Taking the time to learn how to store your food correctly can help you keep your food fresher for longer, meaning you'll have less waste! This is especially so when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Produce is the most common improperly stored food, as many people are unsure of where to put it.
While each food reacts differently to temperature and moisture content, here's a quick guide on which produce goes where.
To ensure that your fruits and veggies stay fresh, it's crucial to separate those that produce ethylene gas from those that don't. This type of gas promotes the ripening of foods and can cause your produce to over ripen before you've even used it.
Here are a few foods that produce ethylene gas that you should separate:
While not all fruit seeds are entirely edible, some seeds can actually be great for you! Fall is the perfect season for growing squash. Butternut, spaghetti squash and pumpkins are a staple in many fall recipes.
The problem? Most of the pumpkins that we carve each year end up rotting and are reduced to waste that piles into the landfills every December. Now, we're not saying that you should skip pumpkin carving all-together. Pumpkin carving is a great family activity and a fun way to get the little ones excited about the changing seasons. However, there are simple steps that you can take to reduce the waste it causes.
When carving your pumpkins this year, encourage your family to carve out as much tasty flesh as possible. This flesh can be used to make a delicious pumpkin pie, or added to a Pumpkin Spice Smoothie like this one. Additionally, the seeds of the pumpkin can be cleaned and baked for a delicious and healthy treat!
Pumpkin isn't the only seed you should be saving. The seeds of butternut squash can also be roasted or baked to enjoy as a healthy snack to keep on hand. Eat them fresh out of the oven, or pack them in your children's lunch boxes for a fun on-the-go snack.
Chicken broth, bone broth and even vegetable broth can be used for a variety of recipes. When boiling your veggies or meats for a meal, don't let anything go to waste. Instead, add spices and herbs to the leftover water to transform it into a flavorful broth or a tasty soup like this Kasha Yam and Carrot Soup. Leftover bones can also be simmered into water and veggies to make a homemade stock that you can pair with your week's meals!
Though this tip might be a bit advanced for beginners, if you're serious about learning how to not waste food, you'll want to look into composting. Composting is a great way to reuse your food and turn it into energy for your garden plants. Now, you might be saying, "I don't have room to compost." If that sounds like you, don't worry. We understand that not everyone has room for an outdoor composting system. And even if you do, you might not want to commit to something that intricate yet. The good news is, there are various countertop composting systems that you can begin to care for your houseplants or herb gardens!
