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4 Reasons to Freeze Fruit and Save

The secret to saving money on groceries and making your produce last longer starts with your freezer. It helps cut back on food spoilage. Once you know how to reduce that, you can reduce the amount of food your throw out and save money by actually using what you bought. Here are four simple tips:

1. Freeze before you go shopping.

Stop and take a minute to check your freezer before you head to the supermarket. Many times we don't remember that we already have food waiting for us. You might not need to buy as much as you think if you have items at home that you can eat, especially meat or other protein. Check expiration dates to use items while they are still good. Many times we buy more of an item that we already have. You might be able to spend less on your shopping trip just by checking in with what you have.

2. Freeze whatever you can to preserve it.

No more guessing if something is still good. Get a marker and jot down the date on the package label before putting it in the freezer. You no longer have to depend on the "when in doubt, throw it out rule." You can also stay on top of food expiration dates by setting a reminder on your phone. Food Expiration Date Alarm is an app that will keep tabs on when your precious groceries are about to go bye-bye.

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Eat your groceries before they are past their prime. Get a text signaling a heads up on how many days you have left to eat what you have. Your once-fresh food doesn't have to turn into what looks like a sixth grade science project. The StillTasty app allows users to type in the name of a food or beverage to find out its lifespan. It takes the guesswork out of whether an item should stay or go. It allows the consumer to find food safety information all in one location. Details of optimal storage methods and times for specific items all rolled into one app.

3. Use the fridge-freezer rule.

Sometimes I purchase a special on containers of fruit. If there's a discount for buying two instead of one, sometimes I'll opt for it. The real savings happens when you eat everything that you purchased before it goes bad. There's no use getting a deal if you end up throwing the food out. Get in a routine and use what I call the fridge-freezer rule. In an effort to not waste fruit and throw away savings, I purposely freeze one container as soon as I get home and put the other in the fridge. If you buy two containers of raspberries, for example, put one in the fridge to eat right away and another in the freezer. It ensures that you use everything purchased. Be sure to use the fresh items first and then go to the frozen ones later in the week. It helps stretch the groceries and makes the most of your family's budget.

4. Going bananas with rotten fruit?

Do you tend to buy too many bananas or other fruit only to find them getting spotted, soft and mushy? If the same items you purchase tend to go bad time and time again, have some go-to recipes on hand for those that you tend to waste. Lemons can be cut and frozen on trays lined with parchment paper in the freezer. Add them to drinks later on. Even just a glass of water is a little more refreshing with some lemon. Make banana bread or smoothies with bananas or just freeze them. You can also cut back on how many you purchase. One of my best secrets is to break up the bananas when I purchase them. Get some that will be ripe soon and others that are a tad greener. This way the bananas can pace themselves and be ready to eat when you need them.

Taking a quick inventory of your freezer can save you money. We often forget to check and see what we already have. Be sure to use items that you have on hand in your freezer before they spoil. This will save you time, money and food.

Karen Cordaway is a teacher, website owner and writer who currently teaches personal finance to children.



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