Disgusted with myself...

[Mckeekitty]

I cleaned out the refrigerator and freezer today and was absolutely devastated by the amount of waste I had to toss out. Expired sour cream, bags of frozen vegetables (unopened, but definitely freezer burned by little holes in the bag), rotten lettuce, tomatos with three inches of gray fuzz, a FULL jar of Dijon mustard that expired in 2006 (I HAVE cleaned out the fridge since 2006 so I don't know how that slipped by), a package of salt pork, two half full jars of expired mayo, a jar of old, dried horseradish, and lots and lots and lots of unidentifable "leftovers" that were stored in plastic tubs. I filled an entire garbage can liner with all this crap.

I'm so troubled about this on several fronts. The waste of my money (which is really, really tight) struck me first. And, of course, the guilt I feel that people are really struggling and I managed to let so much decent food morph into garbage not even suitable for the compost.

It doesn't help that FV has a "Waste Not Wednesday." Ouch...a shot to my heart. I picked the wrong day of the week to tackle this project.

I think part of my problem is that we're not really big on leftovers. I enjoy cooking a different meal daily. Also, we are only two people (although my husband alone eats like three)...I wish they made condiments in smaller packages.

I have to get serious about my meal planning.

[bumplett]

well, look on the bright side - you got your fridge cleaned out!! Congrats on that!!

[ladytoysdream]

I try to place leftovers on one shelf in my frig. That way, I know where to look first for my next day's ideas.

Right now I have some extra cooked potatoes that will be pan fried for one meal tomorrow as a side.

One of our meals tomorrow will be leftover goulash from today.

It's hard to cook for two. I keep trying to find smaller packages of condiments.

Well you got a clean frig so that is a good thing.
Maybe a list on the door what is in there ?

[bumplett]

you guys could always keep a handy supply of the condiments in little squeeze size from fast food resturants

hey, at least they are free.

[AnW819]

I am the worst with this. Every week when I clean out the fridge I can't believe how much I waste. I have been making SURE that I use leftovers the next night, or I might as well just throw it out right away.

[dcompton]

You might try what some here do - keep a bag or container in the freezer for any leftover that could possibly go into soup. Put it in right away so it doesn't spoil, and when you get enough, you can make a pot of "free" soup.

[gottadance]

Well, it does stink when you realize you did this, but the good thing is you did realize it - millions of people think nothing of tossing away food - even food that is still good.

I almost made something fresh for dinner, then I realized I had some black beans opened and cheese, so I made a nacho.

There are a lot of people I hear saying they don't like leftovers - so you're not alone. Maybe what you need to do is to make a conscious decision when you're done with a meal - will you use the leftovers or not? If not, are there parts you could freeze? For example, if I get half way through a jar of salsa and I don't think I'll use it, I put it into a half pint can or freeze jar and freeze it. I did this with applesauce this morning. It was starting to get a little mold. I scraped off the mold (and a little extra just to be safe) then I put it into two can or freeze half-pint jars. Now I'll pull out one to use when I make apple bread and it'll be just the right size.

I've also seen people freecycle food that may expire. Someone freecycled me some unopened apple juice. I drank one container that week and then used the rest of it to freeze some apple slices for apple strudel (just pour the juice over the apples and freeze).

[lottaLove]

I'm guilty. Mostly with the leftovers. Usually we go through salad dressings and condiments just fine, its when I make an extra big pot of soup, or we have 3 pork chops left, etc.
I've also been guilty of throwing a tupperware (the cheap ziploc ones) in the garbage just because something was fermenting in it for so long I'm afraid to open the lid.

[Contrary Housewife]

If you have more leftovers than you can eat then you are cooking too much food. I know that part of he problem is that food comes in bigger packages, meat especially, than two people can eat. What I do for our household of two is break down the 'family size' pack into portions just for us and then freeze it. So when I get out pork chops there's just two of them.

When I do have a lot of leftovers -- tonight I made 1.5 lbs of sloppy joe filling -- I put the extra right away into the freezer. Sometime in January I will not cook dinner, just reheat that instead.

You can make a concerted effort to use up the condiments one month. Think up meals that use those items and plan them into your week. Try to get two or three of these meals each week.

Congrats on the clean fridge. I'm afraid to look in my vegetable drawers.

[Mckeekitty]

Thanks for the good suggestions.

I've looked into those "cooking for two" cookbooks, but my husband eats quite a bit so the proportions don't really work out. Because I try to be frugal and get the best bang for my buck, I tend to purchase items in bulk to get value. But this just leads me down the road to eventual waste.

The Grey Poupon Dijon mustard, for example. I purchased the large bottle on sale for $4.99 instead of the small bottle NOT on sale for $2.99. Truth be told, I only used it once and had to toss it today, but thought I was being a savvy shopper at the time of purchase. We only use mustard when we have ham...about once/year.

Apply this "logic" a hundred times...A-1 Sauce, Worcestershire, ketchup, sour cream, yogurt, cottage cheese...I purchase the bigger items because the deal is so good but it almost always ends up getting tossed out.

Take salad for example. I don't like those pre-packaged mixes, and yet when I set out to make my own I spend an awful lot of money for Romaine, Iceberg, and Radicciono. But after a few days, one or more of these greens have spoiled. For two people, the pre-packaged IS more economical because three packages will get us through the week and there's an expiration date that I can work with.

So I have to do a lot of re-thinking about my purchases and menu-planning. Thanks for all the input!

[Mckeekitty]

No matter what I do, I end up with freezer burn from our freezer. I don't have a vacuum pack machine. I "think" I wrap well with plastic and zip-lock freezer bags, but the meat is always crystalized.

[Incognito]

Lettuce is my personal nemesis, and it's so expensive too!
I've always gotta keep my eye on it or it fouls itself.

[frugalwarrior2]

MCkeekitty. I would suggest you ask for a sealer for xmas if you would use it. The price will be recouped quick if do (over lost food)
Also I make a menu and list foods in fridge for teens to eat. I don't cook more if theres leftovers. Once a week we have a "Scavenge day". You don't both have to eat the same things. I also pair amts. Saved $6. by eating in and not wasting so I can buy that paperback?? Coversely, I wwasted that $6. piece of meat,no movie?? Also, we have dogs and Mon is refridge clean out day.
Having said this-no system is perfect. Do the berst you can. Do better next time. Right? Gotta go clean the refridge.

[Mckeekitty]

Amen, Incognito. I always try to steer away from "pre-packaged" but when it comes to various lettuces and greens, I realized I have to make an exception. Salads are our favorite veggie, but I can't use it up fast enough when I buy our favorite lettuce combos separately.

I'm always one of those obnoxious shoppers that checks for the longest expiration date on salad mixes!

[frugalwarrior2]

Mckeekitty-Me too. I have found the organic boxes which are supposed to be made of corn plastic last twice as long as the bags.