Five mistakes causing Aussies to waste millions in food every month

Aussies are throwing away approximately $330 million worth of food every month, according to recent findings by GLAD.

The findings revealed that despite 78 per cent of Aussies understanding the importance of reducing food waste, 88 per cent say they still throw away fresh food that's been left to go bad.

And most of that food waste comes about as a result of "improper food storage practices" with the most common food Aussies throw away being bread, lettuce, tomatoes, bananas and carrots.

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This number is staggering and with the ongoing cost of living crisis its something that many Aussies may want help combating.

Thankfully professional organiser from Mise En Place and GLAD Ambassador, Anita Birges has some helpful tips for zero waste kitchen.

Birges is an expert when it comes to kitchen and household organisation having organised and decluttered homes across the country and even leant a helping hand to stars like Delta Goodrem and Michelle Bridges.

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She tells 9honey that there are five key mistakes Aussies make which can lead to unnecessary food waste.

1. Overstocking fresh produce

One key mistake, is "buying too much fresh produce and not using it before it spoils and gets rotten," Birges says.

Her solution: "Plan meals for the week and buy only what you need," Birges says.

"Use a first-in, first-out system, placing newer items at the back and older items at the front of the fridge. Freezing fruits and vegetables before they go bad is also a great way to reduce waste."

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2. Storing items in the wrong place

According to Birges, "placing items like eggs, milk, or fresh herbs in the fridge door, which is often warmer" can "cause them to spoil faster."

To avoid that problem, Birges suggests storing "perishable items in the colder areas of the fridge, like the bottom shelves, and use the door for less sensitive products like condiments."

3. Improper use of containers

"Leaving half-used items, like cheese or vegetables, in their original packaging," is another food storage mistake that she sees Aussies make, which can lead " to premature spoiling."

To combat this, Birges recommends transferring "opened food items to airtight containers or resealable bags, like Glad Snap Lock Bags, to keep them fresher for longer."

She also recommends labeling and dating containers "to keep track of use-by dates".

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4. Ignoring expiry dates

This one seems like a given but Birges says it's a common mistake.

"Keeping items past their expiration dates," Birges says, "results in forgotten and spoiled food."

Her solution: "Regularly audit your pantry and fridge by checking expiry dates," Birges says.

"Implement a 'use it up' section where near-expiry items are placed to remind the family to consume them soon.

5. Not understanding optimal storage temperatures

Now you'd be forgiven for not being across this one but Birges says a common mistake is "storing food at the wrong temperature, which can cause spoilage."

"For example," Birges says, "storing bread in the fridge can make it go stale faster."

The simple solution for this is to "learn the optimal stoage temperatures for different foods". Birges recommends keeping the fridge "between 1 to 4°C to slow bacterial growth and preserve freshness."

For bread, Birges recommends storing it in a "cool, dry pantry or freezing it if not used within a few days"

"By avoiding these mistakes Aussie families can save money, reduce food waste and extend the life of their groceries," she says.

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