Tip: I mark all my leftovers in the fridge with the date that I made it

 The Advice:

Here’s something I started doing recently. I mark all my leftovers in the fridge with the date that I made it. I just use masking tape and marker. I find that I waste less food this way because I am not guessing whether it’s too old or not and throwing out food because I am unsure. Plus. With the date visible, I know that I need to eat is sooner than later.

What did people say?

⇒ Jennifer: I do something similiar. I keep a notebook on the side of my fridge.

I write down the food item going in the fridge. Next to it I write the day that particular food item has to be eaten...frozen.

⇒ Jackie: I use clear Pyrex for leftovers. Sharpie right on the bowl and heat and eat in the same bowl. I get them at yard sales and you can buy replacement lids if needed. Sharpie washes off in the dishwasher.

⇒ Dana: I do same but have family members who do not. So frustrating.

⇒ Alexis: I do that too and I put it on the end of the container so I can see what it is and the date without picking everything up. I do the same for the freezer and stack them.

⇒ Jacque: When we were growing up my mom used margarine tubs for leftovers and the drawer beside the refrigerator had the masking tape and sharpies in it for labeling the leftovers. You opened the fridge and it looks like a ton of butter, lol. Good memories! We dated stuff too. Thanks for reminding me.

⇒ Melanie: Sharpie, on a non texture plastic container or glass...it rubs right off. I also date my jars of condiments when I open them

⇒ Jeannie: Thanks , every now and then we need to be reminded of old things that still work, but we have just slipped away from.

⇒ Diana: I do something similar except I put use by dates on each item. That way everyone knows which leftover to eat first. I use the same system in my freezer. I have almost zero food waste since starting this system.