How to Empty (and Clean) Your Fridge Without Wasting Food | The kitchen

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Photo credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchen

I have literally gone years without wasting any product . while I'm still a little bit obsessive, I'm certainly not special; Anyone can do this, you just need to have the right system in place. Oh really. With a few small changes (I promise!) you'll save money on grocery shopping , reduce your carbon footprint, and even keep your fridge clean .

how do we do it Here are seven simple rules and practices I follow to keep my fridge clean and tidy year-round.

1. Empty your fridge.

If you run out of milk and need to go shopping, empty the fridge. I mean it literally. Get everything out of the fridge: leftovers, condiments, cheese hidden in the bottom of the drawer. This jar of kimchi has been there so long it's practically invisible, but you'll remember it when you set it on the countertop.

2. Clean the shelves.

If you do this every time you need to shop, cleaning the shelves should be easy and take two minutes at most. (You can even put them in the dishwasher for a deeper clean.)

3. Prepare your meals with what you already have in your fridge.

No, I repeat, do not make "plans". Prepare meals (easy!) on the spot, using some of the groceries you've already pulled out of the fridge. Products cannot be put back in the fridge (but keep dairy, meat, and anything else you don't want to stay in place). on the counter while you cook, of course).

You can make whatever you want, but I'm a big fan of the "just add rice" method. Season and roast the last of the veggies on a baking sheet and pressure cook rice, cook pasta, or make quinoa. Then I mix my favorite carbs with roasted veggies, fresh produce, whatever cheese I have on hand, and a quick, mild herb dressing. You can also add some kimchi on top.

4. Or give it as a gift.

Food insecurity is incredibly common. Buy Nothing groups and community fridges are great ways to donate your surplus. If you don't have access to organizations that accept homemade food, chances are your neighbors or local nursing homes will be happy if you provide them with lunch for a week, just like that. (I know I would be!)

5. Relax. (Oh really.)

You don't have to cook for days . There is nothing more satisfying than this feeling. Get ready to watch Netflix shows, take that fitness class you want to try, or spend some extra time outside. The time is yours!

6. Buy less.

It sounds easy, but buying less is actually the hardest step in the process. These Farmer's Market peaches look so good you'd think you'd eat a whole floor in no time. If you're like me, you end the week with moldy peaches, wasted money, and fruit flies .

There are a few solutions to this problem. To avoid over-buying, order a weekly Farmbox instead of shopping directly at the market, or similarly pre-order online for grocery pickup. Plan fewer meals than you think you need. There will be leftovers, there will be impromptu dinner invitations, there will be days when you're too tired to cook. You can always buy more, but never less.

7. Give yourself a little break.

Before you say this is too much work, remember that this entire process can be completed in the time it would take you to throw out wasted food, remove sticky spinach from the crisper, drive to the grocery store, and find spare foods to buy. , and return to download. This way you save the planet and your budget as the fridge stays clean and you don't even have to leave the house. "Slightly obsessive" or not, you can definitely pull it off.

How to reduce food waste? Let us know in the comments below!

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