December 1, 2023
Top 5 Wasted Foods (and How to Save Them from the Bin)
Did you know that millions of tons of food are wasted each year? Hugh is on a mission to change that! By taking action against food waste, we can all contribute to a more sustainable future. Here are five of the most wasted foods and easy tips to save them from the bin!
1. Bread
- Wasted: Over 240 million slices each year.
- Tips to Save:
- Freeze: Bread freezes well, especially for toast. Freeze it if you won’t use it soon.
- Repurpose: Turn stale bread into croutons, breadcrumbs, eggy bread, or bread and butter pudding.
2. Milk
- Wasted: Around 5.9 million glasses poured down the drain annually.
- Tips to Save:
- Use in Recipes: Incorporate milk into smoothies, béchamel sauce, or rice (or barley) pudding.
- Make Cheese: If starting to turn, try making curd cheese or paneer.
3. Potatoes
- Wasted: 5.8 million potatoes each year.
- Tips to Save:
- Store Properly: Keep potatoes in a dark place for longevity.
- Cook & Freeze: Cook and freeze soft potatoes in portions.
- Creative Uses: Use leftover mash for cakes or gnocchi, and par-boiled potatoes for bubble and squeak.
4. Cheese
- Wasted: Often tossed due to mold.
- Tips to Save:
- Use Mouldy Cheese: Scrape off mold and use the rest.
- Make Cheese Sauce: Create a simple cheese sauce with leftover cheese by adding it to béchamel.
- Freeze: Most cheeses can be frozen for later use.
5. Apples
- Wasted: 1.3 million apples thrown away yearly.
- Tips to Save:
- Store Correctly: Keep apples in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place, ensuring they’re clean, dry, and not touching each other.
Feeling Inspired?
Join Hugh’s War on Waste pledge to reduce your waste and encourage supermarkets to do the same. Together, we can make a difference!
Thanks to Love Food, Hate Waste for the statistics.