Last Updated on April 4, 2020 by Ellen Christian
Have you ever wondered how to reduce produce waste? I can’t be the only one that has gone to the store and loaded up on fresh produce only to find half of it spoiled two days later. With the price of organic produce, I needed to find a way to stop this from happening. This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Rubbermaid.
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How to Reduce Produce Waste
Depending on the time of the year, I may get produce from the grocery store, the farm stand or our garden. Either way, I want it to stay fresh and last as long as possible. Here are a few tips that are working for me.
Look before you buy
Before you buy the berries, ears of corn or bag of apples, look at what you’re buying. Inspect the produce for bruises, tears or soft fruit. Damaged produce will cause the rest of the produce in the container to go bad faster.
Buy what you will use
A three pound box of fresh peppers may cost less per pound than the one pound box. But, if you’ll only use one pound and the other two go to waste, you haven’t saved any money. Buy what you’ll use so you don’t waste any unless you remember this next tip.
Freeze the excess
If you do find a particularly great deal on produce, make sure that you keep what you’ll use out. Then, freeze the rest before it starts to go soft. Then, you’ll be able to enjoy it long after the season is over.
Keep it fresh
Once you bring your produce home, make sure that you keep it fresh. Not all produce needs to be stored in the refrigerator. Some produce does best on the counter (like bananas and citrus fruit). Some should be refrigerated to keep it at it’s best (like grapes and fresh greens).
Rubbermaid FreshWorks containers will help ensure your produce stays good for as long as possible. The FreshVent Lid naturally regulates the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide to create the optimal environment so your produce stays farm fresh. The CrispTray elevates produce away from moisture and promotes proper airflow to help prevent spoilage. The lid filter lasts a lifetime, no replacements needed.
As a result of throwing away fresh produce, Americans waste $24 billion worth of produce every year, which is the equivalent of $192 per household.** If only they had read these tips on how to keep produce fresh.
There are three different sizes of Rubbermaid FreshWorks containers so you’ll have the perfect size for everything from your blueberries to your fresh lettuce: small (2.5 cups), medium (6.3 cups), and large (17.3 cups). Of course, they are BPA free and dishwasher safe.
I normally just keep my produce in the container it comes from the grocery store in, and I do notice that it goes bad relatively quickly. After using the Rubbermaid FreshWorks containers after last week’s grocery shopping trip, I was thrilled to see that my produce really did stay fresh longer. That means I can make more of my favorite vegetable recipes without wasting produce.
For more information about these amazing containers, visit Rubbermaid.com.
One of my readers will win a 3 piece set of Rubbermaid FreshWorks containers like the ones I featured above.
*Based on strawberries in FreshWorks™ containers vs. store packaging. Results may vary depending upon produce and use.
** Source: USDA 2014
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
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