If you shop for groceries weekly or monthly, it helps to plan meals and work with what you have. But often there is some food left. So, here is how you can clear your fridge, ready for more.
Prioritize Food That Will Soon Expire
Expiration dates are stamped all over pretty much everything, even bottled water. While these are used as a guideline, it is often safe to consume things that have passed their date by only a few days. For example, you can still use sour cream that is on its expiration date or gone a day over in this wonderful creamy chicken stroganoff recipe, which you can also use for chicken coming to an end. However, be careful with eggs, certain fruits, and meats that have gone past their date. Those generally stay true to their expiration dates.
Get Into Bread Making
Like some people, you may have everything you need to make your own bread right in your cupboard. Breadmaking is the cornerstone of feeding your family in many cultures. It’s cheap and easier than you think. Also, you can begin experimenting with bread when you get a little more confident and understand how it works. For instance, you can throw in some overripe bananas for an amazing banana bread that also clears some more room in your refrigerator.
Clear Your Fridge of Fruit and Vegetables
Food waste is common all over the world. Yet in countries like the USA and the UK, it is at much higher levels as people simply don’t know how to use up vegetables, which make up 28% of food waste. This is a shame. You can use vegetables that are nearing their end in many ways. Soups and stocks are among the best ways to make delicious and nutritious meals without wasting them. You can also use the skins and seeds in homemade skin and hair creams.
Don’t Forget Drinks
Alongside vegetables, you can also use up fruit by making drinks such as fresh juice. You can also make vitamin-boosting smoothies with vegetables such as kale, carrots, and broccoli. Further to this, you probably have tons of drinks left in your fridge. Flat lemonade or cola isn’t very appealing, though. However, you can combine drinks and any fruits you have left lying around for quick and easy mocktails. Or even freeze them for multi-flavored popsicles.
Give It A Good Clean
There’s a great advantage to clearing your fridge and using up what you have, then there is nothing left to get in your way. With an empty fridge, you can get handy and give it a good clean without worrying about what will expire. Starting at the top, wipe it down with a kitchen roll to remove excess water. Pay attention to the top and back. Also, give the drainage hole a quick wipe. Then go over it again with antibacterial wipes that don’t contain bleach to remove germs.
Summary
You can clear your fridge for hygiene reasons and to cut down on food waste. Use up things that are nearly expired first. Then put vegetables and fruit to good use. And finally, wipe it down!
Thank you for reading!
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