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How to Get the Most From Your Groceries

Whether it is because you are trying to limit the amount of time you have to spend at the grocery store or simply because you are interested in getting the most bang for your buck, Energy Smart New Homes wants to share a few tips with you on how to get the most out of your groceries.

Prepare Meals in Advance

Forgetting to use items you have on hand before they go bad is a real challenge for most. One way to combat this is to plan meals ahead of time. This will help you to make sure all food items have a specific purpose. You can try to think of several different meals that use similar ingredients as well. Another thing you can do is prepare things like rice and veggies in advance. This way you have great bases for a variety of meals already to go.

Do not Throw Away Scraps

Another way to ensure that nothing goes to waste is to make stock at home. Leftover bones from chicken or beef make excellent stock bases, as do leftover veggie scraps. There are lots of free resources that will guide you in the stock making process. But generally, it just comes down to letting things simmer to extract as much flavorful as possible.

Can Some Things

Canning is another great way to make sure your food lasts longer. With the right equipment and techniques, you can virtually can anything. There are some specific steps you need to take to make sure that things are sealed properly, but if done right, your canned goods can last years on the shelf. Check out YouTube for some great tutorials.

Utilize the Freezer

Many foods can be preserved past their sell by date if frozen. Even things like milk and eggs can be frozen. The issue with freezing things often comes down to freezer burn. To make sure that your foods do not succumb to freezer burn, try labeling them with the date they were frozen and what the item is so that it does not get forgotten about. You can also vacuum seal the food items for extra insurance against burn.

Cooking for you and your family is a labor of love. A lot of effort goes into grocery shopping and preparing meals. Hopefully with these tips you can make less trips to the grocery store and reduce your food waste at the same time.

By Energy Smart New Homes 11-30-2020