With the rising cost of living and the energy price cap set to rise even further, many of us are looking for ways to make our money stretch further.
One way to do that is to reduce food waste, though there are many reasons other than saving money that may make you want to do this – such as the positive impact on the environment.
A zero-waste kitchen might feel daunting to start with, but don’t stress.
All you really need to know is that the idea is to simply live less wastefully and try to re-use, recycle and compost rather than throwing things away.
Trying to go zero waste need not be intimidating. Taking it one step at a time and learning as you go will help you to become more mindful about what you do with your food.
These tips for making food last longer should help you on your way to being less wasteful and save you money on groceries at the same time.
Blend and freeze
If you have spinach that is going off in the fridge, chuck it into a blender, whizz it up, then store in portion-sized pots in the freezer to add to smoothies or sauces, so it doesn’t go to waste.
The leaves can also be frozen whole and added to stir-fries and sauces from frozen.
Store your nut butters upside down
Storing your nut butters upside down in the cupboard will prevent them from splitting and drying out, meaning you’ll use every last bit rather than constantly buying new tubs.
Make your own pitta bread
Making little pitta breads is so easy and really quick. Simply mix flour and water with some salt and yeast or natural yogurt, and you have fresh bread to dunk into your soup, stew or to make a quick lunch.
This is a great tip if you’re often throwing away half a loaf of bread that you’ve not managed to get through before it goes bad.
Buy in bulk and freeze
Buying larger packs of meat and freezing it into portions for when you need it will not only save money, as generally, it’s cheaper to buy in bulk, but it also means you have less wastage if you don’t get through it all before it goes bad in the fridge.
Go to a zero-waste store
If you have a zero-waste store near you, take along your canisters and containers to stock up on things like cereals, grains, coffee and dried food, so that you buy what you need and don’t have lots of packaging to throw away after.
Use simple tricks to keep greens fresh
Store leafy greens such as salad leaves in paper towels in the fridge. This absorbs water and stops them from going limp or mouldy as quickly.
To keep broccoli fresh for longer chop the end off and store it in water in the fridge.
Try tinned fish
Consider sustainably sourced tinned fish, such as salmon or mackerel, which will be available whenever you need a quick meal.
They last for years in the cupboard too – great for when you don’t have anything fresh in the fridge for dinner!
Freeze sandwiches
Did you know you can freeze sandwiches? Simply make up sandwiches for the week and freeze them, then take a set out of the freezer when you head off to work or school and they’ll be defrosted by lunchtime.
This saves so much time and helps keep you organised.
Grow your own spring onions
If you store spring onions in water, they will begin to shoot off with new spring onions, which you can then grow and eat once they’re big enough. You could also plant the ends in some soil and grow them over and over.
Embrace batch cooking
Batch cooking and freezing full meals not only helps you get it all done in one session but means you have fresh meals whenever you need them.
Simply make up your meals and store them in the freezer until you need them.
Take them out in the morning and they’ll be ready by dinner time.
Make your own pasta
Pasta can be made so easily and it’s delicious to have freshly made. All you need is flour, an egg, salt and olive oil. Just make it into a dough and then roll it out to slice it. Boil for 5 minutes and it’s ready whenever you need it.
I hope these tips help you on your way to saving money on the groceries you buy, as well as helping you work towards a zero-waste kitchen.
Further tips can be found on my YouTube channel and Instagram for daily money saving advice, tips and hacks for living your best life on a budget, and don’t forget to head over to my blog for your free budgeting trackers.
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