Here’s what our groceries look like this month. I shop once a week now, at the market. Returning rubber bands to the stalls and putting produce directly in my own bags.
Not eating cheese or meat, and choosing fresh nuts instead of bulk, simplifies zero-waste shopping.
I haven’t had the experience others describe, where some people accept cloth bags and reusable containers without question.
It’s a struggle.
I could go to one stand for months before they finally stop arguing with me.
Everyone is accustomed to paper bags, one woman told me she saves and reuses them for years.
To prevent produce from wilting in the fridge, we have the zero-waste food storage guide.
In the late spring / early summer, on average, I buy about twelve kilos of produce.
Monthly, we buy 750mL of olive oil, chia, hemp seeds, a coconut, and lots of nuts.
In the jars are homemade mustard, coconut cream, curry pastes, and tamarind juice. We don’t eat out much.
How To Store Veggies In The Fridge Plastic-Free & Keeping It Fresh
Here’s a fantastic guide on keeping fruit plastic-free!
- Carrots: Remove the leaves off the top and store the root in a tight container with plenty of water (wrap a damp towel around them or submerge them in cold water every couple of days)
- Avocados: Store at room temperature in a paper bag.
- Basil: Store in an airtight jar, loosely packed on a counter, with a little moist piece of paper inside.
- Store brussel sprouts in an open container with a moist cloth on top.
- Corn: Store unused in an open jar in the refrigerator.
- Celery: Place the stalks in a small container of water that has been placed on the counter.
- Greens: Kale, collards, and chard are best stored in a cup of water in the refrigerator (remove any bands/twist ties).
- Spinach should be stored free in an open container inside the crisper (spinach loves to be cool)
- Potatoes: Store in a cold, dark location away from the refrigerator (inside a cardboard box or paper bag)
- Tomatoes should never be refrigerated!! Place in a paper bag with an apple to delay ripening.
- Wrap zucchini in a moist towel and place in the refrigerator.
More than simply ice cream can be stored in the freezer!
You may be surprised at how much you can freeze, and this fridge function may substantially assist you in reducing the amount of food waste you produce. Here are some goods that can be stored in the freezer for months:
Freezer
- Bread
- Shredded cheese
- Milk
- Ginger
- Bananas ripening
- Everything fruit!.
Smoothie bowls are good for your body and soul.
- Freeze vegetable peelings, herb stems, and even chicken bones in a bag
- Pour boiling water to make a delectable stock.
- Lemon and lime rinds, freshly squeezed
Use as ice cubes or grate directly into rice or couscous.
A word of caution: While freezing food is perfectly safe, be care to thaw meat, fish, and cooked leftovers before reheating. Fruit and vegetables may be eaten directly from the freezer!