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Food storage tips

Updated 22 September 2026 · 285 tips

These are the tips Stockd Up shows you now and then while you use it — one at a time, never more than one a day, and you can turn them off. They are all here in one place if you would rather just read them.

Tips are general guidance, not food safety advice for your particular food. If something looks, smells or tastes off, throw it away. Never eat anything past its use-by date.

Fridge14 tips

Food tip

Veg likes it humid

Veg drawer turns humid with water drops, fruit drawer turns dry

If your salad drawer has a humidity slider, set it high for veg.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Opened juice goes in the fridge

A juice carton moves into the fridge and a freezes for 3 months tag appears

And if you won’t finish it, juice freezes for up to 3 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Set your fridge between 0 and 5°C

It keeps your food fresher for longer.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Three more days of fresh food

Getting your fridge temperature right can keep food fresh for about three days longer.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Check your fridge’s real temperature

Leave a thermometer in a glass of water in the fridge for a few hours, then read it.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Don’t hold the fridge door open

An open fridge turns warm and red, then the door closes and it turns cool and blue

Every moment the door is open, the inside warms up.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

The bottom shelf is the coldest

Milk moves from the warmer door to the coldest bottom shelf

Keep milk and other food that goes off quickly there, not in the door.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Veg goes in the salad drawer

A carrot, lettuce and tomato drop into the salad drawer and it closes

Keep fruit and veg in the drawer at the bottom of the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Use-soon food to the front

A jar marked eat soon moves from the back of the shelf to the front

Move food that needs eating soon to the front of the fridge, so it gets used first.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Most UK fridges run too warm

A fridge dial turns from 7°C in the red to 5°C in the blue

The average fridge is about 2°C too warm. Turning it down helps chilled food last longer.

Tip provided by WRAP

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Food tip

Leave a little space

Extra food leaves a packed shelf and blue cold air flows through the gaps

Don’t cram the fridge. Gaps let cold air flow and keep the temperature steady.

Source: Food Standards Scotland

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Food tip

Fridge in the garage?

Snow falls outside a garage and a warning appears on the fridge-freezer

Most fridge-freezers aren’t built for cold garages. Very cold weather can stop them working properly.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Make an “eat me first” box

A tomato, an apple and a yoghurt drop into an eat me first box

Put anything close to its date in one box, so everyone knows to eat it first.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Opened a tin of fish?

Fish moves from an open tin into a tub and the lid closes

Don’t keep it in the can. Move it to a sealed container in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Freezer73 tips

Food tip

Freezing apples?

Apple slices go from a steaming pot into a freezer bag

Blanch the slices briefly, freeze them in a single layer, then bag them.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Grill aubergine before freezing

Grilled aubergine slices move from the griddle into the freezer

Slice and grill it first, so it doesn’t go mushy.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze avocado as a mash

Avocado and lemon become a tub of mash in the freezer

Mash it with a little lemon or lime juice. It keeps for up to 3 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Speckled bananas? Freeze them

A speckled banana is peeled and goes into a freezer bag

Peel and freeze them for smoothies or banana bread.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze berries on a tray first

Berries freeze on a tray, then appear loose in a bag

Then bag them, so they don’t clump together.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze bread sliced

A sliced loaf goes in the freezer and one slice comes out

It keeps for up to 3 months, and you only take out what you need.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Tap the loaf first

A loaf bounces on the worktop and gaps open between the slices

Tap a sliced loaf on the worktop before freezing, and the slices come apart easily.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Toast straight from frozen

A frozen slice goes straight into the toaster

No need to defrost bread first.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Make sandwiches with frozen bread

Make them in the morning and they’ll have thawed by lunchtime.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Defrost a loaf overnight

A frosty loaf thaws as the sun becomes the moon

Leave it in its bag on the worktop overnight.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze a loaf when you get home

A loaf moves from the shopping bag into the freezer

Put one in the freezer straight from the shopping bag.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep breadcrumbs in the freezer

Bread becomes a tub of crumbs in the freezer

A tub of breadcrumbs is ready to use in recipes.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Blanch broccoli before freezing

Broccoli moves from a steaming pot into the freezer

Chop it and blanch for three minutes, then freeze.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Reuse butter tubs

An empty butter tub fills with leftovers and goes in the freezer

Old butter tubs make good containers for freezing leftovers.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze butter in cubes

A block of butter becomes cubes in a freezer bag

It keeps for up to 3 months, and cubes go straight into your cooking.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Defrost butter gently

Frozen butter softens in a microwave set to low

Let it thaw slowly, or use the microwave on a low setting.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Blanch cabbage before freezing

Cabbage moves from a steaming pot into the freezer

Slice it and blanch for 90 seconds, then freeze.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze carrots on a tray

Carrot rounds freeze on a tray, then appear in a labelled bag

Freeze chopped carrots until solid, then bag and label them.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Blanch cauliflower, then chill it

Cauliflower goes from a steaming pot through iced water into the freezer

Blanch florets for 90 seconds and cool them in iced water before freezing.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Hard cheese freezes

A block of cheese in a sealed bag goes in the freezer

Seal it in a bag or container. It keeps for up to two months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cheese on offer? Grate and freeze

A block of cheese is grated, and the grated cheese appears in a freezer bag

Grate a big block and freeze it, ready to use.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze cherry tomatoes whole

Cherry tomatoes go from the freezer straight into a pan

Use them straight from the freezer.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze chillies whole

A chilli goes into the freezer, then is sliced from frozen

They’re easy to slice from frozen and less likely to sting your fingers.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Spare lemons? Freeze them

A lemon and orange become frozen slices and yellow ice cubes

Freeze them in slices, or juice them into an ice cube tray.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Zest from frozen

A frosty lemon is grated and zest falls

Frozen citrus skins are much easier to zest.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Grill courgettes before freezing

Grilled courgette strips move from the griddle into the freezer

Cut them lengthways and grill them first.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Whip cream before freezing

Cream is whisked into peaks, then a tub appears in the freezer

Then it won’t go grainy when it thaws.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Double cream freezes best

Double cream gets a tick and single cream gets a cross

Double cream freezes better than single cream.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze spare eggs

Eggs become yolks in a tub in the freezer

Crack them into a sealed container. They keep for up to 3 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Only need yolks or whites?

An egg becomes two labelled tubs, yolks and whites

Separate them before freezing, and label the tubs.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze fizzy drinks in cubes

Cola is poured into an ice cube tray and a cube drops into a pan

Freeze them in an ice cube tray for recipes that use them.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Use just what you need

Some peas pour from a bag into a pan, then the bag is clipped

Frozen fruit and veg keep a long time. Take out what you need and clip the bag.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze spare fruit

Spare fruit moves into a freezer bag

Keep it ready for smoothies or desserts.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Label everything you freeze

A label reading Chilli, frozen 12 Sep appears on a freezer bag

Write what it is and the date you froze it.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze in small portions

A big tub of curry becomes four small tubs

Then you only defrost what you need.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Give each drawer a job

Labels appear on four freezer drawers one by one

Bread, fruit and veg, meat, dairy. Label the drawers.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Not needed till later in the week?

Freeze it as soon as you get home.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Use frozen food within 3–6 months

Months 3 to 6 light up on a bar chart

That’s when it’s at its best.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Defrost in the fridge, not on the side

Frozen chicken moves off the worktop into the fridge and thaws

Then use it within 24 hours.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Defrosted in the microwave?

Chicken goes from the microwave straight into a hot pan

Cook it straight away.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep your freezer at −18°C

A thermometer turns from red to blue and reads −18°C

That’s cold enough to stop bacteria growing.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Freeze it up to the use-by date

Chicken goes into the freezer on its use-by date, just before midnight

You can freeze food right up to midnight on its use-by date.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Keep the air out

Food with freezer burn becomes food in a sealed tub

Wrap food well or use airtight tubs. Air causes freezer burn.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Freeze food flat

A lumpy bag becomes three flat bags stacked in the freezer

Flat bags stack neatly, save space and defrost faster.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Ditch the bulky boxes

A pizza box goes, leaving the pizza and the cut-out instructions

Take frozen food out of its box, and keep the cooking instructions.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Cooked it? It can go back in

Thawed chicken is cooked, then a tub goes into the freezer

Raw food that was frozen and thawed can be frozen again once it’s cooked.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Frozen grapes make ice cubes

Frozen grapes drop into a glass

Drop them in drinks or smoothies. No need to defrost.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Save your bean ends

Bean ends move into a stock bag in the freezer

Keep the trimmed ends in the freezer for making stock.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze herbs in ice cube trays

Herbs go into an ice cube tray that fills green

Top chopped herbs with water or olive oil. They keep up to 6 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Zest before you juice

A lemon is zested and a tub of zest goes into the freezer

Grate the zest off citrus first, then freeze it.

Source: Brighton & Hove Food Partnership

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Food tip

Freeze melon in chunks

A melon slice becomes chunks in a freezer bag

Cut it into wedges or chunks. It keeps up to 3 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze milk in plastic

A glass bottle cracks and a plastic carton goes into the freezer

Glass bottles can crack as the milk expands.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze milk in small containers

A big carton is crossed out and two small cartons go into the freezer

Big ones take ages to freeze and thaw.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze the last bit of milk

Milk is poured into an ice cube tray and a cube drops into a mug

Pour it into an ice cube tray, then drop cubes straight into hot drinks.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Split milk into portions

A big carton becomes three small tubs in the freezer

Then you only defrost what you need.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Pour a little milk out first

The milk level drops, then arrows show it expanding

It expands as it freezes, and full bottles can split.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Freeze mushroom slices on a tray

Mushroom slices freeze on a tray, then appear loose in a bag

Then they won’t stick. Cook them straight from frozen.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Make a soup starter bag

Onion, carrot and celery drop into one soup base bag

Freeze leftover onion, carrot and celery together, ready for soups and stews.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze chopped onion

Chopped onion moves from a freezer bag into a pan

It keeps for up to 3 months and cooks straight from frozen.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Blanch parsnips before freezing

A parsnip moves from a steaming pot into the freezer

Blanch them for a few minutes first.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Fresh pasta freezes

A pasta nest goes into a freezer bag

Fresh or cooked pasta keeps in the freezer for up to four weeks.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cooked too much pasta?

Rinsed pasta becomes two portion bags, then a pot appears

Rinse it, freeze it in portions, and reheat by dropping it into boiling water.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze peppers one at a time

A pepper becomes strips in two small bags

Slice spare peppers and freeze one pepper per bag.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Don’t freeze raw potatoes

A raw potato is crossed out, then parboiled potatoes go into a bag

Parboil or cook them first. They keep up to 3 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Soft cheese? Make a sauce

Soft cheese melts into sauce in a pan, then a tub goes into the freezer

It goes watery when frozen, so turn it into a pasta sauce and freeze that.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Blanch spinach, then freeze

Spinach moves from a steaming pot into the freezer

Blanch for two to three minutes, then freeze in portions for pasta, stews and soups.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Freeze stock in cubes

Stock is poured into an ice cube tray and a cube drops into a pan

Then you can add a little at a time.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Tomatoes freeze well

Tomatoes and a tub of sauce go into the freezer

Fresh and cooked tomatoes keep for up to 6 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep a scraps bag in the freezer

Peelings drop into a scraps bag, then a pot of stock appears

Save peelings and scraps, then simmer them into stock.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze leftover wine

Wine is poured into an ice cube tray and a cube drops into a pan

Use an ice cube tray, then drop a cube into sauces and casseroles.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Reuse yoghurt pots

An empty yoghurt pot fills with leftovers and goes in the freezer

Empty pots make handy containers for freezing leftovers.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Make yoghurt lollies

A bowl of yoghurt and fruit becomes three lollies

Mix yoghurt with over-ripe fruit and freeze it in lolly moulds.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Eat frozen yoghurt as it is

A frosty yoghurt pot with a spoon gets a tick

It makes a snack or pudding, with no need to defrost.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Fruit & veg55 tips

Food tip

Keep apples in the fridge

An apple moves from the fruit bowl into the fridge

Apples keep best in the fridge, not the fruit bowl.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Apples last weeks longer in the fridge

A blue fridge bar grows from 3 days to 74 days beside a wrinkly room-temperature apple

In WRAP’s research, apples stayed fresh for 74 days in the fridge, but 3 days at room temperature.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Ripen avocados on the side

A hard avocado darkens as it ripens and moves into the fridge

Leave hard avocados at room temperature, then move them to the fridge once ripe.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Ripen an avocado faster

An avocado and a banana drop into a paper bag

Put a hard avocado in a paper bag with a banana.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Using half an avocado?

Lemon juice drips onto a half avocado with the stone in, then it goes in the fridge

Leave the stone in, brush the cut side with lemon juice, and chill it.

Source: WasteSorted, Government of Western Australia

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Food tip

Keep bananas on their own

Bananas move away from the fruit bowl and the ripening wisps stop

Keep them out of the fridge, and away from other fruit, which they ripen too fast.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Bananas like it cool, not cold

Bananas go into a cupboard and the door closes

Store bananas somewhere cool, like a cupboard or the worktop.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Basil doesn’t like the cold

A glass of basil moves out of the fridge onto the worktop and perks up

Keep it on the worktop in a glass of water.

Source: UC Davis

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Food tip

Keep beetroot whole in the fridge

A whole beetroot moves into the fridge

If you want to freeze it, cook it first.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Eat the whole beetroot

The peeler is crossed out and the leaves go into a salad bowl

No need to peel it, and the leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep berries in their punnet

A punnet of berries moves into the fridge

Store berries in their original packaging in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Wash berries just before eating

A dripping tap and mould spots disappear from a punnet of berries

Extra moisture makes them go mouldy faster.

Source: OLIO

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Food tip

Give berries a dry bed

Kitchen paper and berries drop into a shallow tub and the lid rests ajar

Store them in a shallow tub lined with kitchen paper, with the lid slightly open.

Source: Seattle Public Utilities

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Food tip

Don’t bin broccoli stalks

A broccoli stalk moves from the bin to the pan with the florets

They’re good to eat. Cook them with the florets.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Soft broccoli?

A droopy broccoli stands up straight in a glass of water overnight

Cut a slice off the stalk and stand it in a glass of water in the fridge overnight.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Perk up a limp cabbage

A drooping cabbage stands up in a bowl of iced water

Soak it in ice-cold water.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Carrots go at the bottom

Carrots move from the top shelf into the bottom drawer

Carrots keep best at the bottom of the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

No need to peel carrots

A brush scrubs a carrot and its tops become a jar of pesto

Just scrub them. The leafy tops can be blitzed into pesto.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Bendy carrots or celery?

Trim the ends and stand them in a glass of water for about 30 minutes.

Source: Taste Before You Waste

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Food tip

Use the whole cauliflower

Cauliflower leaves move into a cauliflower cheese dish

The leaves and stalks are tasty too. Add them to cauliflower cheese.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Celery goes at the bottom

Celery moves down into the bottom drawer

Keep celery at the bottom of the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Celery leaves are a herb

Celery leaves drop into a steaming soup pot

Use them in salads, soups and sauces.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Citrus keeps best in the fridge

An orange and a lemon move from the fruit bowl into the fridge

Keep oranges and lemons in the fridge, not the fruit bowl.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Get more juice from a lemon

A lemon rolls across the worktop and a glass fills with juice

Roll it on a hard surface before you squeeze it.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep cucumber in the fridge

A wrapped cucumber moves into the fridge and the freezer is crossed out

Leave it in its wrapper. Cucumber doesn’t freeze well.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

A little brown is fine

Ticks appear over a spotty banana, a wrinkly apple and a soft strawberry

Brown bananas, wrinkly apples and slightly soft strawberries are still fine to eat.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Keep ripening fruit away from greens

A dull lettuce moves away from the apple and banana and turns green again

Apples, pears, avocados, ripe bananas and tomatoes give off a gas that spoils leafy greens.

Source: Penn State University

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Food tip

Take out mouldy fruit straight away

A mouldy orange lifts out of the fruit bowl into the bin

Pick it out quickly, so the mould doesn’t spread to the rest.

Source: WasteSorted, Government of Western Australia

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Food tip

One drawer for fruit, one for veg

An apple goes in the fruit drawer and a carrot in the veg drawer

Ripening fruit gives off a gas that spoils veg, so keep them apart.

Source: UC Davis

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Food tip

Garlic likes cool and dry

Garlic moves out of the fridge into a cupboard

Garlic keeps longest somewhere cool and dry, around 15°C.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Most fruit and veg like the fridge

An apple, berries, a carrot and a tomato go in the fridge while bananas, an onion and a pineapple stay out

They last longer below 5°C. Bananas, onions and pineapples are the exceptions.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze ginger in chunks

Ginger goes into the freezer, then a grater appears

Fresh ginger is much easier to grate from frozen.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Keep grapes in their pack

A pack of grapes moves into the fridge

Store grapes in their original packaging in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep green beans in their pack

A pack of green beans moves into the fridge

Store fresh green beans in their original packaging in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Fresh herbs in the fridge

Fresh herbs go in the fridge and a jar of dried herbs goes in the cupboard

Keep fresh herbs in their pack in the fridge, and dried herbs in the cupboard.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Don’t bin herb stalks

Herb stalks move from the bin into the pan

Parsley, coriander, basil and mint stalks are as tasty as the leaves.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Treat herbs like flowers

Herbs stand in a glass of water and a bag drops over them

Stand them (not basil) in a jar of water, cover with a bag, and change the water daily.

Source: UC Davis Health

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Food tip

Cook with frozen herbs

A frozen herb cube moves from the plate into a hot pan

They go limp when thawed, so add them to cooked dishes, not as a garnish.

Source: Penn State Extension

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Food tip

Keep the green ends

Leek tops move from the bin into the pan

The green ends of leeks and spring onions are full of flavour. Don’t throw them away.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leeks go in the fridge

A leek moves into the fridge

Sliced leeks also freeze for up to 3 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Crisp up limp lettuce

Soak limp lettuce or herbs in iced water for 15 to 30 minutes.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Whole melon out, cut melon in

A melon stays in the bowl and a slice goes into the fridge

Keep a whole melon in the fruit bowl, and cut melon in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Wipe mushrooms, don’t wash them

The tap is crossed out and a cloth wipes a mushroom

Keep them in the fridge and give them a wipe before cooking.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Mushrooms like a paper bag

Mushrooms drop into a paper bag inside the fridge

Keep loose mushrooms in a paper bag in the fridge.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Onions like it cool and dark

An onion in a cloth bag goes in the cupboard and a spring onion goes in the fridge

Keep onions somewhere cool, dry and dark. Only spring onions go in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Use a peeler on parsnips

A knife with a thick peel becomes a peeler with a thin peel

A peeler wastes less than a knife. Young parsnips just need a scrub.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Using part of a pepper?

Half a pepper with its stem and seeds moves into the fridge

Leave the stem and seeds in the rest, and it keeps longer.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Potatoes last longer in the fridge

The fridge bar grows to three times the cupboard bar

Stored in the fridge, they can last more than three times as long.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

No need to peel potatoes

A brush scrubs a potato and a bowl of crisps appears

Just give them a scrub. The peelings make homemade crisps.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep potatoes away from onions

A sprouting potato moves away from an onion and its sprouts go

Onions make potatoes sprout sooner.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Salad leaves go in the fridge

A bag of salad goes into the fridge and the freezer is crossed out

Keep them in their bag or a loosely tied one. They don’t freeze well.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Tuck kitchen roll in the salad bag

It soaks up the moisture and can keep leaves fresh for up to 3 days longer.

Tip provided by WRAP

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Food tip

Ripen fruit on the side first

A peach and a kiwi ripen on the side, then move into the fridge

Ripen kiwis, peaches, nectarines, pears and plums on the side, then move them to the fridge.

Source: UC Davis

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Food tip

Tomatoes keep longer in the fridge

A tomato moves from the fruit bowl into the fridge

Tomatoes stay fresher for longer in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Take tomatoes out before eating

Take them out of the fridge up to a day before, for the best flavour.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Bread & bakery7 tips

Food tip

Bread likes cool, dark and dry

A loaf moves from the fridge into a bread bin

Keep it in a bread bin or cupboard, not the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep bread in its bag

A loaf slides back into its bag

Leave bread and rolls in their original packaging.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Clean the bread bin

Mould spots disappear as a cloth wipes the bread bin

Wipe it out regularly to get rid of mould spores.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cut side down

A cut loaf turns so its cut side faces the board

Stand a cut loaf cut side down on the board, so it doesn’t dry out.

Source: Tesco Real Food

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Food tip

Refresh a stale loaf

Water drops on a loaf, then it warms in the oven

Sprinkle the crust with water and warm it in a hot oven for a few minutes. Bin any mouldy bread.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Freeze cake in slices

Cake slices with paper between them go into the freezer

Put greaseproof paper between them, so you can take one at a time.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Tortilla wraps freeze well

A stack of wraps goes into the freezer

They defrost in seconds, handy when you run out of bread.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Dairy & eggs15 tips

Food tip

Butter goes in the fridge

A tub of butter goes into the fridge with its lid on

Keep butter or spread in a resealable tub or its wrapper.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Dairy likes the top shelves

Milk, yoghurt and a cheese box move onto the top shelves

Keep dairy on the top and middle shelves. An airtight box stops cheese drying out.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cheese in an airtight box

Hard cheese goes in a box and blue cheese is wrapped in foil

Keep hard cheese in a sealed box. Blue cheese can be wrapped in foil.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cream freezes

A carton of cream goes into the freezer

Cream keeps in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep soft cheese in its tub

A lid closes on a tub of cream cheese in the fridge

Keep cream cheese and ricotta sealed in their own tub.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep eggs in their box

A box of eggs goes into the fridge

Store them in their box in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Hard-boiled eggs keep 2 days

A hard-boiled egg keeps for up to two days in the fridge.

Source: Food Standards Scotland

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Food tip

Opened long-life milk?

An opened long-life carton moves from the cupboard to the fridge

Once it’s open, it goes in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Milk freezes

A carton of milk goes into the freezer

Milk keeps in the freezer for up to a month.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Thaw milk in the fridge

Frozen milk moves into the fridge and thaws

Then use it within 24 hours.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Milk loves a cold fridge

The fridge cools from red to blue and the milk stays fresh

It goes off much faster in a warm fridge. Keep it below 5°C.

Source: British Heart Foundation

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Food tip

Lower-fat milk freezes best

Semi-skimmed and skimmed get ticks, whole milk does not

Semi-skimmed and skimmed freeze better than whole milk.

Source: British Heart Foundation

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Food tip

Make Parmesan go further

A wedge of Parmesan is grated into a tub that goes in the freezer

Grate a whole wedge into a tub and freeze it.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Wrap soft cheese well

A round of Brie is wrapped and goes into a box in the fridge

Wrap Brie, Camembert and feta, and keep them in an airtight box in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Yoghurt freezes

A yoghurt pot goes into the freezer

Yoghurt keeps in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Meat & fish19 tips

Food tip

Opened bacon?

A magnifier moves over the storage advice on a bacon pack

Follow the storage advice on the pack once it’s open.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Bacon freezes well

A bag of bacon goes into the freezer

Seal it in a bag or tub. It keeps for 3 to 6 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Split a big pack of bacon

Paper goes between rashers, then a few come out of the freezer

Put greaseproof paper between the rashers, so you can take out a few.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Won’t finish the beef in time?

Half a pack of beef goes into the freezer

Freeze some before its use-by date.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Frozen beef is a handy swap

Frozen beef moves from the freezer to the pan

It keeps a long time, so it can stand in for fresh.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Defrosted chicken? Cook it soon

Thawed chicken goes into a pan within 24 hours

Cook raw chicken or turkey within 24 hours of defrosting.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Freeze chicken in strips

Chicken strips freeze on a tray, then appear loose in a bag

Cut breasts into strips and freeze on a tray, so you take out just what you need.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Use frozen chicken within 3–6 months

Frozen chicken and turkey are best eaten within that time.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Wrap raw fish well

A raw fish goes into a sealed tub on a lower shelf, away from a cooked dish

Keep it in a sealed tub, away from cooked food.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Fish freezes well

A fish goes into the freezer

Raw and cooked fish both freeze. Eat within 3 to 6 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Defrosted fish? Cook it soon

Thawed fish goes into a pan within 24 hours

Cook raw fish within 24 hours of defrosting.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Lamb freezes well

A lamb joint goes into the freezer

Raw and cooked lamb both keep for 3 to 6 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Big joints take a while

Allow roughly 10 to 12 hours per kilo to defrost in the fridge.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Freeze mince flat

A lumpy pack of mince becomes flat bags stacked in the freezer

Flat bags stack easily and defrost much faster.

Source: Sainsbury's

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Food tip

Separate pork slices

Paper goes between pork slices in the freezer

Put greaseproof paper between them before freezing, so they don’t stick.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Raw meat on the bottom shelf

Covered raw meat moves down to the bottom shelf

Keep raw meat, chicken and fish covered, below ready-to-eat food.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Defrost meat on the bottom shelf

Frozen meat moves to the bottom shelf of the fridge and thaws

Allow around 24 hours in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Unwrap before the microwave

Packaging comes off the meat before it goes in the microwave

Take meat out of its packaging before defrosting it in the microwave.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

A big turkey takes days to thaw

It can take up to four days in the fridge, so plan ahead.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Cupboard16 tips

Food tip

Brown sugar gone hard?

A hard lump of sugar softens in the microwave

Cover it with damp kitchen paper and microwave in 20-second bursts.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

White film on chocolate?

A dusty white film on chocolate gets a tick

It’s safe. It’s just “bloom” from fat or sugar rising to the surface.

Source: Too Good To Go

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Food tip

Freeze leftover coconut milk

Coconut milk is poured into an ice cube tray

Use an ice cube tray. It keeps for up to three months.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Seal opened dry food

A clip closes a cereal bag and flour goes into a tub

Keep opened pasta, rice, flour and cereal in airtight tubs, or clip the bags shut.

Source: Cornwall Council

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Food tip

Reseal fizzy drinks

A cap screws on a bottle and the freezer is crossed out

Screw the cap on tightly. Never freeze them in the bottle or can.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Reuse your tubs and jars

Empty tubs and a jar fill up with food

Takeaway tubs, ice cream tubs and jam jars all make good food storage.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Label what you decant

Labels appear on three jars

Put a label on your own jars and tubs.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Crystallised honey?

A cloudy honey jar turns clear in a bowl of warm water

Stand the jar in warm, not boiling, water until it runs smooth.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Keep nuts cold for longer

A tub of nuts moves from the cupboard to the fridge

Nuts can go rancid. For long storage, seal them in the fridge or freezer.

Source: UC Davis

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Food tip

Keep dry pasta sealed

A clip closes an open pasta pack in the cupboard

Clip the pack shut, or tip it into an airtight tub. Store it cool and dry.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Dried pasta lasts

Kept sealed in a cool cupboard, it stays good long after its best-before date.

Source: Too Good To Go

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Food tip

Freeze leftover tinned beans

Beans move from an open tin into a tub of water in the freezer

Put them in a freezer tub and cover with fresh water.

Source: Zero Waste Scotland

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Food tip

Tins make quick meals

Three tins empty into a steaming pan

Tomatoes, lentils and beans make simple meals when time is short.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Opened a tin?

Food moves from an open tin into a covered tub in the fridge

Tip what’s left into a bowl or tub, cover it, and put it in the fridge.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Eat opened tins within 2 days

Leftover tinned food keeps two days in the fridge.

Source: Zero Waste Scotland

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Food tip

Check for deep dents

A shallow dent gets a tick and a deep dent gets a cross

Shallow dents in tins are fine. Avoid deeply dented tins, which may have hidden splits.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Leftovers39 tips

Food tip

Old apples? Stew them

Wrinkly apples go into a pan and become a crumble

Make apple sauce or a crumble. Wrinkly apples are fine in smoothies.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Soft avocado? Blend it

A soft avocado goes into a green smoothie

Soft or wrinkly avocado is still good in smoothies.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leftover bacon?

Bacon rashers drop into a steaming pot

Add uncooked bacon to soups, stews or bakes.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leftover steak? Stir-fry it

Steak becomes strips in a wok

Cut uncooked steak into strips for a stir-fry.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cooked beef keeps 2 days

Cooked beef in the fridge for 2 days, or the freezer for 3 to 6 months

Or freeze it for 3 to 6 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Squishy berries?

Squishy berries drop into a pink smoothie

They make a great smoothie.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Stale bread? Make breadcrumbs

Stale bread becomes a tub of crumbs in the freezer

Freeze them and use them straight from frozen.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Stale bread for salad

Bread chunks drop into a salad bowl

Chunks of stale bread work well in salads like panzanella.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Make flavoured butter

Garlic and herbs fold into butter to make a herby log

Mix leftover garlic, herbs or spices into butter.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leftover cauliflower?

Cauliflower is grated into a bowl of cauliflower rice

Grate it to make cauliflower “rice”.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Dried-out cheese?

Dry cheese is grated over a plate of pasta

Grate it into mash or over pasta.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cooked chicken keeps 2 days

Cooked chicken goes into a tub in the fridge

Keep cooked chicken or turkey in a sealed tub in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leftover chicken?

Cooked chicken turns into a sandwich

It works well in soups, salads and sandwiches.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Make stock from the carcass

A chicken carcass goes into a pot, then into freezer tubs

Simmer it with veg and herbs, then freeze it in portions.

Source: Worcestershire County Council

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Food tip

Candied peel keeps weeks

Orange peel becomes candied peel in a jar

Kept in an airtight tub, it lasts 6 to 8 weeks.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leftover cream?

Cream pours into a bowl of mash

Stir it into mashed potato, sauces or soups.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leftover cream cheese?

Cream cheese goes into an omelette in the pan

Use it in a frittata, omelette or mashed potato.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Pickle leftover cucumber

Quick-pickle it in about 15 minutes.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cooked eggs keep 4 days

Cooked eggs go into a tub in the fridge

Keep them in a sealed tub in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leftover cooked fish?

Cooked fish flakes into a pan of scrambled eggs

Flake it into scrambled eggs or rice, or make it into pâté.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Fish bones make stock

Fish bones go into a steaming pot

Use fish heads and bones to make stock.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Overripe fruit? Make a crumble

Soft fruit simmers in juice, then becomes a crumble

Simmer it in leftover juice to make a crumble base.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leftover juice? Make lollies

Juice becomes three ice lollies

Freeze leftover juice or smoothie in lolly moulds.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cool leftovers, then chill

Let cooked food cool, then get it into the fridge within one to two hours.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Label your leftovers

A label with the date appears on a tub of leftovers

Write the date you cooked them on the tub.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cooked too much?

A big pot becomes tubs in the freezer

Freeze the portions you can’t eat for another day.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Eat leftovers within 2 days

Or freeze them if you won’t get to them in time.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Reheat once, until steaming hot

Reheat leftovers only once, and make sure they’re hot all the way through.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Don’t bin the outer leaves

Outer lettuce leaves move from the bin into a wok

Shred them into stir-fries or soups.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Wrinkly mushrooms?

Wrinkly mushrooms end up on a pizza

They’re fine fried, for example as a pizza topping.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Save the Parmesan rind

A Parmesan rind drops into a steaming pot

Drop it into soups and sauces for extra flavour.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cooked pork keeps 2 days

Cooked pork in the fridge for 2 days, or the freezer for 3 to 6 months

Or freeze it for 3 to 6 months.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leftover pork?

Cooked pork slices go into a wrap

Add it to salads, sandwiches or wraps.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leftover potatoes?

Leftover potatoes move into the freezer

Turn them into another meal, or freeze them. Cooked potatoes freeze well.

Tip provided by WRAP

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Food tip

Cool rice fast, then freeze

A tub of rice cools in cold water, then goes in the freezer

Stand the tub in cold water, then freeze it within an hour.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Cooked rice: fridge 1 day, freezer 3 months

Rice in the fridge for 1 day, or the freezer for 3 months

Cooked rice keeps 24 hours in the fridge, or 3 months frozen.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Chill rice within an hour

Get cooked rice into the fridge within an hour, and eat it within 24 hours.

Source: Food Standards Scotland

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Food tip

Keep the bones

Roast bones go into a freezer bag for stock

After a roast, use the bones or freeze them for stock.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Squishy tomatoes? Make sauce

Soft tomatoes become a tub of sauce in the freezer

Cook them into a sauce and freeze it.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Shopping & planning25 tips

Food tip

Buy a smaller cucumber

A big cucumber shrinks to a small one in the basket

If you rarely finish a big one, go smaller.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Keep fruit where you see it

Fruit moves from the fridge into a bowl on the worktop

Put a day’s worth in a bowl on the side. You’re more likely to eat it.

Source: Cornwall Council

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Food tip

Juice going off?

A chilled juice carton swaps for a long-life one

Try a longer-life version instead.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Take a cool bag

Milk and chicken go into a cool bag

Keep chilled food cold on the way home from the shops.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Buy fruit and veg loose

Three loose apples go into the basket instead of a big bag

Then you get exactly the amount you need.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Check before you shop

A magnifier checks the fridge, freezer and cupboard

Look in the fridge, freezer and cupboards just before you go.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Snap your shelves

A phone takes a photo of the fridge

Take a quick photo of the fridge and cupboards to check at the shop.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Add to the list as things run out

Items tick onto a shopping list as a milk carton empties

Jot things down during the week, as you use them up.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Who’s in this week?

People appear on a weekly planner

Check who’s in for meals before you plan and shop.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Tempted by an offer?

Ask yourself when you’ll actually eat it.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Leave a use-it-up meal

Thursday on the meal plan becomes Use it up

Keep one meal in your week to use up what’s left in the fridge.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Set a budget first

A £40 budget tag and a basket with a total that stays under it

Decide what to spend before you get to the shop, and stick to it.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Batch cook, then freeze

A big pot becomes labelled meals in the freezer

Cook when you have time, and freeze meals for busy days.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Plan two meals from one pack

A chicken pack splits into a stir-fry and a sandwich

Use one pack, like chicken, in a couple of recipes so none is left over.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

A list on the fridge

A list on the fridge door is photographed with a phone

Keep a wipe-clean list on the fridge, and snap a photo before you shop.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Check the back of the fridge

A forgotten tub comes out from the back of the fridge

Before you shop, use or freeze anything forgotten.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Buy the size you’ll finish

A big pack swaps for a smaller one in the basket

Pick the pack size you’ll actually use before its date.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Yellow stickers? Freeze the same day

A reduced sticker pack goes straight into the freezer

Reduced food is great value if you freeze it on the day you buy it.

Source: Sainsbury's

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Food tip

Oldest at the front

New yoghurts go to the back and older ones move to the front

Put new shopping at the back and move older food forward.

Source: Which?

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Food tip

Keep a waste diary for a week

Items are noted in a diary as they go in the bin

Note what you throw away. It shows what to buy less of.

Source: Hubbub

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Food tip

Buy a whole lettuce

A whole lettuce lasts longer than bagged salad.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Use up meat, fish and dairy first

They’re some of the most valuable foods to use up.

Source: Hubbub

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Food tip

Pick smaller onions

A big onion with leftover half swaps for a small whole onion

They’re often cheaper and leave less waste.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

How much rice or pasta?

Two handfuls of rice drop into a pan

Allow about 75g, two handfuls, of dried rice or pasta per person.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Measure with a mug

A mug of rice is tipped into a pan

Use a mug or scoop for rice and pasta, so you only cook what you’ll eat.

Source: Which?

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Dates & safety17 tips

Food tip

Eggs a couple of days past best-before

An egg past its best-before is cooked solid and gets a tick

They’re fine if cooked until the white and yolk are solid.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Use by v best before

Three labels: use by in red, best before in amber, display until in grey

Use by is about safety. Best before is about quality. Display until is just for shop staff.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Never eat food past its use-by

A use-by date passes and the food gets a red cross

Even if it looks and smells fine.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Past best-before is still safe

A best-before date passes and the food gets a tick

The food may not be at its best, but it’s safe to eat.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

No date on fresh produce?

Loose fruit and veg with an eye and a nose

Use your own judgement: look, feel and smell.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Don’t leave chilled food out

Chilled food goes back into the fridge before four hours are up

Keep it out of the fridge for as short a time as possible, and never more than four hours.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Past best-before?

An eye, a nose and a tick over a best-before pack

Look, smell and taste before you throw it away. Never for use-by food.

Source: Too Good To Go

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Food tip

Use-by meat: no exceptions

Meat past its use-by gets a cross even in the fridge

After its use-by date, meat isn’t safe, even if it was stored correctly.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Best-before milk is still safe

Best-before milk gets a tick

Past its best-before, it’s still fine to use or freeze.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Use-by milk?

Use-by milk goes into the freezer before its date

Use it, or freeze it, by the date.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Best-before milk tells you

A nose over best-before milk

It will taste, look and smell bad before it becomes unsafe.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Sniffing isn’t a safety test

A nose over a use-by pack is crossed out

It only works for best-before food. You can’t smell the bugs that cause food poisoning.

Source: Food Standards Agency

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Food tip

Wrinkly peppers are fine

A wrinkly pepper gets a tick

They’re still good to eat.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Green bits on potatoes?

Sprouts and green patches are cut away from a potato

Cut off green bits and sprouts, and use the rest.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Reheat rice only once

Heat it until steaming hot, just the one time.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Opened bagged salad?

An opened salad bag with a use-by label

Eat it soon after opening, and by its use-by date.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Yoghurt dates

Best-before yoghurt is fine after the date. Use-by yoghurt must be eaten or frozen by it.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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General5 tips

Food tip

Smaller plates help

A big plate shrinks to a smaller one

They make it easier to serve the right amount.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Put dishes on the table

A serving dish sits in the middle and people help themselves

Let everyone take the amount they want.

Tip provided by Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP)

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Food tip

Can’t use it in time?

Food moves from a bag to a neighbour’s house

Offer it to neighbours, a community fridge, or a food-sharing app.

Source: Hubbub

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Food tip

Wasted food costs about £1,000 a year

Coins pile up beside a bin until they reach £1,000

That’s the average for a UK family of four.

Tip provided by WRAP

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Food tip

Veg and salad are wasted most

A bar chart where veg and salad have the tallest bar

Mostly because they aren’t used in time.

Tip provided by WRAP

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