A few kitchen tips to avoid waste…

*Originally published in 2014. But since I’ve just watched a segment on BBC’s One Show where they’re talking about just how much food we waste each year, I thought it was the perfect time to reshare!

I hate food waste. I’ve told you this before.

And I love clever little kitchen tips that not only make life easier but also eliminate problems like wastage.

Here are few kitchen tips to avoid waste…and you’re going to need to stock up on apples!!

Fresh Food

Wrap banana stems in cling film. Banana’s release natural ethylene gas to ripen themselves, and the majority of the gas is released from the bottom. By wrapping in cling film, you’ll stop some of the gas from reaching the rest of the banana.

Store potatoes with an apple, to stop sprouting.

Store eggs with the pointed side down which will help them keep fresh for a longer.

Do not store tomatoes and cucumbers in the same draw. Tomatoes give out gases that cause cucumbers to rot faster so make sure that you keep these two apart.

Same with apples (one bad apple and all that)…don’t store with the rest of the fruits and vegetables as they give out certain gases that cause fruits and vegetables to taste bitter and turn faster.

Actually, whilst we’re talking about apples. If you want to ripen fruit faster (ie plums) then put an apple in the bowl.

Wilted greens? Revive with ice water. The osmosis process means that water travels across the permeable membrane of the leafy vegetable’s cell walls into dehydrated cells, which will make them look fresh again.

If the radishes have shriveled, place them in a jar of cold water. Water will restore the radish to its previous splendour.

Keep root vegetables in a vertical position. This lets the veggie save energy and remain fresh for a longer time. This is via FoodFromTheFridge

Do you have any great tips to share??

Author: Rachael

I'm a journalist and creative consultant. I write about how busy women (just like you) can live, work and eat - better.

18 thoughts on “A few kitchen tips to avoid waste…”

  1. Great tips Rachael. Love the banana one. Wherever I store cucumber it seems to rot quickly !! Nice one about the apple in potatoes.

  2. Rachael, these were fabulous. You hit on a pet peeve of mine with your title, and then gave suggestions that ARE HELPFUL. Fancy That! Will be printing this off and leaving it PIN(terest)ED to the fridge. Thank You, Thank YOU, THANK YOU. prp

  3. naturally like your web-site however you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts.
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  4. These are the strangest tips I’ve ever heard! Didn’t know about any of these but am definitely going to be coming back to this post now. I’m only cooking for one and it’s such a pain! This would help so much – thank you!

  5. OOh good tip about radishes, that is one I didn’t know and it is definitely one I am adding to my list to my remember x

  6. I did not know a single one of these tips and I HATE wasting food! Will be printing this off to stick on the fridge – thank you! x

  7. These are great ideas! I store bananas separately and individually, and I turn fruit/veg that’s going off into either smoothies or soup.

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