Food Waste Friday | A half and half problem (and a solution)
Every week, I post a picture of the food that has gone bad over the last seven days. Why do I do this? Because in March of 2008, I finally got fed up with the amount of food I was wasting, and I thought that showing my waste to other people would motivate me to use up my food instead of wasting it. Because this often embarrassing practice was so helpful for me, I invited other bloggers to join me in posting their food waste photos, and Food Waste Friday was born. If you're not a blogger but still want some food waste accountability, feel free to participate by leaving a comment.
Relatively recently, I wasted some half and half. I thought perhaps the problem was that I had stored the half and half on the door of the fridge (a warmer place), so I started keeping it back further in the fridge.
However, I now have a little bit more half and half that went bad (about ½ cup).
I think the problem is just that we're not using it fast enough in the summer, when only Mr. FG is regularly drinking chai (he works in a super cold office and I live in a not super cold house, so he needs tea and I do not).
So, my solution is this.
Yes. A smaller container of half and half.
I am brilliant, no?
The smaller container represents a slightly poorer value per ounce, but if I can use it up instead of wasting it, it may end up being a better bargain (because sometimes the price per pound/ounce shouldn't prevail).
Other than that, my fridge is in good shape aside from some buttermilk that needs to be used up. I feel pancakes coming on...
p.s. I know a grill is an odd place to take a picture of food waste, but when you're taking pictures at 6:08 am, you have to go outside. 😉
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Today's 365 post: "Mommy, your legs don't look too good."
Joshua's 365 post: The Belated Answer!
I love this weekly idea. It will help me stay more accountable. Thanks for such a terrific blog 🙂
Exactly. The accountability is the whole reason I got into blogging, actually!
Mr and I have this discussion in the grocery store a lot when one of us gets fixated on unit price - good reminder that if you throw half of it out, it doesn't matter that the stuff you *did* use was cheaper in the bigger size.
Can I say how glad I am that it's Friday? Glad, glad, glad.
Yes, yes, yes. Just need to remember that!
Enjoy your weekend. How many more months before maternity leave??
179 days. Not that I'm counting or anything.
Don't you get in a rut where you buy the same sizes because...it's weird because we've all gotten good at eating what is in season. I'm trying to get used topmotorimg what the babes is consuming each week and responding in kind.
Wowwwwwwww.... brilliant, Kristen. How long did this take you to figure out? 😉
Ummm, I didn't smell my half and half when I put it in my coffee today...needless to say I threw half and half away AND a cup of coffee. And I'm going to try doing this on Friday's now. School is getting ready to start and well, we have been making positive changes in our house. And next on my list is using up leftovers and not having as much waste!
I buy the six pack of eggs for this exact reason. Sometimes I bake a lot in a week and need a full dozen. Those weeks, I am happy I drive by three groceries stores in the three miles between work and home. Generally speaking, I still find myself boiling the last two eggs of six for use on a salad toward the end of the week.
I wasted a tomato, avocado, sandwich, and beans...maybe I'll do better next week.
My solution to half/half going bad is to buy the shelf-stable variety. I don't really like shelf-stable milk plain (it is a mental thing!) but it is fine in coffee and lasts longer!
Still haven't done my food waste post... need to get on it! Struggling to write one each week now as seem to have won the war (for the time being) on food waste. 5 eggs and a batch of home grown potatoes are all I have in my kitchen, and both of those are good for at least another week... looks like Frittatas for dinner regardless as nowt else to eat!
My solution to the half and half problem is to freeze half of it. After it is thawed it looks a bit funny but tastes just as good in coffee or tea. Just give it a couple of good shakes like you would frozen milk.
So, if you only buy half a half and half, is that a quarter and quarter then?
🙂
What about using it in a recipe? I use half and half for a recipe called penne with creamy tomato sauce. It calls exactly for 1/2 cup and has exactly only 4 ingredients so I consider it to be pretty frugal and yummy.
I also use half and half (or milk) for creamier scrambled eggs. Or for french toast. Or in soups when it's colder outside of course!
I have a vegetarian cookbook called 365 Easy Vegetarian Recipes where she uses half and half often...I use it in my coffee each morning so it never goes to waste! I so need my coffee 🙂
Yes! I add it to my eggs when I remember that I need to use some up. And I also have added it to smoothies. So I guess the problem is more that I forget to check and see if I need to hurry and use some up!
Thanks to your blog and all of your great ideas, I'm checking the fridge and pantry a lot more often and now looking for meals I can make with things near expiration or just things I can make with what I have instead of buying all new ingredients. I never used to do that! It seems so common sense to me now!
Since I cleaned out the refrigerator last week, I have nary a celery leaf to report. However, I did purchase a different brand of kefir and I hated it, so today I used the last of it to make blueberry pancakes. I'm glad it's gone!
Yum, the ways to use half & half in the comments are making me hungry!
Being single, I have this problem a lot - and am always balancing buying the "better deal" against buying "only what I need." I've been going to the butcher counter to get meat or bacon in TINY amounts 'cause having a whole package of bacon in the house is counterproductive on several fronts (especially my backside). Really, getting only what I need is one of the best things about the bulk bins too!
What'd I waste? I left for vacation inadvertently leaving milk and a serving of pasta behind. They died. And my fridge is a bit bare since coming back and not having time to shop until tomorrow.
Have you tried freezing bacon in individual slices? That works for me. When I'm too lazy to do that I chop hunks off the end, yielding many small bits of bacon.
Ha! I chopped my three slices of bacon up into bits and froze them to use in cooking... I'm just bad in the willpower department - it's hard NOT eating lots of bacon if it's onsite and whispering to me. I like the image of hacking off one end of the package!
I had a great time shopping at the farmer's market this weekend, and am eating lots of them most amazing melon and tomatoes! Gotta love the season!!
Ha! The things we'll do to take good photographs? I wonder what people must think when I'm carrying a plate of food and setting it on my steps outside, just to take advantage of natural light!
I did not waste this week. The pizza bagels are great. Thanks. I just got some Facebook freebies. You may want to sign up if you have not. They are great.
I'd definitely rather buy the smaller size and use all of it, instead of not using it up and letting it go bad. Smart thinking, Kristen! 🙂
We switched from 2% Fat milk to 2% Fat Milk powder - not only is there less packaging waste, but it is half the price and is stored safely in pantry. A 1kg bag replaces 10 litres.
You can freeze half & half. In ice cube trays. Just perfect for coffee or tea. Or you can start making your own ice cream, even from old dated half & half. You can find a good ice cream recipe online.
Okay I give up - what's half and half? We have UHT milk in UK but that can be kept in cupboard till opened, am I being a bit dense? I could google it....
I know WillamB could jump on in here and Alton Brown this, but for once I think I know an answer - half and half here in North America is half whole milk and half cream - usually it ends up being about 12% butterfat, as opposed to say whipping cream, which is about 38% butterfat.
Half and half is single cream in the UK.
Thanks Guys! Single Cream - okay got it... Cheers...
I just did the same thing with a gallon of milk. Had to throw out part of it because it had spoiled. And my solution today was I only bought half a gallon..............so simple, yet so smart!
I cleaned out the refrigerator today. It was aweful! I'm so embarrassed! Hopefully next week will be better!
You can use slightly soured milk in some recipes such as scones etc rather than chucking it out 🙂 Here is a list of some of the uses (I just googled it) 🙂
I like the idea of the ice cubes too...great idea for coffee etc (although I guess it would cool them right down unless you defrosted first.
Great blog by the way! 🙂
It would be great for iced coffee!
Doh-forgot the link!!
http://recipecircus.com/recipes/sheberry/Dairy/uses_for_sour_milk.html
This is how I can keep my Quart of Whipping Cream fresh a month and sometime even 2 months past its date. I keep it clear in the back on one side of Ref. My milk goes right in front of it. Then in the Front of the milk I keep a pitcher of tea or Lemonade which I think blocks the change in temperature when the door is open and keeps my Cream and Milk last way past its date.
My family opens the Ref. door many many times a day.
I do this with milk since I don't live with roommates. I buy a pint at a time because I drink so little, mostly for tea, or a rare bowl of cereal. I also don't buy it from the grocery store, but from the convenience store one block away because during summer I don't like the idea that my milk was at room temperature for the 15-20 min walk or bus ride home. Paying a bit more per ounce is better than wasting imo. Good job.
You could use half and half to make your own cottage cheese. (well the curds come from skim milk)
I just made some pancakes with about cup of sour half and half ( it was like yogurt thick), just added 2 eggs, about 1/2-1 cup flour, 4 teaspoons sugar and 1/8 tsp baking soda.
Came out perfect! and no waste!
I bought a 1 liter container of half and half around Christmas time - expiry date Feb 14. I kept it in the back of the fridge as I have had problems with it going off. My husband opened it (it was still sealed) the end of December or beginning of January and poured it in his coffee and it curdled. I have downsized my containers of milk as well and find my dairy products are not lasting. I even buy the ultra pur filtered milk and throw 1/2 the container away or use it in cooking when possible.
I have always hated wasting anything, but especially food. I also have half of a half gallon left. Husband didnt like it.