5 Refrigeration Tips to Prevent Food Waste

Ever open your fridge to find a science experiment lurking in the back, or a forgotten bag of spinach that’s seen better days? You’re not alone! Food waste is a huge problem, both for our wallets and the planet. A surprising amount of perfectly good food ends up in the bin simply because we don’t store it correctly or forget it’s even there.

Could your fridge help fight against food waste?

It absolutely can! With a few simple shifts in how you manage your fridge, you can extend the life of your food, save money, and reduce your environmental footprint.

Are you ready to transform your fridge from a food graveyard into a vibrant hub of fresh ingredients? Let’s dive into five tips that can help you keep your food fresh for longer and make food waste a thing of the past.

5 Tips To Reduce Food Waste When You’re Refrigerating Your Food

1. Store Food Correctly and in Clear Containers

Different foods have different optimal storage conditions. For example, raw meat should be stored at lower temperatures (0-4˚C) to prevent bacterial growth and maintain quality. Many fruits and vegetables do best in crisper drawers with adjusted humidity. Using clear, airtight containers allows you to easily see what you have, preventing forgotten items from getting lost in the back of the fridge. Labeling containers with contents and dates also helps keep track of freshness.

Fridge storage tip: meet your food’s best storage conditions with the FlexFresh™ Full Convertible Drawer in Electrolux’s 609L French Door Fridge (EHE6899BA). The drawer boasts 5 predefined settings that you can easily switch between as your cooling needs change.

2. Practice “First In, First Out”

New habits don’t happen overnight, so this one will require discipline everytime you bring home new groceries. Move your older items to the front of the fridge and place the newer ones behind them. This ensures you’re using food that’s been in there longer first, reducing food waste. Consider having a designated “Eat Me First” shelf or bin for items that need to be consumed soon.

Fridge storage tip: take advantage of the non-plumbed water dispenser in Haier’s 508L Quad Door Fridge (HRF580YHC) and say goodbye to water bottles and jugs! This way, you’ll find more space for your food organisation. The adjustable Switch Zone™ compartment also means the fridge can be changed to meet your changing cooling needs.

3. Maintain the Right Temperatures

Your fridge should be kept at 3-4°C to slow bacterial growth on raw ingredients and keep food fresh. The freezer should be at -18°C or below. Regularly check your fridge’s temperature with a thermometer to ensure it’s operating efficiently. Overfilling your fridge can also prevent proper air circulation, making it less effective at keeping food cool, only fill it for your short-term needs and don’t forget to discard any expired or spoiled items.

Fridge storage tip: if you’ve got a lot of the same type of food like meat or seafood, use he adjustable -23°C to 7°C temperature range of the FlexSpace™ Convertible Compartment to make them last longer. You can find this compartment in Westinghouse’s 609L Quad Door Fridge (WQE6170BB).

4. Understand Date Labels and Plan Meals

“Use-by” dates indicate when food is no longer safe to eat, while “best-before” dates refer to quality. Don’t automatically discard food just because it’s past its “best-before” date; use your senses (smell, sight) to determine if it’s still good. Planning your meals based on what you already have can help you use up ingredients before they go bad and avoid unnecessary purchases. Shop your fridge and pantry more often to reduce food waste!

4. Use Your Freezer

Your freezer is a powerful tool for preventing food waste. If you know you won’t eat something before it spoils, freeze it! Many foods, including cooked meals, bread, fruits, and vegetables, freeze well. Portion out leftovers before freezing for easy, ready-to-heat meals later. Remember to label and date everything you freeze to avoid “unidentified frozen objects.”

Fridge storage tip: learn to love your freezer! Mitsubishi Electric’s 700L French Door Fridge (MR-WX700C-S-A) boasts a handy “supercool freezing” compartment that lets you do a range of tasks like softly freeze meat or quickly cool down hot meals. The spacious 134L bottom vegetable drawer also means all fruits and vegetables have a place to stay fresh and nutritious. 

How Will You Fight Food Waste?

By adopting these simple yet effective strategies and leveraging the intelligent features of modern fridges like those from Electrolux, Westinghouse and Mitsubishi Electric, you can significantly reduce food waste in your home. It’s about making mindful choices, understanding your fridge’s capabilities, and transforming your kitchen into a hub of freshness and sustainability. So, are you ready to take control of your food and make a real difference, one perfectly stored ingredient at a time?

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