Managing your kitchen or pantry supplies is crucial for preventing waste and cooking smarter. This week is Waste-Free Week. We're happy to help you get started with a few handy tips you can easily implement. Not just this week, but all year round.
Organize inventory
Wasting less food; that's what we all want. Yet, some people sometimes have a few leftover sandwiches, while others discover leftover pasta in the fridge just too late. Properly stored food keeps it fresh longer. An organized kitchen or pantry starts with good inventory management. Use your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry wisely and follow the tips below:
1. Smart design
Organize your inventory and give products a fixed place as much as possible, so you can find them easily again.
2. Use stickers or cards
By placing stickers or labels on products, you can quickly see what needs to be put on first. This prevents food from spoiling and gives you a better overview of your inventory.
3. Old for new
Place older products at the front and newer products at the back. This way, you'll use what's been in stock the longest first and avoid wasting food.
4. Plan meals
Planning ahead to prepare your meals will help you better estimate what ingredients you'll need and prevent you from over-buying.
5. Basic stock
It's helpful to have some basic, long-lasting staples on hand, such as pasta, rice, and canned or jarred food. This is also known as a stockpile. This way, you'll always have something on hand to prepare a meal. These items are easy to combine with fresh produce that needs to be used quickly.
6. Know your inventory
Keep a list of what you have at home and check off what you use. That way, you'll always know what you need when you go grocery shopping.
7. Pay attention to the expiration dates
Store products in their original packaging as much as possible, so you can regularly check the expiration dates. Use products promptly to prevent waste. After the best-before date (Best Before Date), you can often still use the product, but it's wise to look, smell, and taste it first. "Best Before" (Best Before) means the product is safe to eat until this date. After that, it should be thrown away, as there is a high risk of food poisoning.
8. Using your refrigerator
The best temperature for your refrigerator is 4ºC. This reduces the chance of bacteria developing and keeps food fresh longer. Meat, fish, dairy, and leftovers that you eat within two days should always be refrigerated, as should many types of fruit en vegetable They last much longer if you keep them in the refrigerator. It's better to store a small portion in a fixed place outside the refrigerator, such as tropical fruit, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and eggplant. More tips for storing products store in the refrigerator.
9. Using your freezer
Products that you freeze can be stored for a long time, such as fresh produce, leftovers and everything you buy frozen. More tips for storing products store in the freezer.
10. Be smart with leftovers
Try creating new dishes with leftovers, like soups or savory stews. Divide leftovers into small portions and freeze them. This way, the food will last longer and you can easily use it later for a quick meal. This helps you waste less food and saves you time cooking.
11. Read labels
The label shows how a product should be stored. Always refrigerate products that require refrigeration, even if they haven't been opened yet.
12. Use the online Storage Guide
In online storage guide you will find storage advice with useful storage tips for more than 2.000 products.
13. Use other helpful tools
There are handy tools to make managing your stock even easier and thus prevent food waste.
- First on tape"First on Tape" is a handy tool for marking product expiration dates. Apply this special tape to packaging to indicate which products need to be used first. This way, you can quickly see which products you need to use soon to prevent waste.
- Fridge and freezer stickerThese stickers are specially designed to indicate the expiration dates of food stored in the refrigerator and freezer. Place these stickers on packaging to mark the expiration dates of food stored in the refrigerator and freezer. This helps you keep track of how long food is still good.
- Eating buddyThe food measure is a handy tool for controlling portions and serving the right amount of food. The measuring cup or spoon with clear measurements allows you to measure exactly how much food you need. This helps prevent excessive portions and waste.
- Reminder sticker on breadPlace a reminder sticker on your bread packaging to remind you to use your bread before it goes stale. This prevents food waste and allows you to enjoy fresh bread every day.
By following these simple tips, you will not only keep your kitchen and pantry organized, but you will also prevent food waste.
For more tips, visit waardlanden.nl/tips