34 Ways To Waste Less Food

"I'm just here to pick up some scallions... OOOOH! Look at those tomatoes!!!"

Stop.

They'll still be selling tomatoes next week, and the week after that.

Smaller, more frequent shopping trips will yield less waste than bigger, weekly ones.

Using a list means you're less likely to make impulse purchases, which means you're less likely to buy food you'll end up throwing away. (For maximum effect, be sure to actually bring your grocery list with you to the store.)

Actually there are a bunch. Here are a few: OurGroceries, Out of Milk, and ZipList.

Frozen produce lasts basically forever and is just as nutritious as the fresh versions. Bonus: Freezing means the fruits and veggies don't need other preservatives. (Check ingredients lists and look for the ones with just the fruit or vegetable itself.)

Some things (toilet paper, socks, beer) should always be bought in massive quantities when sold at a discount. But when it comes to fresh produce: Beware. Ask yourself, "Will I really eat that entire box of peaches before they go bad?"

Goodness gracious, the wastefulness of these machines cannot be overstated. In addition to all those little pods you're tossing in the trash, you're also throwing away your hard-earned dinero. When bought in Keurig-friendly pods, you can spend more than $50/pound on Folgers coffee. (Already committed? Buy a reusable filter instead of more pods.)

Not only is organic milk antibiotic- and hormone-free, it's also processed differently to last longer. It might cost more upfront, but you won't end up throwing away half the carton four days after you bought it.

An organized fridge is a happy fridge, and maintaining one is a constant battle. Pro-tip: When you unpack your groceries, move older stuff to the front and newer foods to the back so that you finish the old foods before they expire.

They spoil each other.

Apples, berries, potatoes, onions — all of them can be jeopardized by just one rotten spoiler. Check the bag before you put it away.

Alas, if you MUST keep them bunched, wrap the stems in aluminum foil.

The moisture in the celery helps keep the bread soft.

First wrap in wax or cheese paper, then stick in a plastic baggie. Gently place the precious cheese in the warmest part of the fridge (vegetable or cheese drawer).

A new use for those ice trays. Rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano will all freeze well. Dill, basil, and mint, however, should only be used fresh.

You're more likely to store your food properly if you have the right equipment. Invest in reusable, glass tupperware (stores better than the plastic disposable kind), as well as chip clips, and cookie tins. (Mason jars work too!)

Turn your corn cob into broth, your broccoli stems into pesto, or your carrot greens into a salad.

Instead of tossing the pieces of vegetables you're not using, keep them in a bag in the freezer. When the collection gets big enough, turn it into stock.

Don't worry about what the recipe calls for: Just throw in last night's spinach and call it a win.

Last night's leftover takeout is tonight's trip to Beijing.

Don't be fooled by their shriveling exterior: Dried-up mushrooms can reconstitute and cook up just fine. (To be clear: Dried up is fine. Slimy is not.)

You can pickle pretty much anything, so if you're wondering what to do with all that kohlrabi your CSA keeps giving to you, or even your watermelon rinds, this might just be the answer. (Pro-tip: Save your pickle brine and use it again.)

Recipe here.

In a recipe, "very ripe" is code for "almost rotten."

Cheese: Is there anything it can't do? Store old rinds in the freezer and then break them out when you want to add extra flavor to your soup or sauce.

Another new use for your ice trays: Pour leftover wine and freeze. Next time a recipe calls for wine, use these.

Not all expiration dates were created equally and very few of them will actually tell you if a food has gone bad. "Sell-by" means it has to be sold, not eaten, by a given date. "Best-by" means it will be at its peak of freshness, not safety, by a certain date. And "Use-By" indicates when the quality will start to go down.

No longer interested in all those pinto beans you bought on sale two months ago? Donate them to an organization that is. Find a local food bank here.

As if you needed to be told...

Not all human foods are fit for canine consumption, but many are. Check out these do's and don'ts to find out if sharing is advised.

Food scraps are the NUMBER ONE material sent to landfills. There they become greenhouse gases, which as we all know by now, are slowly leading us to mass extinction. So stop making excuses and start composting.

Different cities have different composting systems. More than 100 U.S. cities offer curbside composting, plenty have drop-off points at local farmers' markets and community gardens, and if neither of those works, you can always pay someone to do it.