Food waste is a problem in our country. If you are not careful, it can be problem that affects your grocery budget, too. Obviously, being vigilant about expiration dates and actually cooking what you buy is important, but no one is perfect. What do you do when you realize something is getting a little too old, or wilted, or close to the expiration date? Here’s a few tips.
Milk
We are not really a milk-drinking family. If you have milk or cream — dairy or non-dairy — that is reaching it’s expiration date (7 days after opening for non-dairy), you can freeze it! If it’s just a small amount, you can pour it into an ice cube tray and transfer to another container after it freezes. Throw a milk ice cube in your hot chocolate, broccoli soup, or even chicken a la king.
If you have a lot of milk, you can freeze it in the plastic jug it came in (not the cardboard cartons). Simply make sure to pour some out as it will expand when it freezes and you don’t want it to ‘explode’ in your freezer. When you defrost it, be sure to shake it well. It will want to separate, but shaking helps to recombine everything.
Cheese
OK. Cheese lasts a long time in the fridge and we eat the heck out of it. The likelihood of cheese going bad is slim. However, in the event you buy a 5-lb bag at Costco and need to know what to do with it, freeze it.
Well, let me back up.
Freezing cheese makes it crumble-y. If you want to cut nice slices for a charcuterie board, frozen cheese is not your best bet. However, if you have shredded cheese or plan on using the cheese for cooking, freeze with confidence, right in the existing packaging.
Tomatoes
Inevitably, I buy mini tomatoes and they get wrinkle-y when I have a few left. Slice them in half lengthwise and drizzle with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake them on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 2 hours at 300* (longer for large tomatoes). Et voila! Roasted tomatoes! Toss them in some pasta with a little pesto or top a piece of cheese-y garlic bread with them for a quick dinner.
Lunchmeat
Lunchmeat lasts 7 days from the time you open it, regardless of the date on the package! If its Day 6 or 7 and you don’t want to waste it, dice it up and throw it in a gravy. I explain how to make gravy from a roux here. Just like chicken a la king, you add the lunchmeat and any veggies to the gravy and serve over mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or even cut up toast.
Salami, pepperoni, and other cured meats last longer. I often store my pepperoni in the freezer to help it last even longer. It doesn’t really freeze so just grab a few pieces out of the package and go.
Vegetables
While I don’t know of a way to save wilted lettuce, hard vegetables can be roasted in the oven. Toss with a bit of olive oil and some seasonings. Eat as a side dish with dinner or blitz in the food processor and make a sauce for pasta (add a little more oil, a splash of red wine vinegar, and some parm cheese).
You can throw wilt-y celery and carrots in a chicken soup. You could even make some vegetable stock on the stove out of wilt-y vegetables and veggie scraps. Strain the stock before using or storing.
Fruit
Throw it in the freezer for smoothies! Conversely, you can look up a recipe for dehydrating fruit or making fruit ‘leather’ in the oven!
Bread
I automatically put the heel of a loaf of regular bread in with my brown sugar. It’s pretty much a go-to, but if you have a loaf of bread that needs to be used up you can make grilled cheese or toasted BLT sandwiches. You could also make French toast if you have a few eggs.
Conversely, you can spread the bread on a cookie and bake in the oven at 250* until crispy. Blitz in a food processor and store in the freezer for homemade bread crumbs.
Additionally, if you know that you won’t be able to eat the whole loaf. Stick half in the freezer right when you get home from the store. Pull it out when you need more.
Sub Rolls
I make garlic bread out of extra sub rolls and stash them in the freezer until later. Simply split in half and liberally spread softened butter on the roll. Top with a generous amount of garlic powder, Lawry’s seasoning salt, and parm cheese. Stick them in a plastic bag and store in the freezer until you need them. You could add shredded mozz if you are feeling cheese-y. Here’s a few more ideas.
Bacon
Like lunch meat, bacon is only good for 6 or 7 days after opening, regardless of the date on the package! If I need some for a recipe, I just dice the rest of the package very small and sauté in a pan until thoroughly cooked. After it cools, I stick it in a Ziploc bag and store in the freezer for salads. Like pepperoni, it doesn’t really freeze so you don’t have to worry about defrosting time.
Flour
Flour does not go bad per se. It can, however, get … worms. Ask me how I know. Actually, don’t. It’s too gross to even think about. It’s rare, but under the right conditions, a bug can get in there and lay eggs and under the right conditions, they can hatch. So, I keep my flour in the fridge or freezer to avoid this from happening ever again. 🤮
Hummus
Can you guess what my suggestion is? That’s right! You can freeze hummus!! You’re welcome.