Discover easy tips and recipes for reducing food waste
One of the biggest environmental issues in Australia is food waste. According to food rescue organisation, OzHarvest* Australians waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year, 70% of which is still edible. This needs to change. But how?
Tackling food waste is one of the most impactful ways to reduce our carbon footprint and help the planet. Even making one small change each day will have a positive effect on the environment. In this guide we offer simple, everyday solutions for everyone including tips on how to use your food scraps and delicious ‘root-to-tip’ recipes the whole family will enjoy.
Here are some simple ideas on how to reduce food waste in the home.
How to properly store food & produce
One of the easiest ways to stop wasting food is to learn how to store it properly. Whether you’re storing produce in the fridge, freezer or pantry, there are certain things you can do to increase its shelf-life.
One of the easiest ways to stop wasting food is to learn how to store it properly. Whether you’re storing produce in the fridge, freezer or pantry, there are certain things you can do to increase its shelf-life.
One of the easiest ways to stop wasting food is to learn how to store it properly. Whether you’re storing produce in the fridge, freezer or pantry, there are certain things you can do to increase its shelf-life.
One of the easiest ways to stop wasting food is to learn how to store it properly. Whether you’re storing produce in the fridge, freezer or pantry, there are certain things you can do to increase its shelf-life.
How to organise your fridge
Having an organised fridge and freezer is key to storing food and produce longer, and ultimately reducing wastage. First, check your fridge temperature. It should be at 5ºC or less, ideally your freezer should be at -18ºC.
Invest in airtight containers, small food bins with handles and reusable produce bags. These will help to keep your fridge neat and organised and reduce the longevity of your produce.
Create a “use-first” section in your fridge where you store older food and produce that needs to be consumed as soon as possible. And remember not to overfill your fridge. It’s important for cool air to be able to circulate in order to keep things fresh.
Leafy herbs
Leafy herbs include coriander, parsley, basil, dill or mint. If you’re using them soon, snip the ends and store in a jar of water with a ziplock bag loosely covering the top of the herbs. Make sure you change the water every couple of days to keep them fresh
Woody herbs
Woody herbs are hardier and include rosemary, thyme, sage or bay leaves. Wash them, pat them dry and wrap them in a damp paper towel and store in an airtight bag in the fridge.
Vegetables
Store veggies like broccolini, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, radishes and asparagus in breathable mesh or cotton fridge bags. Lettuce should be stored in an airtight bag or container to stop the leaves from wilting.
Berries
Most berries come in breathable containers. Keep them stored in these and don’t wash them until you’re ready to eat them.
Citrus
Store lemons or oranges on your counter out of the sun. If they start to ripen too quickly, pop them in the fridge to keep them lasting longer.
Avocado
Avocados should also be kept on the counter and then stored in the fridge to keep them fresh and from over ripening. To keep avocado halves from browning, squeeze a little lemon juice on the flesh then store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are best kept on the counter to ripen and enhance their flavour.
A note on bananas and apples
Bananas and apples release a gas called ethylene which hastens the ripening process of all produce around it. So try to store these two fruits separately.
Non-fridge produce
While a lot of produce stores well in the fridge, other things like onions, potatoes, garlic, or sweet potatoes do best in a cool, dark and dry place like the bottom of the pantry. They should be stored in a well-ventilated container or sack where they can breathe.
Don’t forget that the freezer is your friend and there is so much fresh produce you can store there to extend its life and reduce food waste.
Zero-waste tips & recipes
There are so many clever ways to use up food scraps. From celery bases or parmesan rinds to leftover lemon peel and stale bread, give new life to all the food you might normally throw away.
Lemon peel
Lemon is a cleaning powerhouse. You can use lemon peels to make your own spray cleaner (see below), as well as to clean and deodorise chopping boards. Simply sprinkle salt on your board then rub the inside of the peel over the surface. The salt acts like an abrasive.
