Waste not, want not

A new survey by Aldi found that over half of us feel ashamed of our fruit and veg waste, with bananas, potatoes and carrots topping the list of binned produce. And many are turning to questionable social media hacks (hanging onions out the window!) in a desperate attempt to keep their groceries fresh.

To help us all enjoy fresh fruit and veg for longer, Aldi has partnered with home food waste expert Kate Hall, offering 10 practical tips to extend the life of fresh produce.

1. Keep it cold – If your fridge is warmer than 5°C, your food won’t last as long as it could.

2. Check your drawers – Thin-skinned, high-moisture foods like salad leaves should be stored in high-humidity drawers, while thicker-skinned produce like apples should be stored in low-humidity drawers.

3. Pop your potatoes in the fridge – Potatoes are best stored in the fridge which can help them last over three times longer! If you don’t have enough fridge space, keep them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area like the garage and away from onions.

4. Give your leaves a helping hand – Help your bagged salad leaves last a few days longer by placing a sheet of kitchen paper into the container they are stored in to absorb any excess moisture.

5. Beware of ethylene gas – Certain fruits and veggies like bananas, apples and tomatoes emit high levels of ethylene gas (a natural gas that's produced as fruit ripens), which can cause other ethylene-sensitive produce, such as berries, cherries and grapes to ripen and ruin faster – so keep them separate!

6. Don’t bin your bananas – If your bananas are already ripe and you don’t want them to ripen any more, either keep them in a sealed tub or the fridge – or hang them on a hook in a cool, dry space. You can freeze slices of banana too for quick snacks and recipes.

7. Always check your berries – If there is one single mouldy berry hiding away in your punnet, then microscopic spores can easily and quickly contaminate the rest. Try to wash them just before you eat to prevent adding unnecessary moisture.

8. Don’t pre-prep your fruit or veg –this can lead to your produce spoiling faster. To help your fruit and veg last as long as possible, keep its outer armour intact until you’re ready to eat it.

9. Give veg a drink – If you see veg going a bit ‘bendy’, try trimming the ends and submerging it in cold water. Often veg has not gone bad, it’s just dehydrated!

10. Take it back – If you’re not happy with the freshness of your fruit or veg, take it back! Aldi allows customers to return fresh fruit and vegetables for a full refund if they are not satisfied with their purchase as part of their Fresh Guarantee policy.

Visit www.aldi.co.uk