How to reduce food waste at home
Use up wilting produce, trust your senses over date labels and freeze food the right way
© Elizabeth Dalziel / WWF-UK
Key takeaways
- Home is where the biggest opportunity is. Nearly half of all food waste happens in our homes, and the average US household loses about $3,000 a year to wasted food.
- Use what you have and trust your senses. Revive wilting produce, freeze ripe bananas, and turn leftovers into soups and stews. Most “best by” and “sell by” dates aren’t about safety, so check food yourself or look it up in the FoodKeeper app.
- Freeze almost anything. Portion, label, and date food before freezing to save cooking time, shopping trips, and money.
Food waste in the US is staggering
Nearly 31% of food in the US goes uneaten, and the average household loses $3,000 each year to wasted food. And the toll on nature is enormous, with food waste accounting for roughly 10% of greenhouse gas emissions; that’s four times the emissions of global airlines. Producing food that ultimately goes to waste uses enough water to fill 9 million Olympic-sized swimming pools and land as large as California and New York combined.
It's a massive problem, but also a huge opportunity for all of us to take action. Though food is lost at every level of the supply chain, nearly half of all food waste occurs in our homes. That means our own everyday actions—simple steps we take now—can have a big impact on the planet.
© 06photo / Shutterstock
How you can easily reduce food waste in your daily life
Use up wilting produce and leftovers
Is some of your produce wilting in the crisper? You can reinvigorate some veggies, like lettuce, with a quick ice water bath. Are bananas going brown? Peel them and toss them in a freezer-safe container to use later for baked goods or smoothies. Overcooked leftovers, wilted, or ugly produce are all prime ingredients for hearty soups and stews.
Are expiration dates safe to trust?
Most food is safe to eat a lot longer than we think—for fresh and canned goods. Most expiration dates have nothing to do with safety and, depending on the kind of item, many foods are still safe to eat days, weeks, or months after confusing "best by," "sell by," and "best before" labels. Most of the time, trust your senses to know when food has gone bad, or you can search the FoodKeeper App to learn more about food freshness and storage options.
How to freeze food to prevent waste
You can freeze almost anything—eggs, meats, produce, sauces—whether you just brought it home or already cooked it. Keep containers tight and leave a little room for liquids. Freeze in portions for easy access, and date and label so you don't forget what's what. While it's a bit of extra work upfront, freezing will save you loads of cooking, prep, and even shopping time down the line. And you'll save money if you use everything you buy.
© Shutterstock
- Learn more about food's connection to nature. The better we understand where our food comes from and its impact on the planet, the easier it is to shop smarter and cook more sustainably.
- Sign the pledge. Reducing food waste at home is easier than you might think—and even small actions can make a meaningful difference. Sign the pledge and take just one simple step to a more sustainable kitchen.
© Shutterstock
Help stop food waste
Every year, we throw away over 30% of our food—wasting the water, soil, and energy used to produce it while driving up grocery bills. Tell your representatives to support two common-sense bills in Congress.