Stock take cupboards fridge & freezer before shopping
So today I’m checking out my cupboards, fridge & freezer while writing up a food shopping list.
I normally do my stock take few days before my food shop. Some weeks I’m so organised & I have stocktake done & do my online food shop, some weeks it will take me a few days to do!
The reason why I do a stock take, is so I use up what I have before shopping so I’m not buying more than what we need. My aim is to cut costs by using up food in my cupboards, fridge and freezer.
Now, thanks to the pandemic, we are at home, cooking more. Going out to do my food shop is the only outing I have! But unfortunately food shopping, for me, is just not the same experience than it was before. I do a lot of my food shop online or if I ‘need’ to get out of the house, (my one outing a week)!! I venture to other stores!
If you’re like me, you want to use what you have, avoid shopping or cut food waste, here are my top tips for a successful stock take.
MOAD top tips for a successful stock take
Make a list:
A list of the food you have. Go through cupboards, fridge and freezer.
Do up a quick meal plan / ideas for the week. I will be sharing my weekly meal plans on my stories this week. Write down meal inspiration, so your not over buying.
A shopping list. Write down list of food you have run out of and extras you need to make meals.
Get the kids involved - to keep them entertained!
I get the kids to look through my recipe books to get them involved and get them to suggest new meal ideas, to get them trying & tasting new foods.
Great way to get new items on the list which is not ice-cream, biscuits & crisps!!
Sort out your food cupboards!
Organise the shelves, keeping similar items together, so it’s easy to see how much you’ve got. No point leaving the house for tinned tomatoes if you’ve already got five cans in different cupboards spread over the kitchen!!
In Fridge put fresh food to the front;
So you can see it when you open the fridge & it reminds you to eat it.
Fill up your freezer
I use my freezer a lot. I put a lot of chopped veg, cut herbs, grated cheese (for lasagna etc), chopped up bananas for smoothies, into the freezer.
I always split up big quantities into smaller portions, so you don’t defrost more than you need. I divide up packs of ham / bacon / sausages / mince etc. You can also freeze left over wine (if you have any!!) into ice cube trays, to put into casseroles / stews!
Keep food fresh for longer
Don’t let fruit and veg rot in plastic wrapping! I keep onions and potatoes together in a dark, cool corner of my kitchen; put kitchen towel in the the bottom of the salad drawers in the fridge to mop up moisture and put opened tinned food into plastic containers or glass jars. (Check out my reduce food waste highlight for more tips).
Out of date & Use by dates;
Look at the ‘use by’ & ‘best before’ dates on food that goes off quickly, like milk, meat, fish and salad bags. Eating food after its use by date could make you sick.
‘Best before’ dates are based on quality not safety. Most packaged foods (canned, dried, frozen foods) are normally fine to eat beyond their ‘best before’ dates, but the quality my have deteriorated.
Put the lists somewhere safe!
Don’t lose the lists! I’m so bad at losing lists! Or do shopping list on your phone. If you have switched to online food shopping, it’s a lot easier to keep track of what you have in your basket & what you have picked up in your previous shop.
What do you do? What are your top tips for a stock take? How do you keep track of the food you have in the house, before it goes off?
I’m planning further posts on making the most of food you have, with tips on meal planning and cooking, so watch this space!