Sometimes when the big vacation is about to begin, we throw away the last food items lying around in the kitchen, because they won’t last until we get back. Now, a few days before leaving on vacation, we avoid shopping and let the refrigerator empty little by little, competing in imagination with the leftovers.
For the last eggs, slices of bread, cans of tuna or onions that we didn’t have time to eat, we prepare a snack for the road, or we give to the neighbor. To remedy this, the company Too Good To Go, which for years has helped merchants redistribute their unsold goods to the neighborhood, shares some tips to help us.
The expiration date is not inevitable
Of course, in the few days before closing the house, we prioritize the consumption of foods whose expiration date is approaching. Too Good To Go reminds us that there are also minimum consumption durability dates.
These “BBDs” are only indicative and therefore less decisive than the “DLC”, use-by date. The latter generally concerns dairy products and eggs, products whose degradation is not negligible, since it can cause food poisoning if they are consumed too late. If a product indicates a BBD, then this date indicates the start of the potential change in its appearance or texture, while remaining safe for consumption. For example, don’t panic if your chocolate has turned white, it is only a benign change in condition.
So you can allow yourself a little relaxation on the expiry dates, without abusing them of course. At the slightest doubt about the appearance, texture, smell or taste of a product (even before the expiry date, which can happen for cheese or milk), throw it away! If the date has passed but the product seems correct and has been stored in good conditions, it should be able to be consumed without problem.
Anti-waste rhymes with sharing
Now that we’ve sorted out our fridge, we either consume or give. To make sure nothing goes to waste, why not offer our neighbor our few eggs that we won’t have time to cook, the bread that we don’t want to throw away since it never goes bad, or those few ripe bananas?
We quickly stop by our mother-in-law’s to bring her a delicious pound cake that we made with the leftovers and we’re off! Before hitting the road, we make a quick stop at the donation centers for people in need. For Too Good To Go, “Giving is a concrete way to do a good deed and reduce food waste.”
What should I do with my fresh fruits and vegetables?
To throw away as little food as possible, there are a few tips. With your fruit, prepare a chutney or jam, ideal to take on vacation when you are renting.
If you don’t want to cook, the last option is to freeze them. If you have any leftover fresh produce, freeze them, like overripe bananas. When you get back, they won’t have changed. You can use them to make banana bread or banana and pecan ice cream. Too Good To Go also shares a tip we wouldn’t have thought of: place your leftover fruit juice and milk in an ice cube tray, to use them later, as a smoothie base or as ice cubes in an iced coffee!
Now we go on holiday with a clear conscience and a light mind.
www.toogoodtogo.fr
