You may be rushing to pack your bags for a trip, but take a moment to cast a glance in the fridge, too.
You may find packs of butter, pots of yoghurt,or herkins and other items set to pass their use-by dates while you are out of town.
Not only is this unsustainable, it also costs money. But Germany’s Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE) offers a strategy to prevent food waste.
Start planning a few days before you go on holiday if you can. Carry out a mini stock-take of your fridge beforehand to avoid unnecessary purchases.
Is there still some jam left in an open jar? Then you won’t need to buy a new one just before you set off.
Then take time to think what you can do with your leftovers.
Many ingredients can be used in a mixed salad or a vegetable stir-fry – perhaps with rice, potatoes or gnocchi.
Leftover ham and sausage also work well in stir-fries.
Casseroles are another great way to make the most of leftovers, including sour cream, cream and cheese.
Pack provisions, cook in advance
If you plan your cooking carefully, you can freeze things for after your holiday, perhaps making a colourful soup for when you come back, possibly hungry and not ready to cook. That way, the ingredients don’t go to waste, and you’re prepared for a quick bite to celebrate coming home.
Whatever items you have left over at the end of all your planning and preparing, you can take on your trip as snacks for the journey or once you arrive. That could be raw vegetables and tinned fruit, or sandwiches and wraps.
If you’re running late, you can also freeze many foods in their unprocessed state. Bread, butter, sliced and hard cheeses can go straight into the freezer, as can many types of fruit and vegetables.
However, this may take time. The BZfE advises washing, peeling, coring (if necessary) and chopping fruit and vegetables before you freeze it. You can blanche vegetables briefly in boiling water to preserve their colour and vitamins.
Why not treat someone?
You don’t want to put unpackaged food in the freezer. Use special freezer bags or freezer-safe containers which are recognisable by a snowflake symbol. The sign means a container won’t become brittle even at sub-zero temperatures.
If you are tempted to pop items in the freezer and assume you will remember what they are later down the line, the BZfE has some advice for you. Label bags or containers with their contents and the date of freezing as it may be a while before you get around to defrosting them.
Consider also that you can always give away some of the contents of your fridge – perhaps to your neighbours or pals.
Or you could donate the food to charity. Check local sources for ideas and apps for food sharing.
