How to stop throwing away food: a simple system for expiry dates
Why food goes off unnoticed, what "use by" and "best before" really mean, and a five-minute weekly routine that cuts food waste at home.
Most food at home is thrown away for one boring reason: we forgot it was there. A yoghurt hidden behind the milk, half a pack of spinach at the back of the drawer. A small routine fixes most of it.
Know the two dates
- Use by is about safety. Do not eat food after this date, especially meat, fish and dairy, even if it looks fine.
- Best before is about quality. Dry goods, tins, frozen food and many snacks are usually fine after it; look, smell and taste.
First in, first out
When you unpack shopping, move older items to the front and put new ones behind. It takes ten seconds and is the single biggest habit change.
Keep an "eat me first" spot
One shelf or box in the fridge for things that need to go in the next two days. Cook from it first.
Write down what you open
Opened jars, sauces and cartons often last only a few days. Note the date you opened them.
A five-minute weekly check
Before you shop, look at what is expiring in the next week and plan one or two meals around it. Then shop for the gaps. You buy less, and less goes off.
Freeze before it is too late
Bread, cooked rice, ripe bananas, meat before its use-by date: most of it freezes well. Label it with the date.
Using Fridgeon
Fridgeon keeps a list of what is in your fridge, freezer and pantry with expiry dates and reminds you before things go off, so the "eat me first" list is always on your phone when you are at the shop.
