Ways to Reduce Food Waste at Home (Without Spending a Dime)

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We have all been there: you open the crisper drawer with the best intentions, only to find a bag of forgotten, slimy spinach. It feels bad to throw it away, and it hurts our wallets, too.

When we throw out food, we are also throwing away the hard work, water, energy, and money it took to get that food to our tables. Reducing food waste is also an important part of addressing climate change.

When wasted food ends up in a landfill, it breaks down and produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Fortunately, tackling food waste at home doesn't require expensive gadgets or a complicated lifestyle overhaul. With a few simple changes in your daily routine, you can waste less food, save money, and make a positive environmental impact—without spending a dime.

Here are four easy ways to start reducing food waste today:

The easiest way to avoid wasting food is to buy only what you need. Before heading to the grocery store or opening your favorite delivery app, take inventory of your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.

Plan some of your meals for the week around food you already have, particularly items that need to be used soon. Once you know what you have, make a shopping list for the ingredients you're missing—and commit to sticking to it.

Not only can this reduce food waste, but it may also save you from buying that third jar of something already hiding in the back of the pantry.

Proper food storage can make a big difference in how long fresh food lasts.

• Keep Potatoes and Onions Apart: Although both prefer cool, dark, well-ventilated storage, keeping them separate can help them last longer.
• Control the Moisture: Try lining storage containers with a clean paper towel when storing leafy greens. Absorbing excess moisture can help keep them fresh longer. Berries also benefit from being kept dry and refrigerated.
• Refrigerate Apples: Apples generally last much longer when refrigerated than when left on the counter.

Your freezer can be one of your best friends when it comes to reducing food waste.

If you realize you won't finish a batch of leftovers, an extra loaf of bread, or a package of meat before it spoils, freeze it for another day.

Fruit that's becoming too ripe can often be frozen, too. Bananas and many other fruits can be peeled or cut into pieces and frozen for future smoothies or baking. Freezing the pieces separately before transferring them to a freezer-safe container can help prevent them from sticking together.

And don't forget to label your containers with the contents and date. Otherwise, three months from now you may find yourself staring at a mysterious frozen container wondering exactly what you've discovered.

Before tossing vegetable scraps or stale bread into the trash, think about whether they can be used another way.

• Upcycle Stale Bread: Turn dry, day-old bread into homemade croutons or breadcrumbs. Cube it, add a little olive oil and seasoning, and bake until crisp.
• Eat the Peels: There's no need to peel every fruit or vegetable. Edible skins on foods such as carrots and potatoes can often be thoroughly washed and eaten, saving time while keeping some additional fiber on your plate.

Some food scraps simply aren't going to be eaten. That's where composting can help.

If you have some outdoor space, consider giving it a try. Admittedly, composting may require a little more creativity if you live in an apartment or high-rise and are trying to do it on your balcony!

Composting can be as simple or as involved as you want to make it. A small kitchen compost bin can make collecting everyday food scraps easy and convenient. There are inexpensive backyard options as well as more elaborate composting systems. The Natural Resources Defense Council offers helpful information for anyone interested in learning how to get started.

You don't need to create a perfectly zero-waste kitchen overnight to make a positive impact. Start by choosing just one habit this week—whether that's checking your pantry before shopping, planning a meal around food you already have, or freezing leftover soup instead of throwing it away.

Small changes add up. By making simple, budget-friendly choices, you can save money, become more creative with the food you already have, and take another meaningful step toward a healthier planet.

Food waste and the work of Feeding America has always been something I care deeply about. In a country with extraordinary resources, it is difficult to accept that so much usable food is discarded while millions of people struggle with food insecurity.

A way to contribute is through organizations working to reduce food waste and hunger. Feeding America works with partners across the country to rescue food that might otherwise go to waste and redirect it to people who need it.

Reducing food waste doesn't have to mean changing your entire life. Sometimes it begins with something as simple as opening the refrigerator and asking:

What do I already have that I can use today?