The cost of the weekly food shop is higher than ever at the moment, so you really want to be getting the most out of it – especially when it comes to your fresh produce.
And there’s nothing more annoying than opening the fridge, ready to grab some fruits or vegetables to prepare a meal or snack, only to find that they’ve gone bad.
Having to throw away food is literally like throwing money in the bin, but it sometimes feels like it feels like food only lasts a few days before it starts to rot.
However, the way you’re storing it in the fridge could actually be the root cause of this.
That’s according to food waste expert and author Kate Hall, who has spoken to Aldi to reveal some of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to keeping grocieries fresh.
She said: “Food waste is a major issue for many households across the UK, wasting both our time and money.
“However, there are many small changes we can make that can have a big positive impact. By storing our produce differently or adopting a few simple habits, we can significantly reduce food waste, save money, and make sure we eat the food we’ve worked hard to pay for.”
And one of her most important tips is actually going against what seems to be very popular on social media – and that’s prepping your fruit and veg in advance.
If you’ve ever been influenced to peel and chop your carrots, celery, apples, kiwis or anything else that requires a bit of prep, think again. This could be the reason why they seem to be rotting quicker than they should.
Kate said: “Whilst some people will swear by prepping ahead to get their daily dose of goodness, this can lead to your produce spoiling faster.
“To help your fruit and veg last as long as possible, keep its outer armour intact until you’re ready to eat it.”
One of the fruits that are the most notorious for going bad quickly are berries, but it turns out there’s a good reason for this, and it can be easily avoided.
Before putting away your fruit, check the box very carefully. If there is one single mouldy berry hiding away in your punnet, then microscopic spores can easily and quickly contaminate the rest.
Try to only wash them before you eat so not to add more unnecessary moisture.
And finally, if you spot any vegetables in your fridge – such as carrots, spring onions or parsnips – that are starting to get a ‘bendy’ appearance, there’s no need to throw them out.
Instead, it could actually be dehydration that’s making them look like that. So, try trimming the ends off and submerging them in cold water, which should do the trick.
