Looked up how much canned food Americans waste each year

Found a stat from the USDA that said we toss around 30-40% of our canned goods before we open them. That’s like every third can in my pantry just sitting there expiring. Anyone else guilty of hoarding tuna for two years?

3 comments

3 Comments

roberts.leo1mo ago

Oh man I'm totally guilty of this! I started doing something that actually helped a lot though. I made a rule for myself where anytime I buy canned stuff I put the newest cans in the back and the older ones up front. Also I keep a little notepad on my fridge where I write down what canned goods I have and their expiration dates. It sounds simple but it cut my waste way down because now I actually remember to use that can of beans before it turns into a science experiment.

ivan7741mo ago

Wait no kidding, I tried that note thing but ended up forgetting to update it and now I got a list of beans from like 2021 lmao. Honestly I just started keeping a specific shelf for "eat this soon" stuff and that helped more cause I see it every time I open the fridge.

nguyen.blake1mo agoTop Commenter

Dude yes! I do the exact same thing with putting the new stuff behind the old stuff, it's a game changer. For me it was canned tomatoes that kept going to waste, I'd buy a new can and forget about the half-used one in the back of the cabinet. Now I also keep a whiteboard marker on my fridge and jot stuff down quick like "2 cans black beans" and "1 can corn" and wipe it off when I use it. It's not perfect but way better than guessing. Have you ever tried meal planning around what's already in your pantry before you go shopping? That helped me catch those forgotten cans even sooner.