Five ways to stop food waste

Globally, it is estimated we waste around one third of all food grown!! In the UK, ten million tons of grub, from homes and business, is dumped annually. That is £20 billion-worth of food wasted in the country every year.

So how can we do our bit to lower this amount?  Here are six ways suggested by the Government's Food Surplus and Waste Champion.

Chill the fridge
It is believed that the average UK fridge is set at approximately seven degrees, which is too high for most foods and will cause them to go off quicker.  Every day we throw away 3.1 million glasses of milk (that is an astonishing figure, if accurate). Yet, keeping your fridge between zero and five degrees can help milk last up to three days longer,

Use Potato peel
On average, UK households throw away the equivalent of 170 potatoes per year. Of this, the majority are peelings, which you can leave on. If you do peel, why not mix them with oil and seasoning, bake in the oven for 20 minutes, and you create your own crisps.

Know the date labels difference
There is a huge difference between "best before" on your package and "use by". The "best before" refers to quality, but can still be used after that date. The "use by" is there for safety reasons, but again you can use your discretion a bit. Don't panic and throw out food immediately. Cook it, or even freeze it.

Understand storage
Different foods thrive in different spots, so check the packaging for advice on where to store it. Fruits belong in the fridge, except for bananas and pineapples. Bread and potatoes do well in a cupboard or bread bin - not the fridge. Potatoes and onions should be kept separate to stay fresh. Even eggs, which are kept on general shelving in shops, do not have to go in the fridge.

Use the freezer
We know that items such as meat, pizza and ice cream (the clue is in the name) can be frozen, but you can actually do the same with eggs, milk, bread, pasta, cheese etc. In fact, almost anything can be frozen.