First In First Out

Assess what you already have in your fridge and cabinets. Identify which items should be eaten soonest and plan meals that incorporate those foods.

Strategize Storage

Not sure the best way to store cooked beans or whether you can freeze dairy? Consult the A-Z Food Storage Tip Guide to learn how to keep food fresh longer. Follow the tips below to determine what to store in your fridge or leave on the countertop.

Fridge Items

• Apples, berries, cherries, grapes, kiwi, lemons, and oranges
• Almost all vegetables and herbs
• Keep cilantro fresh up to two weeks longer by placing stems in water and covering the greens in a plastic bag
• After ripening at room temperature, refrigerate melons, nectarines, apricots, peaches, plums, avocados, pears, tomatoes. 
• Keep celery and lettuce crisp by cutting ends and storing upright in jar of water in fridge door

Pantry and Counter-Top Items

• In a cool place, store bananas, mangos, papayas, pineapples
• In a cool, dark place, store potatoes, onions
• At room temperature, store basil, winter squashes (once cut, store squash in fridge)

Additional Storage Tips

• Freeze items that are close to spoiling to time lock their freshness.
• Slow spoilage by storing fruits and vegetables in separate bins. Fruits release a natural gas that speeds the spoilage of nearby produce, so store bananas, apples, and tomatoes by themselves.
• Use storage bags and containers designed to extend produce life.
• To prevent mold, wash berries just before eating.

• Make stock from vegetable trimmings and poultry carcasses
• Repurpose leftover bread as croutons, stuffing, or the base for bread pudding
• Stir-fry leftover veggies, meat, and rice
• Chop and freeze aging fruit to use in smoothies

• For more ideas, consult the Food Shift Cookbook. Our chefs share their favorite recipes that reduce waste in the Food Shift kitchen. 

Often ‘use by’ and ‘sell by’ dates do not accurately indicate food safety. Besides those on infant formula and some baby food, these dates are not federally regulated, so it is important to be able to determine food safety regardless of labeling. Check out eatbydate.com for more on food shelf life and safety. Engage your senses of smell, touch, and taste to determine a food’s freshness.

Have excess food to donate? Share food with neighbors or donate to your local food bank. In the San Francisco Bay Area, consider donating to our partners Alameda Food Bank, CityTeam or East Oakland Collective. We recommend you call first to make sure the agency can accommodate your donation.  

Concerned about donating food? The Good Samaritan Food Donation Act covers companies and organizations from liability when donating to a nonprofit. Feed our community not the landfill by donating today.

Start your own compost bin or find out more about your local compost program.

For two weeks,  list everything you throw out. At the end of those weeks, evaluate the list and learn to purchase and store better next time. Use Food Shift’s go-to food waste calculator to measure your impact.