How to Reduce Food Waste: Smarter Cooking and Storage Tips

Food waste is the unspoken villain lurking in our kitchens. Each year, UK households throw away around 6.6 million tonnes of food, much of which could have been eaten. It’s not just a waste of money but also a massive environmental problem. Producing, transporting, and disposing of wasted food generates greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. But here’s the good news: with a few clever strategies, you can significantly reduce food waste at home. Not only will you be doing your bit for the planet, but you’ll also save money and improve your cooking game. Here’s how to get started.

1. Master the Art of Meal Planning

Meal planning isn’t just for Instagram meal-prep enthusiasts – it’s one of the easiest ways to cut down on food waste. By planning your meals for the week, you can shop with a clear purpose and avoid buying items you don’t need. Here’s how to nail it:

• Take Stock: Check your fridge, freezer, and pantry before heading to the shops. Use what you already have as the foundation for your meals.
• Write a List: Create a shopping list based on your planned meals and stick to it. Avoid the temptation of “just in case” purchases.
• Be Realistic: Plan meals that match your schedule. If you know you’ll have a busy week, focus on quick and simple recipes to avoid food going unused.

2. Store Food Properly

Improper storage is one of the biggest culprits behind food waste. Learning how to store your food correctly can dramatically extend its shelf life and help reduce food waste. Here are some quick tips:

• Know Your Fridge Zones: Keep dairy and raw meat in the coldest part of your fridge, usually the bottom shelf. Store fruits and vegetables in the crisper drawer.
• Avoid Overcrowding: A jam-packed fridge might look abundant, but it blocks airflow and leads to uneven cooling. Keep it organised for maximum freshness.
• Use Airtight Containers: Store leftovers, chopped vegetables, and cooked grains in airtight containers to keep them fresher for longer.
• Freeze Wisely: Freeze items you can’t eat in time. Bread, herbs, and even grated cheese freeze well. Use freezer-safe bags or containers and label everything clearly.

3. Embrace the “Best Before” Date

“Best before” doesn’t mean “throw away after.” These dates indicate when food is at its best quality, not when it becomes unsafe to eat. Trust your senses – if it looks, smells, and tastes fine, it probably is. “Use-by” dates, on the other hand, are more crucial for safety, particularly for perishable items like meat and dairy. Understanding this difference can prevent perfectly good food from going in the bin.

4. Love Your Leftovers

Leftovers aren’t just yesterday’s dinner – they’re today’s secret weapon for reducing food waste. Get creative with your leftovers:

• Transform Them: Turn roast chicken into a hearty soup or curry, and leftover veg into a delicious frittata.
• Lunch Solutions: Pack leftovers for lunch the next day – cheaper and healthier than buying food on the go.
• Freeze for Later: If you’re not keen on eating the same meal two days in a row, freeze portions for a quick meal when you’re short on time.

5. Buy Ugly Produce

Wonky carrots and knobbly potatoes taste just as good as their perfectly shaped counterparts. Unfortunately, much of this “imperfect” produce gets rejected by supermarkets and ends up wasted. Some retailers, like Morrisons and Lidl, now sell wonky veg packs at discounted prices, helping reduce food waste and save you money. Bonus: it’s a great way to support farmers.

6. Compost What You Can’t Use

Even with the best intentions, some food waste is inevitable. With this in mind, composting is an excellent way to give scraps a second life. Many UK councils provide food waste bins, or you can create your own compost pile at home. Composting reduces the amount of organic waste sent to landfill, where it produces methane – a potent greenhouse gas. Use your compost to enrich your garden soil or donate it to a local community garden.

7. Get Smart with Portions

Cooking too much is a common food-waste culprit. Avoid this by measuring ingredients and portion sizes accurately:

• Use Scales or Cups: Follow recipes carefully to avoid cooking more than you need.
• Portion Guides: As a general rule, allow 75g of dry pasta or rice per person.
• Cook Less: If you’re prone to overestimating, err on the side of cooking slightly less—you can always add more if needed.

8. Preserve Like a Pro

Preserving food is an old-school skill that’s making a big comeback. From pickling cucumbers to making jam from overripe fruit, preserving allows you to extend the life of your food and enjoy it in new ways. Invest in some jars and start experimenting – it’s surprisingly fun and incredibly satisfying.

9. Use Apps to Reduce Waste

Technology to the rescue! Several apps can help you to reduce food waste and keep it to a minimum:

• Too Good To Go: Connects you with local businesses selling surplus food at reduced prices.
• Olio: A community sharing app where neighbours and businesses give away surplus food for free.
• No Waste: Helps you track the expiry dates of items in your fridge and pantry so you use them in time.

10. Make Stock from Scraps

Vegetable peelings, herb stems, and chicken bones are often thrown away but can be turned into delicious homemade stock. Store your scraps in the freezer until you have enough to make a batch. It’s a fantastic way and tasty way to extract every bit of value from your food and dramatically reduce food waste.

Reduce Food Waste: Why It Matters

Reducing food waste is about more than just saving money. It’s about respecting the resources—water, energy, labour—that go into producing our food. When we waste less, we lessen our impact on the planet, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a more sustainable food system.

Start with small changes, like planning your meals or learning to store food properly. Every little effort adds up, and before you know it, reducing food waste will become second nature. So, roll up your sleeves, open that fridge, and let’s get smarter about how we cook, store, and enjoy our food.