Comments on: Minimize Food Waste By Thinking Like A Kitchen Manager

By: Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:09:10 +0000

Ha, this made me chuckle.

I had two eggs this morning taken from … the fridge door, of course. Will rearrange shortly, although in a 2 and a half person household the fridge is opened sufficiently infrequently to be maintained (possibly) at a slightly lower temperature than Diaper Cakes Becca's fridge door.

I have a different strategy for reducing waste. My partner buys everything in multiple quantities to get discounts before changing her diet on a weekly basis which makes it impossible to plan and ensure that food gets consumed. I continually rearrange the food, moving stuff towards the top and front so that it is presented to the eyes of others but it just gets ignored.

Therefore I don't plan. I give up my preferences for the greater good and have for dinner whatever is left and dangerously close to the eat before date. If I can't keep up with the inexorable supply of nearly off food, I support the local population of foxes and birds by throwing stuff into the garden. If it's not good enough for them, then the rest gets composted so ultimately my garden gets fed too.

By: Bleken van tanden

Bleken van tanden — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:26:02 +0000

I like the cradle2cradle principle and I hope this is also reflecting the thoughts of the food industry.

By: Shaws

Shaws — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:24:14 +0000

I’ve heard about the door shelf being the warmest before and now I keep my eggs in the main part of the fridge instead of the door.

By: Mrs Green

Mrs Green — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:23:41 +0000

I came across your blog this morning and I’m loving this article. I never knew that the area of the door was warmer than the rest – thank you for sharing this valuable information.

Food waste is one of my bugbears AND I sorted my fridge a couple of weeks back and put some changes in place.

http://myzerowaste.com/2009/04/an-emergency-food-waste-week/

The top shelf is now used for things that need using up so they are high visibility.

The salad drawer contains the things that won’t go off for years like the condiments – out of sight, out of mind approach!

As the shelves go down, the importance of using up is less.

At the moment it’s working for us. Last week our food waste amounted to half a bag of rocket which we composted.

I’ve written an article on our site about minimising food waste, which is one of our most read pages. I’m going to add a link to this page, because they work really well hand in hand:

http://myzerowaste.com/articles/food/how-to-reduce-food-waste/

Thanks again for a great post!

By: rachel-asouthernfairytale

rachel-asouthernfairytale — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:58:01 +0000

*kitchens*
gah

By: rachel-asouthernfairytale

rachel-asouthernfairytale — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:57:42 +0000

Exactly how I used to run my kitchen’s when I was a restaurant GM.

Great tips ladies!!!

By: traditional cabinets new york

traditional cabinets new york — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:17:43 +0000

These were wonderful tips…..I have moved the ranch dressing into the fridge-proper now

By: Links I Love | TheHouseholdHelper

Links I Love | TheHouseholdHelper — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:36:40 +0000

[...] Ivy teaches us how to max the use of our fridge and lessen food waste. [...]

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:16:49 +0000

I’ve labeled the food in my fridge for years with what it is and the date. Most of my friends think I’m a little obsessive but it really does make a difference. I know what it is and when to use it. I also regularly plan leftover nights where we all may be eating different things.
Best thing about it is that if something really does get left way too long, since I use old margarine containers and the like for food storage, I can just throw it out and not have to check on the weird science experiment happening in there!

By: Judith

Judith — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:03:40 +0000

Okay…. thanks. When I clean out the fridge (Mondays .. on my day off) I will rearrange shelves and food. Tell Mr. Ivey we appreciate his expertise being shared with us!
I do keep veggies in veggie drawer (plus a Tupperware container designed for veggies or fruit that has little holes to close or open … cool!) But milk has been in door, and ranch dressing, too. I will repent and mend my ways (it is Lent!)