Do you know that in the average household, several thousand dollars are thrown away in the garbage every year? It is because everyone is throwing away a lot of food. Have you ever wondered how often you throw out leftovers or foods you haven't even eaten? Throwing food away is a huge financial loss that you regularly suffer. However, you can start saving effectively! The following article will teach you how to choose the best vacuum storage bags in Australia. We will also tell you about other accessories to help you store your food.
Food waste – the current outlook
About 7.6 million tonnes of food are wasted in Australia alone each year. In the United States, up to 40% of entirely edible food is thrown away yearly. It costs approximately $160 billion. In Great Britain, most food is wasted in households. About 6.6 million tons of food are thrown away each year! You are probably also throwing away food that would still be edible.
Food waste - effects on the household
The most apparent effect of food waste is, of course, the waste of money. Take a moment to consider how much food you are wasting. Indeed, this is how you throw away a large amount of money. However, there are many other consequences of food waste in the household. One of them is producing more waste.
Additionally, throwing out food means you are not in control of your diet. In addition, fruits and vegetables are most often thrown away. If you do as well, it may mean you are buying these products but not eating them. As a result, you are not eating as healthy as expected from your purchases. As you can see, there are many reasons to get to know the best vacuum storage bags in Australia and food storage methods.
Food waste - environmental effects
Throwing food away has a negative impact not only on your household. The production and disposal of wasted food emit 17.5 million tons of CO2 annually. Food waste also emits harmful greenhouse gases. Furthermore, you should remember that producing food takes up many litres of water. So to waste food is to waste water.
How to stop wasting food?
Fortunately, there are some excellent ways to stop food waste. Moreover, these are very simple methods you can practice yourself! The first step should be to plan your meals for the chosen period. Some people plan their meals for a week, others even for a whole month. Then make a shopping list to buy only the products you need. Once you've created your shopping list, check that your scheduled menu allows you to get the most out of all your products.
Another step on the way to saving is to use vacuum food packaging. Many models of food vacuum sealers on the market are suitable for home use. Be sure to match them with the best vacuum storage bags in Australia. Poorly selected packaging may affect the freshness of the stored food. When you buy a vacuum sealer and packaging, it will be easier for you to use the purchased products. All you need to do is portion food and vacuum pack it. Food leftovers that you can eat later are also suitable for vacuum packaging. If you wish, you can cook a few dishes and vacuum-pack them. All of this will make you eat healthy meals that fit your plan. You will also stop throwing food away!
A very important step will be to remember to vacuum pack perishable products. Therefore, do not forget about the vacuum packing of vegetables and fruits. It is also worth vacuum-packing fish, meat, and cold cuts. Thanks to this, you will stop throwing away food you did not cook.
How to choose the best vacuum storage bags in Australia?
You already know how to stop wasting food. So now it is time to discuss the necessary accessories. We mentioned above that you would need vacuum packing bags. As you probably guessed, there are many such bags and rolls. So you should know how to choose good quality bags. Here are some tips on this.
BPA-free vacuum sealer bags
You should first pay attention to the raw material from which the bag is made. Remember that plastic can be harmful to the human body. Therefore, you should store food in BPA-free vacuum bags. Another significant issue is taking care of your wallet and the natural environment. How are these two issues connected? Well, bags for vacuum food packaging should be reusable. So when buying such bags, please pay attention to whether they are washable and reusable. In addition, these types of food packaging bags are usually labelled dishwasher safe. Such information tells you these durable bags you will use more than once.
Additional information
When you buy vacuum bags for food storage, pay attention to the additional information. Good quality food bags should ensure adequate airflow. Additionally, the best vacuum-bagged bags are also great for sous-vide cooking. A reliable manufacturer will inform you about it in the product description. Finally, pay attention to whether you can use such a bag in the microwave.
Other accessories for vacuum food storage
If you want to stop wasting food, special vacuum containers will also greatly help. These types of containers have special lids, which are fitted with a pump to remove the air. It allows you to vacuum pack any kind of food. For example, vacuum loose-pack products, bread, or ready meals. In addition, high-quality containers are equipped with a lid with a knob to set the date of packing the food. Thanks to them, it will be easier to keep your meals fresh.
It's also a great idea to use a vacuum jug. It works in a similar way to vacuum containers. You can store fresh juices, cocktails, or smoothies in it.
Develop completely new habits
You now have almost complete information on how to stop wasting food. You also know how to choose the best vacuum storage bags in Australia and what accessories to choose from. The last thing you should know is new habits! Below, we'll cover some of the daily activities that require a fresh approach from you.
Shopping habits
The first habit will surely seem trivial to you! Once you plan meals and vacuum-packing food, start shopping with a pre-prepared list. It can be a list on a piece of paper or just a note on the phone. If you want to plan your purchases more efficiently, you can use special applications to help you with this. The most important thing is you take your list with you and only buy what's on it!
Another life-changing habit is reading labels carefully. First of all, thanks to this you will avoid mistakes in purchases. For example, you will no longer buy something you may be allergic to. Surely it has also happened to you that you have bought a product with a different flavour than you wanted. By reading the labels carefully, this won't happen anymore. What's more, by checking the label thoroughly, you will ensure the use-by date of a given product.
Your next habit should be shopping on a full stomach. It is not a joke! It has been proven many times that when we are hungry, we buy many unnecessary things. It is because hunger tells us that we want to eat much more than we can. Meanwhile, your goal is to buy only as much food as you need to. Right?
Storage habits
Food storage habits will also be essential. You should arrange food in the refrigerator and freezer according to its suitability for consumption. All products with the shortest use-by date should be placed in front. This way, they will be used first and not be wasted. You should place products with a more extended use-by date at the back of the refrigerator. The same rule should apply to the products kept in the freezer. You should also label all the food in vacuum storage bags with the date of packaging and use-by date.
Sometimes you buy a larger amount of some product due to an attractive price. Remember that this is only a good idea if they are products with an extended use-by date. Such products should always be vacuum-packed and labelled. You must store vacuum-packed loose products in a shaded and dry place so they do not spoil. It would help if you kept them neatly arranged so that you know exactly what to use.
The last but equally important habit is to clean the refrigerator regularly. You should check the entire contents of the fridge at least once a month. Of course, the more you do it, the better. Thanks to this, you will not only keep it clean in the refrigerator. It is also a great way to track your food's condition. If a product starts to deteriorate faster, you will not miss it. This way, you can use it before it becomes unfit for consumption.
Finally, remember that you can always share your food with someone! If you make a delicious dish but have too much of it, just pack it and give it to someone you love!
Now you know everything about not wasting food! Thanks to these simple tips, you will save a lot of money, take care of your diet and contribute to improving the environment. Remember that you only need a home vacuum food sealer, high-quality vacuum bags, and goodwill to stop food waste.