Let's immediately clarify that saving on food does not at all mean that you and your family are hungry. Reasonable economy of foodstuffs speaks about ability of the woman with mind to conduct an economy of the house, supporting stable its budget and leaving under the control of excessive expenses. How to economically go to a supermarket? How to economically make purchases in the market? Today we are discussing this.
How to save on food?
First, check if you have enough plastic boxes suitable for storing food. If not, do not regret buying money, as they will help you save on products every day. And forget about the habit of putting in the fridge pots (pots, pans) in which you were preparing the first or second dishes. First of all, the economy in the kitchen requires proper storage of food. Spread it on plastic boxes, dividing into 1-2 portions. Something you want to use tomorrow, and something you can put in the freezer - and take it out when you do not have time to cook (such days, it seems to me, are almost every woman). That you are not shocked by this advice, I dare to note the following. If you talked about how to save money on food, you were leading with an American, she would calmly tell you that it's quite natural to serve a turkey prepared for Christmas and stored in a freezer in April.
I will repeat a little secret about which I somehow already wrote, and without which - no matter how hard you try! - you can not save on food. Almost everyone during the cooking is trying, whether it is necessary to pour the food-podperchit, or add to it any spices. Please, after each such test, wash the spoon-fork that you used. If you do not, the food you cook will very quickly turn sour - even in the refrigerator.
As you can see, saving on food is not so difficult. Almost all the main dishes can be stored in the freezer. Salads and perishable snacks always try to cook in such quantity that you do not have a surplus. Now let's talk about whether it is possible (and if so how) to save on products?
Always have at home the so-called untold reserve in case of unexpected visits. Dried fruits, nuts, sweets, dried biscuits and jam - this set will perfectly allow you to save on products for casual guests. After all, near your house there may not be a large supermarket, and in small retail outlets the choice is always more expensive. Based on this same consideration, bribe the main products before they end. We are talking about cereals, sugar, salt, vegetable oil (do not forget about crackers!) If you drink milk - just in case always have 2-3 packs at home. However, products with a short shelf life, buy, as they say, "just right".
A few words about the storage of products
To save on products means, first of all, not to allow them to spoil. It is preferable to run under the rain once more to the store, than throwing one ruble into the garbage can with your own hand, is not it? And here we can not bypass fruits and vegetables in the conversation, since they are the most difficult to store - even in the refrigerator. How to save on them? After all, food without fresh herbs or salad today, perhaps, you will not find on any table.
I will repeat once more and recall that under the economy of food we agreed to imply a thrifty attitude towards them. In other words, we do not throw out absolutely none of the purchased items. In the tray for fruit and vegetables, peas, you can pour apples, oranges, tangerines and, depending on the variety, pears, that is - hard fruits. Separately from them - aubergines, zucchini and, perhaps, Bulgarian pepper, cucumbers. As for the rest of the representatives of the wonderful fruit and vegetable kingdom, just write how I save on these products myself. If you want - try to do the same.
Wash the fruit brought home, let them dry (peaches, apricots, plums can be wiped with kitchen paper or a towel) and lay out the plastic boxes about which we spoke above. In them, these fruits will last much longer than just poured into the refrigerator tray. In the same way, I personally do both with tomatoes and cucumbers. The washed greens can be wrapped in a kitchen towel, or put in a refrigerator in a glass of water. Try to do all this at least for the sake of interest, and you will see for yourself how you can save on products with such trifles. Bananas, which very quickly ripen and even more quickly deteriorate, buy exactly in the amount that you need for a week. We do not put them in the refrigerator, of course. But keep in mind that if you already pass the overripe banana through a blender, this tasty puree will safely stand in the refrigerator, in a glass jar, for at least three or four days.
How else can you save money on food?
The question can be asked and so, because saving on food - this is nothing more than a savings on money. Covering on the table and laying out food on plates, never follow the principle "Do not want - do not milk ..." Put the person that portion that he can and wants to eat. It is much more sensible to offer him an additive than to send to the garbage tank what he did not eat.
As for the question of how to save money on products - here I, perhaps, I will repeat. Before you go shopping, make a list of what you need by calculating the approximate total consumption for all purchases. Do not chase the products of famous brands - remember that in some cases you can pay up to 70% of the cost only for the popular name. Little-known manufacturers, who are only trying to break into the market, often produce products not of the worst quality.
Concluding this conversation,
- put food in plates in small portions;
- excess of cooked food (soups, second dishes) put in the freezer - you can use them later;
- carefully count the purchase of products with a short shelf life - so you do not have to throw anything away;
- be attentive to vegetables and fruits. If vegetables or greens are wilted and unsuitable for salad, grate them or cut them finely, and put them in the freezer - they will be useful for making other dishes. From the fruit, cook the compote, or put them into the pie filling.