The cost of living has prompted households to see an increase in bills, including on food shopping. Shockingly, about 42 million tonnes of food, totalling £6.6 billion, is purchased in the UK annually, and a staggering one-quarter of this is wasted because it’s “not used in time”.
This data comes from Too Good To Go in their revealing Most Wasted Food List. Potatoes, home-cooked and ready-made meals, and bread top the list as the most commonly discarded items. In response to this, Tesco has stepped up, offering valuable advice to its customers to help reduce bread waste, reports the Express.
Recognising that bread is a staple in many weekly shops and often goes to waste when it becomes mouldy, Tesco advises on its website: “If you’ve bought too much bread or can just never get through a whole loaf before it goes stale, the freezer can help. Place whole loaves straight in the freezer, wrapping tightly and squeezing out excess air”
For those looking to save their bread for future use, the retail giant has provided several innovative suggestions. Tesco remarks: “Sliced bread can be toasted straight from frozen and you won’t notice the difference – top with mushrooms, tuna or build a club sandwich.”
Additionally, Tesco highlights an interesting tip regarding freezers: they work ‘most efficiently’ when full. Customers are thus encouraged to utilise the space effectively to both maximise energy efficiency and combat food wastage.
Tesco has offered advice on how to properly utilise your freezer, starting with a key tip: “Food should always be at room temperature before freezing. If it’s hot when you put it in, the rest of the freezer will start to defrost.
“Label everything with the date you froze it and what it is, for easy recognition later. Food will expand once frozen, so don’t fill containers right to the top. Always defrost food in the fridge, not at room temperature.”
In addition, Sophie Trueman, UK country director at Too Good To Go, has provided insights on preventing bread waste, noting: “The equivalent of 1.3 million loaves of bread are thrown away every day in the UK, often due to incorrect storage.
“Cloth bags are ideal for storing bread as they help maintain its properties and prevent it from drying out, especially if you add a piece of potato to the bag.
“Freshly made bread should not be stored in airtight bags to allow it to breathe and stay as fresh as possible; instead, use a bread basket or cloth bag to cool it at room temperature. For sliced bread, store it in the fridge to extend its shelf life, and always check its condition before eating.”