How often do you go to your fridge and find food that can no longer be eaten? Or into the larder and find veg that you had forgetten and is now gone off? It happens all the time and mostly it's just because we forgot what we had. But it costs money every time we throw out some mouldy cheese, or a few rotten apples or the last bit of that sliced pan.
By using food that is in season is both good environmentally but also usually cheaper and the food lasts longer. Check out this excellent Season Chart from Bord Bia. It tells you what is in season and also provides recipes on how to cook the different fruit and vegatables.
Here are some tips and hints to help you get the most out of your food and make sure you throw as lttle out as possible.... and of course save yourself some cash too!
STORAGE TIPS!
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Make sure fruit and veg are stored in the correct place - for more information on different fruit and veg click here (PDF).
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if you are ever unsure where to store stuff - copy the shops - they try to preserve fruit and veg. for as longs as possible.
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Use your own judgement when it comes to throwing food out - food that can be eaten is worth money. Use by dates should be followed, Best before dates are a guide. For more information on the various dates used check out our Dates Guide.
But remember that food isn't like Cinderella - it doesn't go off at midnight!
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Labels such as Sell By and Display Until are used for stock control by shops and are of no interest to householders
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Keep all dairy products in the fridge. As the saying goes 'milk left out for an hour is the same as a day in the fridge!'
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If you are not going to use meat or fish, freeze it, or cook it and eat it in the following days. Also, if you decide to use just some of it, freeze the rest.
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Use your freezer but don’t forget what’s in there for 3 years!
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Make sure your fridge and freezer are maintained properly - this will ensure food is cooled properly and saves on electricity costs too
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Supermarkets are smart and use stock control to maximise profits. Try this at home - you'll waste less and save yourself some cash.
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