Each time I clear my fridge and throw out food that should have been eaten I tell myself that I’m going to keep a waste diary, that way I can try to pinpoint where I’m going wrong. There are no excuses now…
Next week is National Zero Waste Week and I’ve pledged not to waste a single gram of food. You can join me. Visit the My Zero Waste website run by our friend Mrs Green and make a pledge to cut your waste a little or a lot.
I’d love to say that I’m an expert at not wasting food but I’m not. I have a few challenges that usually tip me over the edge – or rather lead to me tipping a bit of food in the bin. I don’t throw a lot of food away but I certainly want to get the numbers down to nil. This is my chance.
Every day 260,000 packs of cheese are thrown away in Britain, along with…
1.3 million yogurts
50,000 milkshake bottles
660,000 eggs
5,500 chickens
1.2m sausages
And much, much more, according to a fascinating report by WRAP, called ‘The Food We Waste’.
They calculated that eating this food, rather than binning it, would have the same effect as taking one in five cars off the roads. Not wasting food could also save the average British household £50 a month.
There are plenty of figures to get you motivated. So, what you think: can you go through the entire week without scraping any food into the bin?
Let us know how you get on. Pinpoint your weak spots and see how you can fix them. And, please let us know any tips you have by responding to this blog, or you can email me at: foodie@abelandcole.co.uk.
Rachel
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09 Sep 2010 at 10:50
My tips for using up veg that’s a bit past its best;
Chop and put in a saucepan with enough water to cover and boil until everything is tender. Then either use the strained liquid for a risotto or stock for the freezer. Or if the veg is plentiful and tasty whizz it all in a food processor or blender to make soup or the base for a pasta sauce or ratatouille .
09 Sep 2010 at 10:51
If you don’t like the skin on your fish your cat will!
09 Sep 2010 at 10:55
If you have a piece of hard cheese, such as cheddar or double Gloucester, and you know you won’t get around to eating it – grate it and put it in a plastic bag in the freezer. It thaws really quickly when you need it. Same goes for stale bread; whizz it a bit at a time in a blender until it makes breadcrumbs then freeze in bags for stuffing, crumb coating etc. Bread crumbs thaw almost instantly.
09 Sep 2010 at 10:57
If you don’t have time to make your chicken carcass into stock as soon as you’ve eaten the bird just put it in a big plastic bag and freeze until you do have time.
13 Sep 2010 at 13:34
I agree with Susie, plan meals around what is to be used next. keep on top of whats in the fridge, bread, cheese, milk, cream, ham bacon etc..can all be freezed, if not sure just experiment! and before veg & fruit gets past it, cook for soups, stock., or pie fillings, it will save all around.
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