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Not just at Christmas How to avoid food waste
Every year millions of tons of food end up in garbage. Especially on the Christmas days is often much more food on the table than is necessary. Experts have valuable tips on how food waste can be reduced.
Germans throw away eleven million tons of food every year
According to a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Program, much of the world's food is thrown away. In Germany, too, around 11 million tons of food ends up in waste every year. This results from a study of the University of Stuttgart, reports the initiative "Too good for the ton!" Of the Federal Food Ministry. Especially at Christmas often more food is on the table, as the holiday guests can eat. Experts give tips on how to avoid wasting food.
In Germany alone, around 11 million tonnes of food ends up in the garbage each year. Especially at Christmas often a lot of food left. Experts give tips on how to avoid food waste. (Image: Floydine / fotolia.com) Good planning is the alpha and omega
Very important in the preparation of the holiday menu is the question of how much the guests eat at all. Frank Waskow of the consumer center North Rhine-Westphalia explains in a message from the news agency dpa that is often forgotten, especially at buffets, "that you move completely outside the portions and that then in the end, something remains".
"Keep in mind the average amount per person out of a total of about 800 grams of food," writes the consumer center on its website.
"Raw food lovers, vegetarians, meat lovers? Remember the different tastes and do not plan too much meat. Even with a 2-course menu, 125 grams of meat are enough per person, "it continues.
So that the guests are full and no leftovers remain
A serving planner from the consumer center makes it easier to find the right portion sizes. From the initiative "Too Good for the Cask", there is a Party Planner to calculate the amount of food "so that the guests will be full and no leftovers left".
This is how the holiday dinner succeeds
"Too good for the ton" has some tips on cooking on their website, so that the festive meal after small mistakes of the cook must not be thrown away.
For example, salty foods can be spread with cream, water or wine. And burnt areas could be cut off, excess fat can be skimmed off.
If necessary, freeze leftovers
But if there is something left over despite the good planning, you should put leftovers as soon as possible in the refrigerator as soon as they are cold, recommends consumer advocate Waskow.
According to "too good for the barrel", meat remains edible for up to three days when stored cool, and cooked fish and side dishes for two days. If it is foreseeable that the remains will not be used at this time, there is still the freezer compartment.
At minus 18 degrees, frozen food will last for several months. It must not be consumed all the rest at once, because thawed food can be frozen again. (Ad)