Comments on: Taking One for the Team http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/ a look at how America squanders nearly half of its food Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:08:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: class factotum http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/comment-page-1/#comment-132043 class factotum Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:12:42 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/#comment-132043 Milk freezes just fine. Milk freezes just fine.

]]> By: Kristen @TheFrugalGirl http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/comment-page-1/#comment-126952 Kristen @TheFrugalGirl Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:59:07 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/#comment-126952 I've thought about this many times when I've gone shopping...since I know expired/damaged food will be thrown away, I sometimes almost feel like I should buy it. It's tough, though, because if I buy food that goes bad soon, I might end up wasting it myself. So, I generally just buy damaged/almost expired food if it's something discounted and if it can be frozen or used right away. I’ve thought about this many times when I’ve gone shopping…since I know expired/damaged food will be thrown away, I sometimes almost feel like I should buy it.

It’s tough, though, because if I buy food that goes bad soon, I might end up wasting it myself.

So, I generally just buy damaged/almost expired food if it’s something discounted and if it can be frozen or used right away.

]]> By: Allie http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/comment-page-1/#comment-125725 Allie Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:36:31 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/#comment-125725 I buy milk as fresh as I can, because I don't drink milk. Since it's up to my boyfriend to make sure the milk is consumed, and since he won't (knowingly) touch ANYTHING past its expiration date, it makes the most sense to buy it w/ the latest exp. date. As for produce: I sometimes feel bad for the bruised produce, so I will often buy it anyway because I know it'll get tossed anyway. But it depends on how banged up it is. I find the dog still enjoys bruised bits of apple just as much as he likes pristine bits. In other foods, I usually put the bruised or damaged bits in my bag of stock leavings in the freezer (bits of leftover produce used to make stocks and broths). I buy milk as fresh as I can, because I don’t drink milk. Since it’s up to my boyfriend to make sure the milk is consumed, and since he won’t (knowingly) touch ANYTHING past its expiration date, it makes the most sense to buy it w/ the latest exp. date.

As for produce: I sometimes feel bad for the bruised produce, so I will often buy it anyway because I know it’ll get tossed anyway. But it depends on how banged up it is. I find the dog still enjoys bruised bits of apple just as much as he likes pristine bits. In other foods, I usually put the bruised or damaged bits in my bag of stock leavings in the freezer (bits of leftover produce used to make stocks and broths).

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/comment-page-1/#comment-125654 Jonathan Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:30:24 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/#comment-125654 Jenna, thanks for the reminder about finding uses for sour milk. Thanks for passing along that link, Angela. I'm not sure where CBS got that info, but it seems a bit high to me. I put stock in the finding (from Garbage Project founder Bill Rathje) that we don't eat 1/4 of what we bring home (15 percent in the trash, 10 percent down the disposal). So if the average family of four buys 120 pounds of food per week...then sure. Dee Dee, 2 supermarkets in one trip--I used to do the same, but that gets old quick! Good for you if you can manage... Jenna, thanks for the reminder about finding uses for sour milk.

Thanks for passing along that link, Angela. I’m not sure where CBS got that info, but it seems a bit high to me.

I put stock in the finding (from Garbage Project founder Bill Rathje) that we don’t eat 1/4 of what we bring home (15 percent in the trash, 10 percent down the disposal). So if the average family of four buys 120 pounds of food per week…then sure.

Dee Dee, 2 supermarkets in one trip–I used to do the same, but that gets old quick! Good for you if you can manage…

]]> By: dee dee http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/comment-page-1/#comment-125594 dee dee Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:18:32 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/#comment-125594 One of the 2 supermarkets in our area fairly regularly discounts less-than-perfect produce and places it on a cart in the produce section. The items are grouped and wrapped in plastic on a stro tray. It's pretty random - a cucumber with 3 zucchini; 2 pears, an apple and an orange; maybe 3 red peppers and 1 green one. I always check there first and have often made meals from my finds. The other supermarket doesn't have this policy, and though it's a better store in many ways, I always stop at the store with the older produce cart first. One of the 2 supermarkets in our area fairly regularly discounts less-than-perfect produce and places it on a cart in the produce section. The items are grouped and wrapped in plastic on a stro tray. It’s pretty random – a cucumber with 3 zucchini; 2 pears, an apple and an orange; maybe 3 red peppers and 1 green one. I always check there first and have often made meals from my finds. The other supermarket doesn’t have this policy, and though it’s a better store in many ways, I always stop at the store with the older produce cart first.

]]> By: Angela http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/comment-page-1/#comment-125559 Angela Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:23:02 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/#comment-125559 Here's an interesting article I read yesterday: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/18/earlyshow/health/main4953898.shtml?tag=main_home_storiesBySection I wouldn't necessarily trust CBS news, but I do trust Prevention. It's about how most food can be used past the "sell by" date. Milk at least a week, eggs 2 or 3 weeks, etc. But what I can't believe is their statistic that the average family of 4 wastes more than 120 pounds of food per month!? Can that be right? Jonathan- does that fit with your research? That's just appalling and I hope it's not that bad. For myself, I confess to looking for the newest dates on spinach and lettuce. Here’s an interesting article I read yesterday: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/18/earlyshow/health/main4953898.shtml?tag=main_home_storiesBySection

I wouldn’t necessarily trust CBS news, but I do trust Prevention. It’s about how most food can be used past the “sell by” date. Milk at least a week, eggs 2 or 3 weeks, etc.

But what I can’t believe is their statistic that the average family of 4 wastes more than 120 pounds of food per month!? Can that be right? Jonathan- does that fit with your research? That’s just appalling and I hope it’s not that bad.

For myself, I confess to looking for the newest dates on spinach and lettuce.

]]> By: Jenna http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/comment-page-1/#comment-125518 Jenna Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:55:23 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2009/04/21/taking-one-for-the-team/#comment-125518 Since I really only shop once a week (a bit more often in the warmer months when I can get to the farmer's markets) I tend to always reach for the milk with the expiration date the farthest off. I HATE the thought of just pouring it down the drain, and there really IS a limit to how many custards I can make the night before the point of no return! But... I also check the quick sale section and will often pick up the by-then marked down milk that only has a few days left if I have company coming and know I'll get through the milk fast enough. One thing TO keep in mind though - milk a few days past its prime isn't something that has to be poured away. I've been known to make buttermilk pancakes, sourdough bread, and texas chocolate sheetcake (calls for milk soured with lemon, so why waste the lemon?) from milk less than fresh. Since I really only shop once a week (a bit more often in the warmer months when I can get to the farmer’s markets) I tend to always reach for the milk with the expiration date the farthest off. I HATE the thought of just pouring it down the drain, and there really IS a limit to how many custards I can make the night before the point of no return!

But… I also check the quick sale section and will often pick up the by-then marked down milk that only has a few days left if I have company coming and know I’ll get through the milk fast enough.

One thing TO keep in mind though – milk a few days past its prime isn’t something that has to be poured away. I’ve been known to make buttermilk pancakes, sourdough bread, and texas chocolate sheetcake (calls for milk soured with lemon, so why waste the lemon?) from milk less than fresh.

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