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Food waste

Prevent food waste when storing food at home

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Discover our tips on fighting food waste at home. Learn how to store commonly wasted food items so they last longer and reduce food waste to landfill.

Prevention is one of the best ways to stop good food going to waste. Small changes, and a just a little extra time on your part, can extend the life your groceries.

Learn how you can effectively store commonly wasted food items. Get the most bang for your buck while reducing the amount going in the bin at the end of the week.

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Food storage tips

  • Keep it visible - Store food so you can see it, in clear or glass containers with labels facing forward.
  • Eat-me-first shelf - Make the top shelf in your fridge the eat-me-first shelf. Look for food items here first.
  • Freeze for later - Freeze items you won't eat in the next few days. Add to a future menu plan.

How to store commonly wasted food

Berries

  • Berries last longer in glass than in the plastic punnet they come in. Once you get them home, pop your strawberries, raspberries or blueberries to an empty glass jar and store in the fridge.
  • Wash berries just before eating as moisture in the jar can shorten the lifespan of the fruit.

Avocado

  • Once cut, keep avocados in an airtight container in the fridge. Pop a piece of cut onion in with it to slow down the browning process, to keep it fresher for longer. Don't worry, the flavour of the onion won't transfer to the avocado - it's one of the best ways to extend its life.

Salad greens

  • Salad is a common food waste item in Brisbane. To get the best out of your next bag, store greens in a container, along with a piece of paper towel or a cloth napkin. Moisture turns small green leaves bad quickly, so get them out of the plastic bag and into an airy reusable container.
  • The paper towel or cloth napkin will stop liquid build up to help make your spinach, rocket, salad leaves and sprouts last longer.

Soft wet cheeses

  • Store opened brine or liquid-soaked cheeses, such as feta, haloumi, burrata, bocconcini, and fresh mozzarella, in a glass or clear container to keep them fresh.
  • Mark a use-by date on the lid. This allows easy visibility of the contents in the fridge to remind you it's there.
  • Once the liquid gets too cloudy, ensure you use it up or consider changing the liquid. Beware – this may only extend the life of the cheese for a short time.

More food storage tips

To learn more about food storage, visit our food waste page to help you get the best out of your pantry, fridge and freezer.