portions

pasta being weighed on kitchen scales

You'll find recommended portion sizes printed on the packaging for things like pasta and rice, so grab your scales to weigh out the correct amount and avoid waste.

If you've not got scales there are other ways to measure, for example, a mug filled with dry rice will cook enough for four adults.


Considered composting?

For any food that can't be eaten, composting is a way to recycle it, giving it a new lease of life in your garden. Composting is another way to reduce emissions cause by food waste, while regenerating soil.

There are lots of different types of composters on the market to choose from.

man scraping vegetable scraps into a compost bin

For more tips on preventing food waste check out our social media during Food Waste Action Week or read our Tips for Reducing Food Waste blog.

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