{"id":22832,"date":"2024-01-11T15:20:40","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T23:20:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/?page_id=22832"},"modified":"2025-11-17T15:20:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T23:20:25","slug":"food-waste-prevention-tips","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/food-and-health\/fam\/food-waste-prevention-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Waste Prevention Resources and Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--sidebar-right\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/savethefood.com\/\">savethefood.com<\/a><br><\/strong>One of the best food waste prevention sites out there. Free meal planning and prep tools and a lot of great info and ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skagitgleaners.org\/\"><strong>skagitgleaners.org<\/strong><\/a><br>Skagit Gleaners &#8211; Get local food for free that would otherwise go to waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toogoodtogo.com\/en-us\/user\">Too Good To Go<\/a><br><\/strong>Too Good To Go is the app that lets you rescue unsold food at your favorite spots from an untimely fate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skagitcounty.net\/Departments\/publicworkssolidwaste\/compost.htm\">HOME COMPOSTING (skagitcounty.net)<\/a><br><\/strong>Learn how to compost your scraps!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buysalvagefood.com\/index.html\">Buy Salvage Food<\/a><br><\/strong>Learn where you can buy discounted food in your area that would otherwise go to waste!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/recycle\/preventing-wasted-food-home\">Preventing Wasted Food At Home | US EPA<\/a><\/strong><br>Many good tips on how to prevent food waste and use food more efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/02\/Copy-of-FWP-week-5.png\" alt=\"Food waste adds up, know the cost and take the pledge\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--single\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Here is our collection of tips<br><\/strong><strong>that can help you reduce food waste!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Our favorite tip:<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Imagine&#8230; during your trip to the store, you pass the produce section and start thinking you should probably buy some veggies because you need to start eating healthier. You buy some nice-looking beets and take them home with you and feel pleased with your healthy choice. The beets sit on your counter for months because honestly, you have no idea how to prepare beets.<br>Wasted money, wasted food, and wasted counter space.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you want to eat healthier or try new foods, pick out a recipe online you feel excited to make, and add the ingredients to your shopping list. Then you have a clear plan of how you are going to use a new ingredient and it makes it much easier to use up that perishable food.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to teach your children about the importance of eating healthy?<br><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/healthy-harvest-for-kids\/\">Check out our collection of easy and fun recipes to help spark their imagination!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/healthy-recipes\/\">Check out our other healthy recipe resources here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Storage tips<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Properly store fruits and vegetables<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for maximum freshness; they\u2019ll taste better and last longer, helping you to eat more of them before they go bad.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most veggies, especially those that could wilt (such as leafy greens, carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli) should go in the high humidity drawer of the fridge.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most fruits, as well as vegetables that tend to rot (such as mushrooms and peppers), should go in the low humidity drawer of the fridge.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some fruits (such as bananas, apples, pears, stone fruits, and avocados) release ethylene gas as they ripen, making other nearby produce ripen, and potentially spoil, faster. Store these away from other produce.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wait to wash berries, cherries, and grapes until you\u2019re ready to eat them to prevent mold.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some produce, such as potatoes, eggplant, winter squash, onions, and garlic, should be stored in a cool, dry, dark, and well-ventilated place.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Make sure you are <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">properly storing food in your refrigerator<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The refrigerator door is the warmest part of the fridge. You can store condiments there, but it is not recommended to store milk or eggs in the door.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The lower shelves are the coldest part of the fridge. Store meat, poultry, and fish here.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40 \u00b0F or below.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Store grains in airtight containers and label containers with contents and the dates.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Befriend your freezer and visit it often. Freeze food such as bread, sliced fruit, meat, or leftovers that you know won\u2019t be eaten in time. Label with the contents and dates.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cooking and Preparation Tips<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Produce that is past its prime, as well as odds and ends of ingredients and leftovers, may still be fine for cooking. Repurpose these ingredients in soups, casseroles, stir fries, frittatas, sauces, baked goods, pancakes, or smoothies. You\u2019ll avoid wasting these items and may even create new favorite dishes.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If safe and healthy, use the edible parts of food that you normally do not eat. For example, stale bread can be used to make French Toast or croutons, beet greens can be saut\u00e9ed for a delicious side dish, and vegetable scraps can be used for soup stock.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Learn the difference between <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fsis.usda.gov\/food-safety\/safe-food-handling-and-preparation\/food-safety-basics\/food-product-dating\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201csell-by,\u201d \u201cuse-by,\u201d \u201cbest-by,\u201d and expiration dates<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aim to cook and serve the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">right portions for the number of people you are feeding<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Freeze, pickle, dehydrate, can, or make jam\/jelly from surplus fruits and vegetables &#8211; especially abundant seasonal produce.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Don\u2019t leave perishable food at room temperature for more than two hours.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Refrigerate or freeze any leftovers in clear, labeled containers with dates.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Preventing Food Waste in the Home<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Keep a running list of meals and their ingredients that your household already enjoys &#8211; that way, you can easily choose, shop for, and prepare meals that you are likely to consume.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Look in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry first to avoid buying food you already have. Make a list each week of what needs to be used up and plan upcoming meals around it.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Plan your meals for the week before you go shopping and buy only the things needed for those meals.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Make your shopping list based on how many meals you\u2019ll eat at home. Consider how often you will eat out, if you plan to eat frozen precooked meals, and if you will eat leftovers for any of your meals.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Include quantities on your shopping list noting how many meals you\u2019ll make with each item to avoid overbuying. For example: \u201csalad greens &#8211; enough for two lunches\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buying in large quantities (e.g., buy one, get one free deals) only saves money if you use all the food before it spoils.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buying food from bulk bins saves you money and reduces food waste and packaging if you purchase the amount of food you need. When buying in bulk, remember to store food properly in airtight, labeled containers.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Purchase imperfect produce or upcycled products. Imperfect produce may have physical imperfections but is just as safe and nutritious and can sometimes be found at discounted prices. Upcycled products are made from ingredients that might have otherwise gone to waste.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contribute tax-deductible donations.<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Donating food to non-profit charities that benefit people with food insecurity can help reduce food waste, feed the poor, and lower your tax payment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n        <div id=\"cahnrs-back-to-top\" class=\"cahnrs-back-to-top\" hidden aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            <a id=\"cahnrs-back-to-top-btn\" class=\"cahnrs-back-to-top__btn\" href=\"#product-top\" aria-label=\"Back to top\">\n                <span class=\"cahnrs-back-to-top__icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2191<\/span>\n                <span class=\"cahnrs-back-to-top__label\">Back to top<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Resources savethefood.com One of the best food waste prevention sites out there. Free meal planning and prep tools and a lot of great info and ideas. skagitgleaners.org Skagit Gleaners &#8211; Get local food for free&amp;hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":177,"featured_media":22874,"parent":22829,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_expiration_date":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"cahnrs_clean_page_nonce":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22832"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/177"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22832"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26069,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22832\/revisions\/26069"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22829"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}