12 Gadgets That Will Help You Use up Every Last Bit of Food
These smart buys are *chef’s kiss.*
Amazon
Picture this: You’ve just polished off a mouth-watering meal and are in the midst of cleaning up your kitchen when you notice an avocado half or a tiny bit of pulled pork that was never eaten. Since you’re already done with your dish, you toss those leftover scraps and move on with your chores. No harm, no foul, right? Well, not quite. According to the USDA, food waste in the United States is estimated at 30 to 40 percent of overall supply. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Not only is that a huge waste of resources, but we can bet that it’s also doing your bottom line zero favors.
The easiest way to cut down on waste is to be more strategic with your ingredients and make sure you’re using every little bit of food to its fullest potential. To help, check out these kitchen accessories that will make savoring each bite and ingredient a breeze. From innovative takes on cooking essentials to game-changing gadgets, you’re just a few clicks away to curbing your waste.
Leave no inch of your leftovers unsaved with the help of GIR’s teeny, tiny spatula. Clocking in at 1.4 inches wide, this utensil offers a convenient way to scrape up barely-there remnants from your pan and transfer it into a food container. This small-but-mighty spatula is also made with non-toxic, BPA-free silicone — and can withstand up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit — so it’ll pair nicely with any recipe. (Psst ... if you can’t get enough of this internet favorite, you’ll be happy to hear that GIR’s spatula is available in multiple sizes and colorways.)
Just because you had a bite of a protein bar doesn’t mean you have to throw the rest of it in the garbage. Instead, reach for Karidge’s Mini Bag Heat Sealer, which has over 4,000 positive reviews on Amazon, a 4.3/5 rating on the site, and an "Amazon’s Choice" badge. Think of this pick as a mini hair straightener — only for your food. The sealer uses heat to reseal your bag to keep your precious snacks safe from oxidation or unnecessary moisture. (At $15, this budget-friendly buy will save you a lot of money on airtight containers.)
If you have yet to jump on the Bee’s Wrap bandwagon, here’s your sign it’s time to do so. Pegged as a sustainable (and reusable!) alternative to plastic wrap, this layer helps keep your food fresh for longer. Go head, wrap a partially consumed wedge of cheese or handful of nuts in Bee’s Wrap and save those delicious delicacies for a later day.
Looking to preserve your sprigs of mint, rosemary, or thyme? The Herb Guard has you covered. This airtight container comes with a humidity pack to protect and hydrate your herbs. And, according to the brand, the Herb Guard will keep your herbs fresh for months.
What’s a home chef to do if a recipe only calls for half of a tomato or grapefruit? Throw the leftover half away? No, you place the other ones in these Food Huggers. Made with a BPA-free silicone, this clever pick offers an airtight closure to keep your produce fresh and prolong the browning process.
Anyone who loves guacamole knows just how easily — and how quickly — avocados can turn brown. Problem is, its oblong shape makes it difficult for an avocado to fit into a traditional silicone food saver. Fortunately, this option has a convenient space for your avocado pit, offering a tight, snug fit.
Any avid baker can tell you that very few things can ruin their confection creation like stiff brown sugar. If you want to keep any baking blunders to a minimum, consider picking up one of Goodful’s discs, which are specially designed to keep brown sugar that’s stored in an airtight container nice and soft. Simply damp your disc, dry it off, and it’ll take care of the rest.
While meal prepping is an easy way to make the most of your ingredients, it’s important to store your food with care. One false move and your perfectly prepped salmon or chicken breast can get an unexpected bout of freezer burn or, even worse, mold. That’s exactly why it’s worth adding Potane’s Vacuum Sealer to your e-cart. In case you didn’t get the memo, vacuum sealers can successfully remove air to keep bacteria or mold from growing. And, with four presets and four sealing modes, this best-selling option will work nicely with whatever’s on the menu.
It doesn’t matter how carefully you plan out your groceries, it’s always possible that you'll pick up too much produce — only to let those fruits and veggies decompose in the depths of your fridge. Fortunately, Bluapple is here to prolong the lifespan of your produce. These blue orbs are specially designed to absorb ehindethylene gas, which is known to slow down ripening and extend the life of your nutritious, delicious ingredients.
Let’s be honest: We’ve all had a few drops of ketchup hiding at the very bottom of a bottle, but virtually impossible to shake or squeeze out onto a hamburger. Ensure that no condiment goes to waste with the Smart Funnel, which holds your condiment bottles upside down so slower, thicker liquids can slide down and be used.
Or, if sandwiches or slices of avocado toast is your preferred meal, you’ll want to find a way to keep your bread in tip top condition. Thanks to this well-appointed bread box — which comes with a linen bag — your loaf will stay fresh for longer.
If you are going to discard some food scraps, you should at least make sure that your leftovers have a great second-life. That’s exactly why you should pick up SCD Probiotics’ Compost Starter Kit. Sold with a bag of Dry Bokashi Bran — which can help reduce odor and break down waste faster — this option can help bring your scraps to your garden soil in a snap.
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