Suncorp Bank challenges you to hit your food savings goal.
Take a look at your fridge, and you might notice a few things. Maybe there’s some lettuce in your crisper that’s looking a little worse for wear, and you’re unsure whether you want to eat it or just throw it out. Perhaps you bought some eggs a while ago and now are completely unsure whether you can eat them (and don’t want to risk cracking them open to find out). Your top shelf might be stocked with jars and bottles that you’ve just assumed have ages before they’re unusable. Spoiler alert: you’re probably wrong. But it’s never too late to get on top of fridge organisation.
Suncorp Bank has teamed up with OzHarvest to launch the Food Savings Challenge, and with the help of cook and author Khanh Ong, they’re on a mission to help you become a food-saving champion. So, why not start with the fridge? Just learning a few tips and tricks can help you get the most out of your produce, reducing your food wastage and saving you money.
Store Leafy Greens in Airtight Containers
Now, you might think that your leafy greens, like lettuce, spinach and kale, will be fine to just pop in the fridge as you bought them from the shops. In reality, this is preventing you from maximising the shelf-life of these products. Storing leafy greens in an airtight container in the fridge helps maintain their freshness by preventing moisture loss and exposure to air. These veggies are prone to wilting and becoming limp when they lose water, and the airtight container helps to slow down this process. Just be sure to leave some room for air circulation.
As an added bonus, storing these vegetables in containers may help you maximise space in your fridge as well — you can even stack them on top of each other. Take it to the next level by labelling each container, and noting the date you purchased them.
Get Those Eggs Out of the Fridge Door
This might seem counterintuitive because egg cartons fit nice and snug in most fridge door shelves, but you’re doing you (and the eggs!) a disservice by storing them here. Eggs should be stored in the upper area of the main body of the fridge, not in the refrigerator door. The door is subject to more temperature fluctuations due to frequent opening and closing, which can affect the eggs’ quality. Placing them on a shelf inside the fridge provides a more stable and consistent temperature environment.
Citrus Fruits Look Pretty on the Counter, But They Belong in the Fridge
You can’t deny it — having the bright yellows, greens and oranges of citrus fruit in a bowl on a counter or table. But, you might be surprised to know that these types of fruits belong in the fridge — specifically in the crisper. In fact, the Suncorp Bank Food Challenge provides some great tips on this very topic. For example, if you avoid throwing out just one grapefruit and a couple of oranges a week, you can save up to $174.72 a year^. We’re in a cost-of-living crisis, and every dollar counts!
^ Food item prices are based on average online prices published by two major supermarkets on 18th September 2023 in Brisbane, Queensland. Food item prices are subject to change.
The Freezer is Your Friend
The average Australian household wastes up to $2,500 worth of food each year. That’s an astonishing amount, right? In fact, the amount of food that Australians throw away each year end up costing $19.3 billion to the national economy. It’s a lot to get your head around, and we know that re-organising your fridge can help reduce your household waste. But don’t be afraid of the freezer! It’s an excellent way to get the most — and we mean the most — out of your food.
For example, you can slice up lots of excess produce, store them in airtight containers or freezer bags and that can extend their shelf life by months. Moreover, lots of meals can be frozen too. Made far too much casserole or curry to eat in just a few days? Portion it off and freeze them, keeping them handy as a lunch that’s ready to go.
Now, organising your fridge correctly is only one way to get on top of saving food (and saving you money). But, if you want to truly become a food-saving champion, check out the Suncorp Bank Food Savings Challenge where you can take a quiz to find out where you sit on the food savings scale. Additionally, Suncorp Bank and OzHarvest have provided a stack of resources to help you achieve your goals!