Budget buster - spoiled fruits & veggies

[ready123go]

Although I only "staple shop" every two weeks, I've broken down and gone to buying fruit/veg in smaller quantities at least weekly (and sometimes 2X/wk if they're getting eaten). I figure it's better than having to throw it out, and I do drive right past a grocery store on the way to work.

I often do what YooperMom does, especially in summer. I also use thermal shopping bags in summer, to keep stuff cool. I take them right into the store with me and load them myself. I've known a couple of people who would go grocery shopping in the heat of summer, to two or three stores, and leave their produce (and meat and dairy - yuk) to bake in the car. Yet they could never figure out how their stuff went off so soon. When stuff goes bad too quickly, I find it often depends upon the weather that something has been shipped and/or stored in (like on the loading dock). I have seen some produce in stores in winter that shows signs of frostbite and some in summer that looks 'wilty' (not yet wilted, but looks like it might soon).
I also have to admit, it's been years since I have had good luck with our Costco's produce. I now use the warehouse clubs for some produce (like hugh quantities of lettuce), but much of it looks drop-kicked, so for the rest I go to a local chain or market that has really fresh (but slightly more costly) stuff. It doesn't spoil as quickly, so I figure in the end I save $$.

 

[ready123go]

Grapes, especially red, are very good frozen and make a great ice pack for lunches. They are still good when they thaw.

Love this idea!

okay, this may sound crazy and it looks a little strange in the grocery, but...

smell your potatoes and other produce.

My mom is blind and she taught me to smell my produce before buying it. Trust me, if there is a potato going bad in the bag, you'll know it!

Not crazy (my aunt & I do it too! LOL)

 

[sk!mom]

But, we have been buying bigger bags at Costco of certain items, as the price is better than our local markets (but only on certain items).

1) Potatoes - just had to throw out at least 12 lbs of potatoes as they spoiled in bag (bugs, etc.). It was disgusting! We bought a huge bag of russets at Costco, as we like to make homemade chips, fries and mashed potatoes. Not even 2 weeks old, and stored in bag under cupboard - cool and dry. Didn't check the bag when got home (told hubby too), and so perhaps spoiled potatoes were in there?

It sounds like in some cases you are buying more than you can use before it goes bad. Big bags from Costco aren't a good deal if you have to throw it out. You would probably spend less buying smaller quantities at the supermarket.

We are a family of four that eats a lot of fresh produce but I never buy large quantities of any one thing. I buy potatoes in 5 pound bags and store them in a cool, dark cupboard- no problem using them up. My vegetables always last. I store them in the vegetable drawer in my fridge and do not wash them ahead of time.

I buy all the fruits we like and then we eat those that go most quickly, first. For instance, strawberries are eaten for dinner the day I shop and any leftovers are for lunch the next day. Blueberries are eaten next. Everything else keeps fine in the fruit drawer in the fridge- again do not wash until eaten. Watermelon and cantaloupe sit out. Bananas are in the fruit bowl.

I shop weekly and only buy a weeks worth of fruits and veggies. I don't expect anything except for potatoes and carrots to last longer. I buy quatities of each thing that can be eaten in a week. How often do you shop and how long are you expecting things to last?