New refrigerator and a New Year resolution re: leftovers.

[pinto]

Label and date. Rotate. Use or discard.

When I set-up a new fridge I worked my way through the old one. So many mystery items, especially in the back of the freezer.

Once all out-of-date items were tossed and the rest sorted and placed in the new unit, I started labeling and dating leftovers as they were put in the fridge or the freezer. Same for new bulk buys I bought to breakdown for using in dishes later.

Has worked so far, so I'm making this a New Year resolution to continue. Cuts waste, saves money, it's safer food-wise. All of those are important for me.

Plus, I can scan the fridge to plan a meal. I can see what I have on hand without literally rummaging through a bunch of stuff - the good, the bad and the ugly.

Happy New Year all!

[Warpy]

1. That usually lasts about a month with me

and within 6 months, the fridge is choked with mystery condiments that were bought for one exotic recipe that begged me to try it and then was forgotten and brown stuff in the bottom of a baggie that was probably something vegetable at one point. The freezer remains stuffed with things I hungered for at the time but which have since been abandoned as a newer layer of detritus on top becomes prime grazing territory.

Can you tell I'm overdue to clean the mess out?

[cbayer]

2. Great work, pinto.

I do an inventory every 2 days or so and a purge about once a week. I serve what is edible and toss what is not.

I feel really good about wasting very little food and am getting better at making something new with things that just need to be eaten now.

Aside, I thought I had located a new stove/range on craigs list last week and was ecstatic. Barely used, exactly the right size and great price. And the ad said it was gimbaled..... but it's not and is, therefore, useless to me. What a disappointment.

[pinto]

3. Ah, bummer about the stove. I know your specifics are...specific. Hope something turns up.

I'm enjoying really using what's on hand as much as possible. It's become a little game for me, cooking wise. As in the Iron Chef and those competitive cooking shows - I open the fridge. "Chef pinto, these are your ingredients."

LOL. Yet I've got an edge on the competition - Kitchen Dancing.

[Lugnut]

4. I tried that system when I got my new refrigerator three years ago.

It worked for a few weeks before it returned to the usual free-for-all. You'd flip if you could see it right now. I hope it works out better for you.

Happy New Year!

[wildeyed]

5. My fridge is only counter depth.

Holds less, but on the other hand, more difficult to lose stuff in the back.... I always label and date freezer leftovers. I used to keep a paper log as well for the chest freezer. Might go back to that, it was handy to know what was aaalllll the way down in the bottom without digging for it.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. I HATE throwing out food.

Comes from being hungry as a kid. When planning meals I look in the refrigerator first to see what's left over, then plan meals from there. I don't care if it's a half can of tomato paste, I can figure out something to do with it. As it turns out, it's also pretty economical AND my refrigerator is never cluttered.

[bif]

7. Freezer=The Black Hole in Space

I hate finding old stuff in the back that could have been reheatdd and eaten. Such a waste!

[Thor_MN]

8. My aunt always wanted a fridge that connects to a garbge disposal at the back.

That way, the too old leftovers fall off the back of the shelves when you push newer stuff into the front.

[pinto]

11. LOL. I had an imaginary design for a two door fridge on a circular roller dolly.

One door in front, one in back. Once a week (month?) you could spin the fridge around, open the "back" door and toss out the remnants of meals buried by newer stuff.

Obviously, labeling, dating - and using the leftovers - makes more sense all around.

[Freddie]

9. Hurricane Sandy + no generator = totally cleaned out refrigerator

The ONE good thing about no power for 4 days (camped at daughters house) was I just had to throw everything out of the fridge and freezer except some catsup, jam and pickles. Looked so nice without the mystery containers I'm still keeping it clean and throwing things out as needed.

[Cairycat]

10. Just keeping stuff in clear containers helps me

If I can see what it is, I'm more likely to use it/not waste it. I also keep the last few weeks' menus on the fridge, mostly for my husband and sons to refer to, but that's also helpful in determining whether something's safe to keep or needs to be tossed. (As in, "Holy crap! That was two weeks ago we had that!"

[NMDemDist2]

12. blue painter's tape and sharpies

a 'must have' for my kitchen. i keep them in the utensil drawer. I like the blue tape as it comes off anything so easily even after being frozen with out ever leaving sticky residue on my containers

it's a hard habit to start, but it's great once you are on to it.

the vegetable drawer is another story.......