Food Preservation Tips Offered To Cut Down On Waste

Article Presented By Kingston National Bank…

(SWACO) – Central Ohio families throw away an average of $2,000 a year in food that may not need to be thrown out. Many times foods last well beyond the date on the package so Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) has developed an online Food Storage Guide to help central Ohioans extend the shelf life of their food.

The Food Storage Guide offers tips like:
*Freezing will keep bread fresh the longest. When packing, squeeze the air out of a zip-top bag. Slice whole loaves to easily grab a few slices as you need them. 

*Rinse, dry, and freeze berries in an airtight container. They can be frozen on a sheet pan to stop clumping.

*Hard cheeses wrapped in parchment (not plastic) can be frozen in an airtight container. Freezing soft cheeses alters their texture but they can still be used for cooking.

In fact, when it comes to determining whether food is fresh, don’t rely only on date labeling; use your senses too. Tasting, smelling and looking at foods is a good way to tell if food items are still okay to eat. If foods start to sour, mold or sprout the Food Storage Guide offers tips for reviving them.

Reducing food waste remains an important issue for central Ohioans. In a public opinion poll conducted in 2022, 83% of residents were concerned with the amount of food wasted every day in central Ohio.  A 2019 Waste Characterization Study published by SWACO documented that nearly a million pounds of food arrives at the County Landfill every day, and a large portion of that food comes from households.

Get involved in limiting food waste by visiting savemorethanfood.org to get more information on ways to prevent food waste and download the Food Storage Guide. Together, we can make a difference.