Fight against food waste

Planning a menu for the week and making a list is essential and will also save you some money. Shops frequently promote BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) deals and 'loss leaders'. This is where a number of products will be considerably marked down in price, generally close to the store entrance, to attract your immediate attention. Before you are tempted ask yourself the following three questions:

1. Are these items actually on your list?
2. Will you definitely use them?
3. Do you need to change your plans or list to accommodate them?

When writing your shopping list make sure you check what you have at home and how much extra of an ingredient you will need. You should also buy loose where possible. This is often cheaper, fresher and encourages you to only buy what you need. You also save on single use plastic too!

Try to only go to the shops once a week as this helps to avoid buying extra food you don’t need and reduces the temptation from other offers. Don't go shopping when hungry and in a rush as it's difficult to shop wisely in those conditions.

One of our favourite tips for keeping food fresher for longer is to make sure you are storing it correctly. When you buy food at the supermarket check the packaging to see how it should be stored for maximum freshness. More information can also be found on the Love Food Hate Waste website.

Did you know for your fridge to work effectively it should be at 5 degrees Celsius or below? From time to time, you should check your fridge's built in thermometer against a freestanding one to ensure accuracy.

As with your fridge, your freezer needs to be at the right temperature to work effectively. Your freezer should be set at -18 degrees Celsius or below.

Here are our top 10 tips for freezing food:

1. Make sure food is cooled before freezing to avoid increasing the temperature of the freezer and causing other foods to defrost.
2. Freeze food in manageable portions so that they can be used according to need - label them so they can be easily identified, and include the date of freezing.
3. Defrost food in the fridge and use within two days or according to the instructions - you may be able to use a microwave on the 'defrost' setting immediately before cooking and follow the microwave manufacturer's instructions.
4. Do not refreeze food unless it's been cooked in between, for example mince for Bolognese - cooking will kill off any bacteria.
5. Wrap your food properly to avoid freezer burn which happens when food loses moisture in the freezer - use sealed containers so that this occurs more slowly, limits the amount of single-use plastic used and often makes it easier to store more effectively.
6. Freeze food at its prime not when it's old to avoid wastage.
7. A full freezer is more economical to run, it may be worth using everyday items such as frozen peas or other vegetables to fill the space.
8. Defrost your freezer regularly so it works effectively - whilst defrosting, place the frozen food in the fridge where most things will remain frozen for up to two hours. You may need to consider other options for ice cream or similar items.
9. If you have a power cut try not to open the freezer door - food should stay frozen for up to 24 hours.
10. Keep your freezer organised - this will allow you to see exactly what you have in there and allow you to plan meals around it and saving you some money on your shopping too!