Do you feel like you are always cleaning out the refrigerator? You’re not alone: Approximately 40 percent of the food in the U.S. goes uneaten. Here are a few tips to help you reduce your food waste:
• Check the freezer and refrigerator to make sure they are at the proper temperatures.
• Keep dairy products on the shelf. Even if your refrigerator has built-in space for these, frequent opening and closing of the refrigerator door can cause these foods to spoil more quickly. Store meats in the coolest part of the fridge, which is usually the meat drawer on the bottom shelf.
• Keep certain fruits and vegetables separate. Apples, peaches and bananas release ethylene gas as they ripen. Carrots, berries and leafy greens absorb this gas, causing them to ripen quickly and spoil.
— Vicky L. Chesser, LSU AgCenter dietitian