How to save on groceries?

To reduce your food costs and save money on groceries, you can use the simple methods below.

1. Protect potatoes from spoilage

Proper storage of potatoes can double their shelf life. Store them in a cool, dark place at a temperature of 5-8°C (41-46°F). A pantry is ideal. Place the potatoes in a moisture-proof paper or burlap bag and keep them in a dark place, periodically removing sprouts and any rotten potatoes. This way, the potatoes will keep for at least a month.

2. Freeze dairy products

To preserve milk longer, you can freeze it. When freezing, write down the date you placed the milk in the freezer.

Leftover cheese can also be frozen. To do this, grate it first and place it in a plastic bag. When you need it, take it out and add it to pasta or pizza.

If you have yogurt, you can mix it with chopped berries or bananas and freeze it in a popsicle mold.

3. Store bread properly

If your bread often goes stale or moldy, you need to freeze it. Cut it into slices while it's fresh and put it in the freezer. You can defrost it in the microwave or directly in the toaster.

4. Process or freeze apples

If apples have become somewhat mealy after long storage, you can grate them, boil the resulting mixture, and make jam or compote. You can also slice the apples and freeze them.

5. Freeze cooked meat

If you fried chicken and didn't eat it all, cut it into pieces and freeze them. You can take the pieces out and defrost them as needed.

6. Go to the market

Sometimes seasonal fruits and vegetables are cheaper at the market than in supermarkets. If prices are lower at your local market, it's worth buying them there.

7. Don't buy expensive oils

If the flavor of the oil in a dish isn't important, there's no need to buy expensive olive or canola oil. Sunflower oil is sufficient, as it's usually less expensive.

8. Clean out your kitchen cabinets

Regularly cleaning your kitchen cabinets will help you identify what you have and what you don't. You might forget about spices or oils and buy them even though you already have them.

If you have expensive oils, use them for making salad dressings and drizzling on prepared dishes, and use regular sunflower oil for frying and other purposes.

9. Empty your refrigerator

Don't let your refrigerator become a graveyard for uneaten food. Once a month, go through it and remove any stale food. Do the same with your freezer. It's one thing to store butter you bought in bulk there, but quite another to store your leftover dinners there, which have long since lost their original appearance and flavor.

10. Don't buy ready-made foods

Prepared meals, while less time-consuming to prepare, aren't as balanced and nutritious as homemade ones. Instead, you can prepare meals for the week on the weekend. Pack them in portions and freeze them so you can defrost them and eat them quickly at any time.

You see, there's no need to deny yourself essential purchases. All you need to do is know the household secrets described above, and you won't have to waste money.

Author of the article: Natalia Semenova "TopCook"

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