Stop throwing away food! How To Keep Food Fresher, Longer: DIY air vacuum machine.

 How To Keep Food Fresh Longer -- DIY Air Vacuum Machine

The enemy of Mr Frugal Life is "waste", and especially wasted food. In America, we waste 1/3 of all food that is grown. Food can go bad, or be thrown away for many reasons:

• Don't like taste or flavor of food.
• Food is beyond its expiration date, or has grown mold.
• Food is in some way no longer edible.

By throwing away less food, we are able to save money, conserve resources, and is just general good practice. One of the best ways to throw away less food is to prevent freezer burn when storing frozen foods (such as meat, poultry) for long periods of time. Air, or more specifically the bacteria in the air, is the reason for food spoilage and freezer burn. By reducing the amount of air in the containers that our food is stored in, we will throw away less food and reduce our food expenses by the simple fact that we are not throwing away as much food because the food we bought lasts longer.

How to DIY Air Vacuum Machine

An air vacuum machine is excellent for keeping food fresh for long periods of time, and meats and vegetables last almost indefinitely when frozen. An air vacuum machine can range from $10 (used) to $40 (new), and reusable bags are available directly from Amazon rather than the manufacturer. A cheap, quick way to DIY an air vacuum machine is to use the pressure of water to eliminate as much as air possible from a Ziploc bag:

Fill a sink with water and place ziploc bag with air opening up.

The finished, air vacuumed food will last much longer when frozen.

Air Vacuuming food to freeze is a great practice when purchasing large amounts of food at a discount (Such as chicken drumsticks, steak, etc) when it goes on sale at the super market. Buying large amounts of food when a store has a clearance or discount is a common practice of Mr Frugal Life, but this practice can easily cost more money if the food is not eaten, goes bad, or eventually gets thrown away for whatever reason. By using this one, simple easy trick you will be able to reduce your waste and spend less on your food expenses!

Other uses for DIY air vacuum machine

Some of the other uses for the DIY air vacuum machine include:

• Marinating Meats, Poultry, Fish and other animal-proteins prior to cooking.
• Extending the life of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables by removing air before placing in refrigerator.
• Packaging and Freezing pre-cooked meals, which can be later eaten as a meal on the go.

Read more about DIY air vacuum machine.

Other Tips to Stop Wasting and Throwing Away Less Food

• Have 1 week per month when you spend "No Money On Food" by eating leftovers, eating what you have in freezer and pantry.
• Do not be tempted to purchase junk food or other processed foods that are "on sale". These products are much more expensive, and if you don't like it, you are paying a lot of money for nothing.
• Create a "food menu" so you know what you will be having for each meal and how much to prepare which will reduce in waste. Creating a food menu can also help you save money on your budget in many ways.

How To Prepare Freezer Meals

 

Preparing Freezer meals is a healthy, frugal and time-saving way to cook. Freezer Meals are created when cooking a large batch of food that freezes well (such as spaghetti, soup, rice dishes) and many more. You freeze individual servings of cooked food so that during the busy week, you can heat a meal and have a great healthy meal available anytime!

A great website for Freezer Meal Recipe Ideas.

How To Cook Healthy, Nutritious, Tasty Meal for $.50, Save Money on Food Expenses

One of the cheapest, healthiest and best meals on the planet is available for the cost of around $.50-.75 in your area depending on prices, quantity, and quality of food.

Ingredients for Healthy, Nutritious, Tasty meal for $.50

1. Potatoes: Russet, Idaho or the many varieties of healthy, nutritious potato. In my area (North Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico) I have purchased a 10 lb bag of potatoes for $2.00 or $.20 per lb from a local "Village Market". Most of the time the price ranges from $.35/lb (Costco) to $.99/lb (Whole Foods). At these prices, a 8 oz (1/2 lb) potato is $.17 - $.50. Cost: $.20
2. 4 oz of milk and/or 2 oz of sour cream and/or 2 slices of butter, depending on recipe and personal preference. Cost: .13
3. 1 oz Shredded cheese. Cost: .08
4. Salt/Pepper. Cost: .03
   

   Total Cost for Healthy, Nutrious Meal: $.43

5. BONUS/EXTRA: Ham/Bacon/Shredded Beef. Cost: $.67

Recipe Ideas for Inexpensive and Healthy $.50 Meal

 Experimenting with a variety of recipes with potatoes can be a fun way to save money on your food bill. Many of the following recipes are my personal favorites and I enjoy a baked potato as both a side dish and a main entree.

1. 5 ways to bake Potatoes
2. Terrific Tin Foil Recipes for Potatoes
3. Potato Side Dish Recipes
4. Allrecipes.com Potato Recipes (Great Ideas!!)
5. How To: Soft and Pillowy Mashed Potatoes

What are some of your favorite potato-based recipes?

Inexpensive Food to Stretch Food Budget and Reduce Food Expenses, Healthy Inexpensive Food, Save Money on Groceries

 Ultimate How To Save Money on Food Guide, Cook great food inexpensively 

After housing, food is the most expensive item on your monthly and yearly budget. The average person can expect to spend between 4,000 - 8,000 per year on food, depending on your diet, location, and how often you cook. The best resources for healthy, nutritious, inexpensive meals are below:

http://www.reddit.com/r/Cheap_Meals

http://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/comments/u13qa/we_rfrugal_week_1_frugal_food/

http://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/

http://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/comments/1fmepp/official_i_have_x_for_x_days_advice_thread_tips/

http://erinonabudget.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/my-6-sweet-and-spicy-chili/

 My Top 5 Favorite inexpensive foods are:

1. Potatoes : Very versatile (Mashed Potatoes, Baked Potatoes) Healthy, and I have purchased for as low as $ .20 in my area.
2. Eggs - Full of protein, can be cooked many different ways. Great food all around.
3. Milk - around $2.50 in my area, Milk is a very inexpensive source of calories and a staple food. Requirement for many different recipes.
4. Chicken Thighs/Whole Chickens - as low as $ .99 per lb , can be roasted and turned into chicken soup, roasted chicken, many different ways for a very low price.
5. Beans - my personal favorite is pinto beans but many types are great cooked in the crock pot.

More Inexpensive, Frugal Foods: http://wegotreal.com/inexpensive-food-help-stretch-food-dollars/