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The specifics about the rate of food loss for different types of food products are probably from UK studies, since those in the UK appear to be his target audience.
But, really now, is whether or not food waste happens worth an argument? The series had a number of terrific ideas for ensuring that you get the most out of your efforts to provide nourishment for yourself and family, something that takes a lot of time, effort, and money whether you buy your food already prepared or grow it yourself. I'm not sure why any of that is controversial.
Thank you, no kudzu, for finding and posting this series of videos, which provided lots of inspiration to those of us who are looking for ways to reduce our household food waste. Great find!
Thank you randomparent for doing the research I was just about to do. i think the statistics are right on. Food waste is not just what we don't get around to cooking but what is cooked and get tossed by picky kids, people who don't eat leftovers and what we save in the fridge for too long. Erma Bombeck wrote a hysterical comun years (decades?) ago about checking the little containers of leftovers in her fridge daily to see if she could in good conscience toss them out. I'm guilty of this "When will this finally have something growing on the top so I can toss it?"
OK - two adult household with company at least twice per week. One carnivore, one cheese mouse. One counter depth fridge with freezer drawers, two under mount fridges (garage/patio), one upright freezer. Biggest ticket item - merlot! I grew up in wine country, water is ok for boiling pasta! Last time eating out - Chinese buffet sometime in 2013.
Some foods need time to develop flavor. Chili, stew, gulash, soup, beans - you name it. It also freezes very well in smaller portions. I rather defrost two containers then one. We eat seasonal vegetables and I freeze/dehydrate what our small garden produces. Spending an hour chopping mushrooms when porcini are 69/package means I do not have to do it when it is 7:00 pm and I am getting ready to cook. We eat little fruit. I have a problem with almost all raw fruit and avocado (which freezes well especially a day after Superbowl when it is 10/1$). Leftovers - one portion for SO as he asks for lunch (small entre, cookie, fruit/pudding, juice, often a second cookie for strap hangers). Otherwise company has never refused doggie bags.
I do not understand all the posts about cleaning out fridge/freezer. I can see what is in the fridge and I know pretty much what is in it. It gets cleaned on a regular basis. I replaced all plastic odds and ends with stackable boxes for the freezer.
Top shelf - raw meat/chicken/fish, 2nd shelf - pre-cooked items like sugo, chili, stock, 3rd shelf - raw veggies, 4th shelf - bread, pasta, pie crusts, milk (thank you CD!), drawer - fresh fruit, door - pesto, hot chilies, herbs. Fridge freezer - nuts, ice cream. Rotate stock!!! Walk in pantry - same system and everything in plastic boxes, cans, bottles.
Waste - very little. Spoilage - very little. I do not have the time to run to the store every other day. Welcome to Texas sized distances:>( Saturday will be fun day - meat, groceries, specialty stores and shoes.
Company tonight - smoked ham, corn bread, black beans, mini pecan pies, paper thin focaccia with garlic/parmesan/red fingerling potatoes and salame. The last meat left the freezer. Leftovers will be dices and frozen in 1/2 cup boxes for fresh breakfast burritos or pasta with veggies/ham (my last resort comfort food). Sliced ham does not have the flavor or the texture.
Thank you randomparent for doing the research I was just about to do. i think the statistics are right on. Food waste is not just what we don't get around to cooking but what is cooked and get tossed by picky kids, people who don't eat leftovers and what we save in the fridge for too long. Erma Bombeck wrote a hysterical comun years (decades?) ago about checking the little containers of leftovers in her fridge daily to see if she could in good conscience toss them out. I'm guilty of this "When will this finally have something growing on the top so I can toss it?"
We're pretty good with leftovers, however, I generally dislike having the same dinner two days in a row. We got a food saver as an x-mas gift and I absolutely love it. Now we barely waste food and save quite a bit of time. Now when I'm cooking, I'll make sure to cook a larger meal than necessary and then vacuum seal the leftovers into single meal portions. It can be a stand alone meal such as beef stew or it can be the component for another meal, such as pot pie filling, empenda filling. If I make a pork shoulder, I'll save pouches of pulled pork than can be used for tacos, enchiladas, sandwiches or whatever. It's great for stocking up when things are on sale. Separate that 3lb package of chicken and we can take out whatever we need without defrosting a giant brick. Zero freezer burn. We have a few containers that can be vacuum sealed for use in the fridge. Cold cuts can last for closer to 2 weeks instead of going bad a few days later. Obviously it was awesome that I got one as a gift and didn't have to purchase it, but in the few months we've used it, it would have certainly paid for itself.
I've been using the same Food Saver for about 20 years or maybe even more. I don't know how i lived without it. i also have the containers which use the vacuum feature. I just bought some new rolls of the bags from Amazon which should last me quite some time.
I've been using the same Food Saver for about 20 years or maybe even more. I don't know how i lived without it. i also have the containers which use the vacuum feature. I just bought some new rolls of the bags from Amazon which should last me quite some time.
Do you like the containers? I've looked at them, but never bought any....as I am not sure they'd be that helpful.
Another thing I use it for, to help save packaging waste, is if I use half a bag of frozen veggies (for example) I just use the seal the package without vacuum.
OK - two adult household with company at least twice per week. One carnivore, one cheese mouse. One counter depth fridge with freezer drawers, two under mount fridges (garage/patio), one upright freezer. Biggest ticket item - merlot! I grew up in wine country, water is ok for boiling pasta! Last time eating out - Chinese buffet sometime in 2013.
Some foods need time to develop flavor. Chili, stew, gulash, soup, beans - you name it. It also freezes very well in smaller portions. I rather defrost two containers then one. We eat seasonal vegetables and I freeze/dehydrate what our small garden produces. Spending an hour chopping mushrooms when porcini are 69/package means I do not have to do it when it is 7:00 pm and I am getting ready to cook. We eat little fruit. I have a problem with almost all raw fruit and avocado (which freezes well especially a day after Superbowl when it is 10/1$). Leftovers - one portion for SO as he asks for lunch (small entre, cookie, fruit/pudding, juice, often a second cookie for strap hangers). Otherwise company has never refused doggie bags.
I do not understand all the posts about cleaning out fridge/freezer. I can see what is in the fridge and I know pretty much what is in it. It gets cleaned on a regular basis. I replaced all plastic odds and ends with stackable boxes for the freezer. Top shelf - raw meat/chicken/fish,2nd shelf - pre-cooked items like sugo, chili, stock, 3rd shelf - raw veggies, 4th shelf - bread, pasta, pie crusts, milk (thank you CD!), drawer - fresh fruit, door - pesto, hot chilies, herbs. Fridge freezer - nuts, ice cream. Rotate stock!!! Walk in pantry - same system and everything in plastic boxes, cans, bottles.
Waste - very little. Spoilage - very little. I do not have the time to run to the store every other day. Welcome to Texas sized distances:>( Saturday will be fun day - meat, groceries, specialty stores and shoes.
Company tonight - smoked ham, corn bread, black beans, mini pecan pies, paper thin focaccia with garlic/parmesan/red fingerling potatoes and salame. The last meat left the freezer. Leftovers will be dices and frozen in 1/2 cup boxes for fresh breakfast burritos or pasta with veggies/ham (my last resort comfort food). Sliced ham does not have the flavor or the texture.
I use the containers for liquids like soups and stews and some liquid fruit combos. I still haven't figured out how to keep liquids from gumming up the works when I use the bags. I don't like how much space is wasted at the top of the bag when using the vacuum feature. Maybe the new ones aren't so bad. I sometimes add a few inches so I can cut the seal, take out what I want and then reseal again. Especially for blueberries and nuts.
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