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Looking for kitchen hacks that save money, save time, and cut down on food waste?
There’s nothing more frustrating than feeling like there’s nothing you want to eat in a house full of groceries, or worse yet — letting that food spoil before you get a chance to eat it. By taking a few extra steps or simply improving the tools you’re working with, you can make the most of your purchases and achieve a happier kitchen 🙂
In the effort to reduce wasted food and ultimately save you some cash, follow these tips and tricks when it comes to your kitchen habits.
This post is all about easy kitchen hacks that save money. Read on!
1. Make your greens go further.
Does anyone else make a weekly appearance at their local farmers’ market?! If your fridge is overflowing with greens that you seem to rot before you can get to them, try this handy tip for making them last longer:
Keep your lettuce, kale, collards and other greens fresh in the fridge by storing them in a ziplock bag or clear plastic container, loosely wrapped in a dry paper towel. Don’t pack them in too tightly — that will make them wilt faster.
The paper towel helps absorb excess moisture as it forms (which is what makes the greens wilt). Close it up tight, then toss in your fridge’s veggie crisper.
2. Get more bang for your buck (and berries!).
Soak your berries in 1 cup of vinegar + 4 cups water. Then, don’t rinse, just pat dry with a paper towel/clean dish towel.
Not only does this kill bacteria and germs that can be on the berries, this kitchen trick also makes your fruit last longer!
Some say that storing strawberries in a glass jar is the way to keep them the freshest. BUT, I like the bacteria-killing properties of vinegar and want to get rid of as many pesticides and ickies that I can. I mean, as much as a mouthful of pesticides sounds…
Why not try the vinegar wash PLUS storing them in glass jars?
3. Use clear storage containers.
Not only do they look pretty and cohesive in your cabinet, but they can save your MAJOR dollars because you’ll actually see what you need to eat up first!
Because I am kin to my grandmother, I often keep plastic containers that Cool Whip or sour cream come in (I don’t like to waste!). But the problem with those is that when you fill one with leftover stir fry, it tends to be forgotten and left in the back of the fridge for ages.
Clear containers guarantee you can see what you have to work with.
(Plus, these are BPA-free and less than $30 for the whole set on Amazon.)
And when storing in a clear container isn’t an option…
Mark your leftovers VERY clearly.
I’m talking Sharpie pen on masking tape. Food. Date. Done.
4. Consolidate as the item lessens.
Hear me out on this one.
For example, if you cook a big pot of chili and want to freeze the remainder, use the container that most accurately equals the amount of chili left. In other words, the less air that is stored with the chili, the better/fresher/longer it will last.
Then, say you take out that chili one month after you initially froze it and eat another half of it. Then, transport the remaining half into a new, smaller container to put in the fridge.
Yes, it’s an extra step, yes it’s annoying to clean up two dishes, but YES it helps keep your food from going bad quickly!
It’s the same concept as those food baggies that suck the air out of the bag so that the food item is basically in cling wrap. Prolong the shelf life of your food by simply eliminating the extra air that shares its space!
5. Buy block cheese and shred as you go.
In queso you didn’t know…
I have a 90% plant-based (AKA, “veg-ehh”) lifestyle and don’t consume alarming amounts of cheese like I once did, but this tip still makes so much sense.
Mathematically, it adds up: An 8-ounce block of cheese yields more grated shreds than an 8-ounce bag of pre-grated cheese.
Sliced cheese is more expensive because it requires more processing, and you’re paying for that convenience.
By buying the whole block (or wheel) of cheese versus the pre-sliced option, you can save money AND enjoy a few other benefits (like fewer added chemicals and the fact that yours will melt more evenly).
RELATED READ: 7 Germ Magnets You’re Probably Forgetting to Clean
6. Save your bread from going stale.
To help prevent a loaf of bread from going stale, put a piece of fresh celery in the bag and close it back up.
Not gonna lie, people will think you’re strange. Have fun explaining this one.
7. Keep sour cream fresh
Here’s a weird hack a read about on One Good Thing by Jillee: To keep sour cream or cottage cheese fresh, store it upside-down in your fridge! Again… I don’t eat a ton of regular sour cream these days, but what a handy hack!
Apparently, inverting the container creates a sort of vacuum, which will help reduce the chance of mold or bacteria growing on the surface.
8. Stop tossing out half of your herbs!
If you wind up with a half a bunch of parsley or thyme after a recipe and don’t need it for the rest of the week, freeze them with olive oil to keep them from getting brown and freezer burned. Place the herbs into ice cube trays and drizzle with oil, and once frozen completely, you can transfer into a Ziplock bag.
Whenever you’re cooking next, grab a cube and toss it into the pan and sauté with your dish for instant flavor!
9. Wrap celery in aluminum foil.
Make your celery stay crispy and crunchy for weeks by wrapping it in aluminum foil before sticking it in the fridge!
10. Save ice cream from freezer burn.
If you don’t eat your ice cream carton in one-to-two sittings (can’t relate), it’s a smart idea to put the whole carton in a big Ziplock bag to help keep freezer burn at bay.
This way, it lasts much longer and it’ll be a pleasant surprise to find a little extra vanilla ice cream in your freezer to top off dinner one night. (But again, can’t relate.)
11. When (recipes) give you lemons…
If a recipe calls for just a little bit of lemon, you can puncture one with a metal skewer and squeeze! Then, you can stick everything remaining back in the fridge and stay fresher than if you cut it in half.
We go through a lemon every day and a half or so (y’all know I’m addicted to my hot honey lemon water), so I just quarter mine as needed, but this is a handy tip if you cook every now and then with lemon!
RELATED READ: 11 All-Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System
12. Make milk last longer.
Don’t store your milk in the door of your refrigerator! If you do, every time your husband opens the fridge and gazes longingly in search of a snack, the temperature of the milk will drop.
Help stop the temperature fluctuation that causes milk to spoil more quickly by sticking it in the main section of your fridge!
BONUS MONEY SAVING TIP: Make your own salad dressing instead of spending tons on store-bought ones!
It’ll likely be way better for you, and a fraction of the cost.
Use this awesome salad dressing holder with easy recipes on the side — less than $9 and so simple to use!
13. Store your tomatoes properly.
After going on and on about veggie crispers and fridges, it feels nice to say that tomatoes should be stored at room temperature. If you store them in the fridge, they can get mealy and weird. In that case, you’ll end up tossing them out (and throwing money down the drain!)
There you have it: 13 super easy kitchen hacks that save money.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to curb any wasteful kitchen habits you’ve formed and start making the most out of every purchase!
Which ones did I miss? If you have a clever trick you use to make your food last longer, drop it in the comments below. I know everyone will be exciting to have this list for easy reference!
Speaking of easy reference, save this pin to your “Saving Money” or “Life Hacks” board on Pinterest so you’ll be able to find it later 🙂
