Chucking out food

When I was going = when I was growing up

I rarely discard any foodstuffs and have survived! When we were young, I don’t think “Best Before” or “Use By” were ever seen on food but I guess nowadays manufacturers need to protect against litigation if people make claims for food poisoning.

I was born soon after the end of the war and I find it difficult to throw food away.

It's not just food though is it? I had very few toys when I was young and when I see what my grandchildren have, I am a bit shocked to be honest. I wonder if they will value money.

Liz46: I agree about grandchildren and will they understand money at all since so many transactions currently are completed using cards?

Incredible and when we were young we would play with a spoon and a cardboard box. There are probably a lot of teaspoons buried where my parents used to live ! We used to make a tent with blankets draped over a triangular runner bean pole. Cost nothing.

No, I don’t chuck stuff out. There was a similar thread recently. I horrified another poster by telling her not to worry over much about best before dates on certain items.

My son and daughter in law throw food in the bin that I wouldn’t dream of doing. Half a loaf of bread, instead of freezing it and using what they need. I just have to shut my eyes and mouth and let them get on with it, but very wasteful.

I find it hard to chuck food but this morning I will. Last Friday I made watercress soup but didn't try it till Sunday. Then I forgot about it and still have a big pot of it. I also took out a carrot recipe from the freezer and haven't felt like eating it but I think a week is too long.
When my son in law was here last year he offered to tidy the larder and threw out,custard powder,gravy, hot chocolate and various tins of food and baking supplies. I had to rescue a lot after he left.

I remember my mother in the 1960s simply scraping mould off jars of jam or cheese and we were absolutely fine. I hate throwing food out and do it rarely. Leftovers are used for another meal in another form. I often freeze leftover gravy and reuse it at some point. If I have to throw food away it goes in the compost bin.

Again, a child of rationing, I do not throw food away, certainly not since I first had a freezer, which was c 1973. So much goes in my freezer that the fridge is virtually empty.

I also check what is in my freezer regularly so that I use things up, this rather ties up with the menu planning thread. I plan menus firstly around what needs to be used up.

As for 'past its best' food. I work on the basis that little harmful survives a good boil and use the product up in soup or a casserole.

nanna8 How come you had 3 avocadoes in this condition. 1, I can understand, but 3? I do not think I have ever bought more than one avocado at a time.

Occasionally I have to throw lettuce away and the odd piece of fruit that goes from rock hard to over ripe in the space of a few minutes otherwise no.

When I was first married and a new Mum at just 20 I had to learn to plan and budget.
We had very little money but I managed it well.
I could only dream of the fully stocked freezers,fridges, wine racks and larder I have now.

I had enough food etc for the week and that was it, I bought toiletries, detergents etc monthly when my family allowance was cashed.

I throw virtually no food away.

I was a wartime child and therefore very careful not to waste food. I try to use up all leftovers and rarely throw anything way. It can't be helped occasionally of course.

I was born in the late 50s so I'm not a wartime child, however I loathe throwing food out. I have learned the hard way to freeze extra portions of food once cooked before it goes mouldy. I look to have a practically empty fridge the day before I have to shop. I check use by dates and if one is imminent then I'll try to use whatever it is first. For example, spices or yeast. Living on a restricted income is the best way for me to make sure I'm not profligate.

I was watching a film where one person is clearing stuff out of the fridge to the bin because a certain someone wouldn't be there to eat it. They could have donated it somewhere. I know it's only a film but it annoyed me. Also I hate when water is left running in a film to add dramatic effect. Even if I was in shock I would still have to turn off the tap and shut the fridge door! (In answer to the OP - I rarely throw food away.)

It’s a rare thing in this house to throw anything out, I plan all our main evening meals, so food is only defrosted, bought with meals in mind. I think the last item to be binned was a sorry, dried up piece of ham that was hidden under vegetables, about 2 months ago.

Best before date food product not at its best. Use by not to be consumed after that date.

Every bit of food gets used in this house. I pride myself on not wasting anything.

Ashcombe, when my daughter was little, she really wanted a doll in the toy shop window. I explained that I didn't have enough money for that.

She looked skyward and said:

'Mummy, you just put the card in that machine - and the money comes out!'

(Round of applause from bystanders.)

It salad that I sometimes have to bin, in Winter I only eat it once or twice a week. If I buy a whole lettuce I never eat it all so I buy either a bag or container with prewashed leaves but even then I end up with half a bag left and cucumber goes soft before I eat it all even salad tomatoes seem to go soft before I can finish them. In Summer I can eat salad everyday so it’s not a problem.

Missfoodlove I remember times like that. There were three supermarkets (all relatively small then) in our town and I would whizz round them comparing prices and then going back buying the items that were the cheapest from each and fruit and veg came from the market.

I hardly throw any food out, and can’t believe how wasteful some people are.
When I’m a dictator I will throw profligate food wasters into rat infested dungeons for a fortnight, with just the odd crust of bread to eat.
That’ll larn ‘em!

I buy veg from oddbox which “saves” veg from the dump because is is “ surplus” or not the right shape etc.

That helps.

Today though I threw away some sprouts that had gone yellow and mouldy because I had completely overlooked them??. So my saved veg from being dumped, was dumped.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I have a freezer full of food that I couldn't bear to throw out and regulary use items from there for quick meals or for my lunch.