The simple fridge hack that prevents food waste

Unfortunately, everyone knows the tragic feeling of letting wonderfully fresh produce spoil in the mysterious depths of the fridge. It's a never-ending cycle where people promise themselves that “this time” everything will be different and nothing will go to waste. But of course, many people still throw away an untouched, rotten head of lettuce from time to time.

It may be easy to blame ourselves for food waste, but in an interview with the Washington Post, behavioral scientist and associate professor at the University of British Columbia Jiaying Zhao explained that refrigerator design simply doesn't take human behavior into account. After all, most refrigerators have opaque drawers for fruits and vegetables, making it extremely easy to forget about the fruits and vegetables you recently bought.

The phenomenon of forgetting food is a common problem in the United States, with 92 billion pounds of food wasted each year (via Feeding America). When it comes to the most effective method for reducing your food waste, the old adage “out of sight, out of mind” applies. Make sure your food is visible in the fridge and has a designated area where you know where to look for it.

Read more: 10 simple tips to reduce food waste

How to organize your fridge to avoid waste

To avoid food waste, you first need to make sure all of your produce is visible. If you can see all of the perishable foods, you're more likely to use them. Start by storing fruits and vegetables outside of your refrigerator drawers. (And before you start improving your refrigerator, double-check that you're not making any storage mistakes that are spoiling your food, like storing it in the wrong containers.)

Although it can be tempting to throw things in the fridge haphazardly, clear storage containers can help you better preserve food while also keeping track of what's in your fridge. Cluttered areas increase the likelihood of food being forgotten and spoiling. To make it even easier, consider dividing your fridge into different sections. You can create sections by purchase date, food type, or any other standard that helps you remember what's what.

A contribution to the common good begins with your refrigerator

With so much food wasted in the U.S. each year, simply keeping your food visible can make a huge difference. According to Feeding America, a shocking 38% of food in America ends up in the trash. Just by organizing your fridge better, you can help reduce that percentage.

At the same time, better fridge organization and less food waste can play a role in the fight against climate change. Food waste is responsible for about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as food thrown in landfills releases methane into the atmosphere (according to the Natural Resources Defense Council). By eating or using everything you buy, you're helping to make a difference. You'll even benefit personally by throwing away less food. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), each person can save up to $370 per year by throwing away less food. Every piece of food saved from the trash can make a difference.

Read the original article on Chowhound.