Reduce Food Waste By Doing This

For many households it has never been more important for  the grocery budget to be stretched as far as possible.  Food costs are rising almost on a daily basis and every little tip and trick should be used to get the most out of the food you can afford to buy.

Here are some ways to reduce food waste - 

*  Cream - Any amount of leftover cream getting close to it's use by date can be made into butter  Use the marble in a jar method for a small amount or a stand mixer for a larger amount.

*  Cheese - Don't let it get hard or mouldy.  It should be wrapped it in baking paper and stored in an airtight container.  It can also be grated and frozen.  Just add a little corn flour and shake so it doesn't stick together.

*  Wilted veggies - They make great soup.  Add some soup mix,  stock or a tin of diced tomatoes and no one will ever know.

*  Wrinkly fruit - Stew ( cook ) and make fruit cobbler or  jam  Some of the best jams I've made are from mixed fruit.

*  Stale bread and rolls - Can be made into dried bread crumbs or bread and butter pudding.  Store the stale bread in the freezer until you have enough to make one of these items.

*  Sweet rolls / buns - Make great bread and butter pudding

*  Roasted veggies - Can be made into tasty frittatas,  flans or quiches, or put them in a soup for amazing flavour.

* Cooked veggies - Can be added to frittatas,  pasta bakes,  or blitz and add to spag bol and pasta dishes.  Make a soup,  add to a casserole or make bubble and squeak.

* Cooked rice -Makes delicious rice pudding and creamed rice.  You can freeze leftover rice,  or make fried rice.

*  Yoghurt -  Can be used in smoothies,  made into icypoles or frozen for a sweet treat.

*  Chicken carcass - Place it in a slow cooker with water and make stock.  Strip off the meat and use it with the stock to make a hearty chicken and veggie soup.

Bread and butter pudding

Making mini quiches

Here are the links to some of the recipes I suggested -

Bread and butter pudding

Creamed rice

Chunky chicken and veggie soup

Chicken flan

One Simple Way To Reduce Food Waste

 Each year,  Australians waste about 7.3 million tonnes of food with costs the economy approximately $20 billion.  That sounds like a staggering amount doesn't it.

Think of it this way.  That wastage equates to about 300 kg of food per person or one in five bags of groceries.  That's a very shocking statistic and a heck of a lot of money being thrown out.

As most of you know I'm a domestic cleaner of over 20 years.  I've cleaned many fridges over this time and I'm always shocked at how much food is abandoned ( forgotten ) by the family.  I'm not talking about a small bowl of mashed potato.  I'm talking about expensive fruits and vegetables,  convenience foods and takeaways.

There is one simple way to start reducing the food waste in your home.

FREEZE  !!  That's right,  freeze your leftovers.  At dinnertime,  as I'm serving up the meal if I can see there will be leftovers,  I get out a few takeaway containers and portion the extra food into single serves.  Once dinner is eaten the leftovers are put into the fridge to cool.  Then when the dishes are washed and the kitchen is clean,  I put the lids on the containers,  label then place in the freezer.

If you have too many vegetables in the fridge then blanch them and freeze for future eating. Sad looking fruit could be cooked ( stewed ) and either eaten within a couple of days or frozen.  Maybe make fruit icypoles or icecream with excess fruit.

Excess eggs,  cheese,  butter,  milk and cream can be frozen for future use.  Just do a Google search for the best way to freeze each item.

I'm hoping this has inspired you to use your freezer to save money and reduce the food in your fridge spoiling.

Single serves of soup for the freezer

Portioned and labelled

Chicken curry meals for the freezer

How do you reduce food wastage in your fridge ?