Being "food wise"
Storing food properly is the best way to reduce food waste, save money and do something for the environment. Planet Ark founder, Jon Dee, calls it being food wise and has launched Australia's biggest ever food waste campaign which aims to help reduce the 3 million tonnes of food we chuck away every year.
‘Every year, Australians spend $5 billion on food that they buy but don't eat,' says Dee. ‘This means that the average Australian household is spending hundreds of dollars every year on food that they don't eat. Downturn or not, that makes no financial sense. Many people don't realise that when discarded food rots in landfill, it releases methane into the atmosphere. This greenhouse gas is 20 times more potent than the CO2 that pours out of car exhausts.'
‘Being FoodWise means planning what to buy before you shop, writing a shopping list, using leftovers to create new meals, and paying attention to proper food storage,' says Dee. ‘Saving food can be as simple as throwing your leftovers into a container and freezing it for another day. Our Grandmothers used to value food and they utilised every last scrap. We need to learn from them and go back to that way of thinking. Our environment cannot sustain this level of waste.'
Storing Bread
Store on the bench for 1–2 days and then freeze for longer storage. Make breadcrumbs from crusts so there is no wastage.
Storing Grains
Store in sealed containers in the pantry. If you live in a hot, humid area, store them in the fridge.
Storing Meat
Store meat in the fridge for no more than 2 days on a plate covered with foil or plastic wrap. Freeze in meal size amounts in strong plastic bags and label with the cut and date. Thaw meat in the fridge.
Storing Eggs
Keep in the fridge in the actual egg carton. Buy the cartons with the longest best-before date.
Storing Fruit
Store unripe fruit and bananas on the bench. Store apples, grapes, citrus fruit and ripe fruit in the fridge. Wrap cut fruit in plastic wrap or place in a sealed container in the fridge.
Storing Vegetables
Green, leafy and salad vegetables: Store in the fridge, unwashed, in the crisper or in a vented plastic bag. Potatoes, onions and garlic: Store in cool, dark dry and airy spot.
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