What food item do you waste the most ?

Porcupine · 19-02-2013, 16:52

I am very good with food and generally I try not to buy what I can't use. But I often throw away the same items every week. These are lettuce and bread.

I try really hard to use them, but it never works out and the lettuce becomes brown around the edges and unappetising. Im sure lettuce used to last longer in the good old days. I often buy it in bags now ready washed as that lasts longer.

I also try and keep bread in the freezer and I defrost 1/2 a loaf at a time. But then my husbands shifts change and low and behold ... it ends up on the garden for the birds as neither of us likes dry bread.

I occasionally bin the odd yoghurt and perhaps an odd onion, but on the whole I don't think im too wasteful.

So - what is your main food waste.

Victoria Sponge · 19-02-2013, 18:11

Vegetables. I used to be a lot worse than what I am know though. I used to throw away so much fresh fruit and veg it was almost criminal. Very stupid. But now I buy a little less, and with big things like celery I use whatever I need fresh and then chop and freeze the rest.

degsyhufc · 19-02-2013, 18:27

Lettuce is good shout. I often throw some of that out. And the remnants of bags of salad.

I freeze bread.

c4rv · 19-02-2013, 18:31

bread, some weeks we go through 2 loaves in a week, other times only a few slices. Veggies (especially salads) get fed to my piggies so I don't mind that so much. Just about everything else I freeze.

turquoiseblue · 19-02-2013, 19:04

I always plan every meal and shop with a list. I hardly throw anything away. In fact I can't remember the last time I threw food away. Luckily the dog likes the dinner left overs, although there aren't many of them.

breppo · 19-02-2013, 19:30

Lettuce and bags of salad are the main ones for me too.
Bread goes in the freezer. Have not wasted a single slice of bread in 20 years.

Evilclive · 19-02-2013, 19:41

Even though I make a menu for the week and try to use everything up I always end up with a few potatoes left over. I even might forget some and they start to sprout in the cupboard.

AnitaS · 19-02-2013, 20:41

Onions. I always find at least one or two at the bottom of the veg rack that haven't been used and are all spongy and sprouting. Maybe I should plant them in the garden?

CBFreak · 19-02-2013, 20:43

Fresh Veg bags.
I vuy them with the greatest of intentions of eating helathier but by the time I actually feel like I want to eat some they have gone off. Pretty much the same for my other fresh veg. This is why I prefer frozen steam bags of it as It last a long long time.
Next to that is apple and grapes. Again for good intentions but never get around to eating them in time.

curvybabes · 19-02-2013, 20:49

Bags of salad here too, always have bread left, cold meat and sometimes fruit but the birds eat it all ( apart from the salad!)

lem ramsay · 20-02-2013, 16:51

I freeze what I can and try to use up everything before the use by date.
I happened to throw in the bin salad or garlic in the past.
Well, I love bread so that never lasts more than a couple of days in my house and I don't mind it dry

Southern Pride · 20-02-2013, 19:13

We waste an awful lot of potatoes in our household. Bloody disgraceful it is!

Coo Ling · 20-02-2013, 19:51

Lettuce, buy a 2 pack of little gems and usually throw one away. Which begs the question why do we buy little gems.

stud u like · 20-02-2013, 19:53

lettuce can be stir fried or turned into a soup.

whoever,hey · 20-02-2013, 20:00

lettuce and half a bag of spinach.

stud u like · 20-02-2013, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnitaS

Onions. I always find at least one or two at the bottom of the veg rack that haven't been used and are all spongy and sprouting. Maybe I should plant them in the garden?

It is easy to grow onions and celery.

wombat18 · 20-02-2013, 20:02

I usually manage to use most of what I buy - but it does mean that there are days when I'm eating odd combinations or having a meal that I don't actually want to eat but I do it anyway in order not to waste food or money.

Johnnys Arcade · 20-02-2013, 21:41

Any waste/leftover food I have left is not ever wasted. It feeds hungry birds!

sarahj1986 · 20-02-2013, 23:44

Potatoes. I buy a bag and have them maybe 2/3 times and it still feels like there's loads left!

Paulie Walnuts · 21-02-2013, 02:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahj1986

Potatoes. I buy a bag and have them maybe 2/3 times and it still feels like there's loads left!

Why do you throw them out? If stored properly in a cool dark place they should last for months.

noise747 · 21-02-2013, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southern Pride

We waste an awful lot of potatoes in our household. Bloody disgraceful it is!

Me too, it is only me here and I don't eat that many spuds, and these days you can only normally get a bag, not a couple. ok I can go to the indoor market, but I need to get the time to get there.

bowland37 · 21-02-2013, 10:19

Nothing apart from the very occasional rotten Tomato.

katywil · 21-02-2013, 10:34

nothing much. half a jar of harrissa paste was binned today which upset me a lot. lol . if i buy a cauli, i use it for two meals and freeze the rest. same with swede and cabbage. theres no need to throw food away except for an occasional lettuce leaf.

nanscombe · 21-02-2013, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahj1986

Potatoes. I buy a bag and have them maybe 2/3 times and it still feels like there's loads left!

POTATO PRESERVING BAG £2.99?

Quote:

Preserve those kitchen staples that all too often get ahead of themselves. A blackout layer restricts light from passing through, and the breathable poly-cotton material ensures air circulation and reduces moisture so food stays fresher, longer. Drawstring tops give easy access, and the veg, potato and onion bags have zipped sides to ensure that first-come is first-served.

When there were three of us we used to get the old half hundredweight bags from a local farm shop. There were in a thick paper sack and seemed to last months.

When it comes to wastage it's actually French mustard. I get a small jar, but use it slowly, and only get through a quarter of it before binning it about about 3 months.

Miss C. DeVille · 21-02-2013, 11:29

I now keep my potatoes in a cheap black pillowcase I bought from Asda. It seem to slow the sprouting process down so I rarely have to throw any away.
I sometimes have bread that's gone stale but I generally toast it if it's not too bad. I keep meaning to make a bread pudding with it which is what my mum used to do as I love bread pudding.
I don't usually throw anything else away as I usually cook in batches, portion it all up and freeze meals.

19-02-2013, 16:52	#1
Porcupine Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Suffolk Posts: 21,392	What food item do you waste the most ? I am very good with food and generally I try not to buy what I can't use. But I often throw away the same items every week. These are lettuce and bread. I try really hard to use them, but it never works out and the lettuce becomes brown around the edges and unappetising. Im sure lettuce used to last longer in the good old days. I often buy it in bags now ready washed as that lasts longer. I also try and keep bread in the freezer and I defrost 1/2 a loaf at a time. But then my husbands shifts change and low and behold ... it ends up on the garden for the birds as neither of us likes dry bread. I occasionally bin the odd yoghurt and perhaps an odd onion, but on the whole I don't think im too wasteful. So - what is your main food waste.

19-02-2013, 18:11	#2
Victoria Sponge Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK Garage, GoT, Brasil & steak Posts: 10,505	Vegetables. I used to be a lot worse than what I am know though. I used to throw away so much fresh fruit and veg it was almost criminal. Very stupid. But now I buy a little less, and with big things like celery I use whatever I need fresh and then chop and freeze the rest.

19-02-2013, 18:27	#3
degsyhufc Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Up North Posts: 58,791	Lettuce is good shout. I often throw some of that out. And the remnants of bags of salad. I freeze bread.

19-02-2013, 18:31	#4
c4rv Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Essex Posts: 16,218	bread, some weeks we go through 2 loaves in a week, other times only a few slices. Veggies (especially salads) get fed to my piggies so I don't mind that so much. Just about everything else I freeze.

19-02-2013, 19:04	#5
turquoiseblue Forum Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,353	I always plan every meal and shop with a list. I hardly throw anything away. In fact I can't remember the last time I threw food away. Luckily the dog likes the dinner left overs, although there aren't many of them.

19-02-2013, 19:30	#6
breppo Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing Posts: 2,410	Lettuce and bags of salad are the main ones for me too. Bread goes in the freezer. Have not wasted a single slice of bread in 20 years.

19-02-2013, 19:41	#7
Evilclive Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 256	Even though I make a menu for the week and try to use everything up I always end up with a few potatoes left over. I even might forget some and they start to sprout in the cupboard.

19-02-2013, 20:41	#8
AnitaS Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 3,853	Onions. I always find at least one or two at the bottom of the veg rack that haven't been used and are all spongy and sprouting. Maybe I should plant them in the garden?

19-02-2013, 20:43	#9
CBFreak Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 22,069	Fresh Veg bags. I vuy them with the greatest of intentions of eating helathier but by the time I actually feel like I want to eat some they have gone off. Pretty much the same for my other fresh veg. This is why I prefer frozen steam bags of it as It last a long long time. Next to that is apple and grapes. Again for good intentions but never get around to eating them in time.

19-02-2013, 20:49	#10
curvybabes Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 11,156	Bags of salad here too, always have bread left, cold meat and sometimes fruit but the birds eat it all ( apart from the salad!)

20-02-2013, 16:51	#11
lem ramsay Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 684	I freeze what I can and try to use up everything before the use by date. I happened to throw in the bin salad or garlic in the past. Well, I love bread so that never lasts more than a couple of days in my house and I don't mind it dry

20-02-2013, 19:13	#12
Southern Pride Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Daaaaaan Saaaaaaaf Posts: 269	We waste an awful lot of potatoes in our household. Bloody disgraceful it is!

20-02-2013, 19:51	#13
Coo Ling Forum Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Notts Posts: 2,671	Lettuce, buy a 2 pack of little gems and usually throw one away. Which begs the question why do we buy little gems.

20-02-2013, 19:53	#14
stud u like Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street Posts: 40,105	lettuce can be stir fried or turned into a soup.

20-02-2013, 20:00	#15
whoever,hey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 30,072	lettuce and half a bag of spinach.

20-02-2013, 20:01	#16
stud u like Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street Posts: 40,105	Quote: Originally Posted by AnitaS Onions. I always find at least one or two at the bottom of the veg rack that haven't been used and are all spongy and sprouting. Maybe I should plant them in the garden? It is easy to grow onions and celery.

20-02-2013, 20:02	#17
wombat18 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 728	I usually manage to use most of what I buy - but it does mean that there are days when I'm eating odd combinations or having a meal that I don't actually want to eat but I do it anyway in order not to waste food or money.

20-02-2013, 21:41	#18
Johnnys Arcade Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: 114 Gorgie Road Edinburgh EH11 Posts: 2,744	Any waste/leftover food I have left is not ever wasted. It feeds hungry birds!

20-02-2013, 23:44	#19
sarahj1986 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 8,099	Potatoes. I buy a bag and have them maybe 2/3 times and it still feels like there's loads left!

21-02-2013, 02:34	#20
Paulie Walnuts Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,411	Quote: Originally Posted by sarahj1986 Potatoes. I buy a bag and have them maybe 2/3 times and it still feels like there's loads left! Why do you throw them out? If stored properly in a cool dark place they should last for months.

21-02-2013, 10:12	#21
noise747 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 22,810	Quote: Originally Posted by Southern Pride We waste an awful lot of potatoes in our household. Bloody disgraceful it is! Me too, it is only me here and I don't eat that many spuds, and these days you can only normally get a bag, not a couple. ok I can go to the indoor market, but I need to get the time to get there.

DS Forums

What food item do you waste the most ?

21-02-2013, 10:19	#22
bowland37 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4,230	Nothing apart from the very occasional rotten Tomato.

21-02-2013, 10:34	#23
katywil Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,200	nothing much. half a jar of harrissa paste was binned today which upset me a lot. lol . if i buy a cauli, i use it for two meals and freeze the rest. same with swede and cabbage. theres no need to throw food away except for an occasional lettuce leaf.

21-02-2013, 10:35	#24
nanscombe Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, Uk Posts: 16,161	Quote: Originally Posted by sarahj1986 Potatoes. I buy a bag and have them maybe 2/3 times and it still feels like there's loads left! POTATO PRESERVING BAG £2.99? Quote: Preserve those kitchen staples that all too often get ahead of themselves. A blackout layer restricts light from passing through, and the breathable poly-cotton material ensures air circulation and reduces moisture so food stays fresher, longer. Drawstring tops give easy access, and the veg, potato and onion bags have zipped sides to ensure that first-come is first-served. When there were three of us we used to get the old half hundredweight bags from a local farm shop. There were in a thick paper sack and seemed to last months. When it comes to wastage it's actually French mustard. I get a small jar, but use it slowly, and only get through a quarter of it before binning it about about 3 months.

21-02-2013, 11:29	#25
Miss C. DeVille Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Folkestone Posts: 1,648	I now keep my potatoes in a cheap black pillowcase I bought from Asda. It seem to slow the sprouting process down so I rarely have to throw any away. I sometimes have bread that's gone stale but I generally toast it if it's not too bad. I keep meaning to make a bread pudding with it which is what my mum used to do as I love bread pudding. I don't usually throw anything else away as I usually cook in batches, portion it all up and freeze meals.