Top Five Ways to Reduce Food Waste

Tasha Heath, Circular Economy Officer 2nd November 2022

1. Check your cupboards & make a plan

Checking your fridge and cupboards before writing your shopping list means you can use up what you already have. It will stop you buying unnecessary items that could end up going to waste and in turn, save you money.

Writing a list ensures you won't buy items you already have.

2. Storage

Storing your food correctly will maximise its shelf life. To keep your food fresher for longer, your fridge should be set below 5 degrees. You can check the best way to store your food on the Love Food Hate Waste website.

Store food correctly to prolong life-span.

3. Freeze

Plans can change – if you’re not going to eat your planned meal then freeze it! Make sure you understand the difference between ‘Use By’ and ‘Best Before’, it makes it easier to understand which food can be used and what can be frozen before it spoils.

You can freeze all kinds of foods to use at a later date.

4. Love your leftovers

Do you have leftovers? Can they be eaten for lunch the next day or turned into a yummy side dish for another meal? If not, freeze them for a quick meal to be enjoyed at a later date!

Box leftovers to use again at a later date.

5. Portions

Buy and make only what you need. Not only does buying loose fruit and veg save on unnecessary plastic, but only buying the amount you need saves you throwing away unused items.

Buying exact quantities prevents unused items going to waste.

To help fight food waste, we’ve teamed up with Kitche, a free food-saving app. This provides tools and resources to prevent food going in the bin at home. The app allows users to scan receipts to track food bought and produces handy shopping lists and clever recipe tips. If you want to make a difference, download the Kitche app to save money and start reducing your food waste.