How to Reduce Food Waste and Slash Your Grocery Bill

Did you know that the average American household throws away about $1,500 worth of food each year? Did you know that bread is the most thrown away food item in the US? Over 240 million slices of bread are tossed each year. In fact, the average American throws away around one pound of food per day. As a family of three we definitely don’t go through a whole loaf of bread in one week. I have thrown away too many loaves of bread in the past, as a result. Let’s make a difference and stop throwing away our hard earned money.  

I used to find myself throwing away wilted vegetables and expired dairy all the time—until I made a conscious effort to change. Now, I save hundreds each year just by being mindful of my grocery habits. In this guide, I’ll share practical tips to help you waste less and save more.  If you’re looking to cut costs and make the most of your groceries, reducing food waste is one of the easiest ways to save money. Not only does it help your budget, but it also benefits the environment.

1. Plan Your Meals to Avoid Overbuying

One of the biggest reasons food gets wasted is because we buy too much without a plan. Meal planning ensures that every ingredient you buy has a purpose, reducing the chances of food going bad before you use it.

Tips for Smart Meal Planning:

• Plan meals around what you already have in your fridge and pantry.
• Stick to a simple, flexible meal plan to accommodate leftovers.
• Make a grocery list and avoid impulse purchases.

Personal Anecdote: I typically buy too many fresh vegetables for the week. I know that they are super healthy for you, but I find that also buying some frozen vegetables reduces waste. Use the fresh vegetables earlier in the week and then switch to frozen. Or you could do two `shopping trips a week, but I know many of us simply don’t have the time for that. 

2. Shop Smart: Buy Only What You Need

How many times have you bought a large bag of produce only to throw half of it away? Buying in bulk can save money, but only if you actually use everything before it spoils.

Smart Grocery Shopping Habits:

• Stick to your grocery list and avoid shopping while hungry.
• Be mindful of expiration dates—know the difference between “Sell-by,” “Use-by,” and “Best-by” dates.
• Buy in bulk only if you know you’ll use it (or can freeze it).

Personal Anecdote: I used to grab bulk deals thinking I was saving money, but I ended up wasting more. Now, I check my fridge before shopping and only buy what I know I’ll use. Another tip is to buy things in bulk that can be frozen. Some items that I typically buy in bulk are onions, frozen vegetables and milk. I love to chop the onions ahead of time and freeze them. I find if I don’t do this right when I get home from the grocery store I often end up with onions that are mushy and have to be thrown out. One item I want to try next time is freezing potatoes. I have read that you must blanche them ahead of time. Have you tried this? If so, share in the comments below!  

3. Store Food Properly to Extend Freshness

Storing food correctly can significantly extend its shelf life and keep it from going bad too quickly.

Storage Tips to Reduce Spoilage:

• Keep fruits and veggies separate—some emit ethylene gas, which causes others to ripen faster.
• Store leftovers in clear, airtight containers so you don’t forget about them.
• Freeze items like bread, cheese, and herbs if you won’t use them right away.
• Store berries in a container with air holes and don’t wash until right before consuming
• Vacuum seal leftover meat in the freezer

Personal Anecdote: I used to store bananas with other fruits, not realizing they were speeding up the ripening process. Once I separated them, my fruits lasted much longer! Whenever you decide to freeze bananas for future banana bread or smoothies I find it much easier to chop them into chunks ahead of time so they blend up more easily for smoothies. Fun fact: one time I decided to just throw them in the freezer peel and all. I definitely regretted that decision.

One of my favorite summertime dishes involves pickling cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. Not only is it a method to preserve that produce, it’s also delicious. To preserve fruit you can also try making a jelly or a jam. Since both add sugar they tend to last longer, even if you choose not to can the product. 

4. Get Creative with Leftovers

Leftovers don’t have to be boring! Repurposing extra food into new meals can prevent waste and add variety to your menu.

Ideas for Using Leftovers:

• Turn last night’s roasted veggies into a breakfast omelet.
• Blend overripe fruit into smoothies or bake them into muffins.
• Make homemade soup using veggie scraps and bones.
• Try pickling extra veggies

Personal Anecdote: I once had extra rice from takeout and didn’t want it to go to waste. I turned it into fried rice with some leftover chicken and frozen veggies—delicious and zero waste! Another favorite of mine is when my husband cooks brisket. It’s a huge amount of meat but we have brisket nachos, brisket breakfast tacos, loaded brisket tots and more. We also vacuum seal some of the meat for the future and toss it in the freezer. 

5. Track and Reduce Waste Over Time

Keeping track of what you throw away helps you pinpoint wasteful habits and make adjustments.

Ways to Monitor Waste:

• Keep a food waste journal to identify what you toss most often.
• Set small goals, like reducing produce waste by 50%.
• Use apps that track food expiration dates and suggest recipes based on what you have.

Personal Anecdote: I started keeping a simple list on my fridge of food that was about to expire. Just that small habit helped me be more mindful and cut my waste dramatically. I have also found that stir fries and soups help reduce food waste. They are highly adaptable to whatever food you have on hand. There are also plenty of websites that suggest what to make for dinner with what you have. 

6. Composting: A Last Resort for Food Scraps

Even with the best efforts, some food waste is inevitable. Composting is a great way to keep food scraps out of landfills and create nutrient-rich soil.

Composting Basics:

• You can compost fruit peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and vegetable scraps.
• Avoid composting dairy, meat, and oily foods.
• If space is limited, try a small countertop compost bin.

Personal Anecdote: I have a love-hate relationship with compositing. My composite pile becomes more of a dumping ground for food scraps. I never quite get it to break down adequately. I even had one of those tumble compost bins in the backyard at one point. It didn’t break things down well at all. So I ended up getting rid of it and just using one of my raised beds as a composting bin and then rotating a garden over to that bed the next season. What do you do for composting? Does anyone have advice for us on this? 

7. Best By vs. Expiration Date

Did you know that these two terms do not mean the same thing?

• Best By and Sell By dates usually are in reference to when the product is at peak quality
• Expiration dates are the dates the food should be consumed by

Even expiration dates are not final. According to www.earth.org many items can be safely eaten past the expiration date. Have you ever done the float test on your eggs? Eggs are one common product that can be eaten for longer than advertised. Simply drop the egg in a glass of water. If it floats then it is rotten. If it sinks then the egg is still edible. Other products can simply be smelled or visually inspected to see if it is still good. 

One item I never take a risk with is meat. It immediately goes into the freezer if we are not cooking it the same day. Fortunately meat can last a long time in the freezer, especially if you have a deep freezer. Technically it can last indefinitely if it is kept at zero degrees. 

8. Bonus Tips for Extra Savings

If you’re looking to stretch your grocery budget even further, here are a few additional money-saving hacks:

• Buy “ugly” produce at a discount—stores often sell imperfect fruits and veggies for less.
• Look for grocery markdowns, especially on soon-to-expire items you can use right away.
• Grow your own herbs and vegetables to cut down on store purchases.

Personal Anecdote: I started growing basil and it grew to be an enormous plant! When it finally flowered the bees loved the flowers. I am all for feeding the bees! I also have frozen basil mixed with olive oil for future marinara sauces. 

Reducing food waste is one of the easiest and most effective ways to slash your grocery bill while also helping the environment. By planning meals, shopping smart, storing food properly, and getting creative with leftovers, you can make your groceries last longer and save hundreds of dollars a year.

What’s your best tip for reducing food waste? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Like this post? Keep reading Meal Planning on a Budget: 10 Delicious and Affordable Ideas.