Know Your Shelf
(by making the most of what's in the pantry!)
This month we’re shining a light on the staples in your cupboard, and sharing smart ideas on how to organise and store basic supplies.
How many times have you peered into your fridge and thought: ‘There’s nothing for dinner – I'll have to run to the shops?’
This month we’re shining a light on the unsung heroes of your kitchen – the staples in your cupboard!
We’re talking about the rice, flour, pasta, polenta, canned or dried beans, tinned tomatoes, tuna, corn, stock cubes, herbs and spices you probably have stocked up at home. Simply add some leftovers or whatever produce you have in the fridge, and you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to create hearty, wallet-friendly and waste-free meals using whatever you have on hand.
Doing a weekly stocktake of your pantry shelves is another good habit you can develop to reduce food waste, along with writing shopping lists and planning meals.
You could even take a ‘shelfie’ of the contents of your pantry on your phone for reference, so you don’t buy any extras you don’t need!
One tip for organising your pantry includes decanting your dry goods into clear, labelled storage containers. They not only look more appealing, but allow you to take stock of your staples at a glance.
Glass mason jars – used for preserving food since your great-grandmother's day – are an excellent option for storing pantry heroes. They also look great when transporting breakfast oats, salads or soups to work or picnics. Taste has some transparently terrific ideas for mason jar meals, along with 50 recipes that champion cupboard staples.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest tips, tricks and recipes to beat food waste, including a yummy version of a hearty Italian classic for International Lasagne Day on 29 July.
The Love Food Hate Waste Team