News & Trending Shopping & Deals News

12 Smart Grocery Hacks That Save You Money In the Long Run

Stash it, don’t trash it—food storage tips for a fatter wallet

woman standing at grocery store choosing things to buy
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Experts estimate that 30% to 40% of our food supply ends up in landfills, translating to around 400 lbs. per person annually. That’s tragic on an environmental level, but it’s also problematic for your wallet.

Whether you’re looking to reduce food waste or spend less on groceries, use these hacks to ensure that more of your food goes into your mouth and not into the trash.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Freeze bread

lisa870/Adobe sliced white bread

Extend the life of both homemade and store-bought breads by freezing them.

Most commercially made breads have additives to slow molding, but they still only keep for a week or so on the counter. Frozen breads will maintain their freshness for up to two months.

Put cut herbs in water

Sunny Forest/Adobe Fresh herbs displayed against a wooden surface.

The same strategy that keeps flowers fresh will do the same for cut herbs like parsley, cilantro and dill — putting them upright in a glass of water.

Keep them in the fridge this way (with plenty of air around the top so the leaves don’t freeze) to extend their usefulness.

Buy fruit at various stages of ripeness

o_lypa/Adobe women choose fruit

When buying fresh fruit, try getting pieces at varying stages of ripeness rather than a big bunch of bananas or a huge bag of apples.

You’ll enjoy your food at the peak of its tastiness and end up with fewer overripe bananas in the freezer.

Get a protection plan on all your appliances

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.

Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.

For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

Put a slice of bread in with cookies

ReneLa/Peopleimages - AI/Adobe cookies on parchment paper

It’s always a disappointment when fresh-baked cookies go stale. You can reverse this tragedy by putting them in a plastic container with a slice of bread.

The cookies absorb enough moisture from the bread to soften them up a bit.

Store winter squash in a cool, dry place

DiAnna/Adobe acorn squash on cutting board

Squashes will keep for several weeks to six months, depending on the variety, if stored between 50 and 55 degrees and at about 60 to 70% humidity.

For the longest shelf life, cure your squash first and store it at a warm temperature with good air circulation for between 10 and 14 days.

Don’t rinse berries before putting them in the fridge

Anna_Anny/Adobe fresh berries close up

Strawberries and blueberries may be on the Dirty Dozen list of foods with pesticide residues, but don’t rinse them until right before you eat them. The extra moisture encourages rot and mold growth.

Freeze unused sauces

chachamp/Adobe jar filled with tomato sauce

How many half-eaten jars of salsa or pasta sauce have molded in your fridge before you got around to using them?

Don’t rely on your memory to prevent food waste — freeze unused sauces instead. Frozen tomato-based sauce can last up to six months.

Slice off moldy cheese

New Africa/Adobe parmesan cheese on wooden table

If your block of cheese has a spot of mold, there’s no need to pitch the entire thing. You can safely cut one inch around the moldy spot and eat the rest of the cheese.

Use lemon juice to prevent browning

vaaseenaa/Adobe fresh lemons for juice on gray background

Cut fruit reacts with the oxygen in the air, causing oxidation that turns it brown.

You can spritz lemon juice on it to slow this process, as it contains an acid that makes the oxidizing enzyme less effective.

Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!2

Get Capital One Shopping now

Cover banana stems to slow ripening

Ruslan Grumble/Adobe fresh bananas on the brown wooden

It’s always a bummer to go for a banana only to discover it’s become mushy. The ripening happens thanks to ethylene gas emitted by the banana’s stem.

To slow down ripening, cover the stems with cling wrap or foil.

Don’t put dairy items in the refrigerator door

Elena Medoks/Adobe a glass of milk

Milk, cream, and other dairy products usually expire quickly, so store them in the back of the fridge (the coldest part) to preserve their freshness.

Even though many fridge doors have a spot for a gallon of milk, this part of the fridge fluctuates in temperature the most, making it go bad faster.

Freeze veggies you plan to saute

qwartm/Adobe person taking out small shoppers of frozen vegetables from freezer

Many veggies lose their crisp quality when frozen, but this is less of a concern if you plan to cook them anyway.

Slice and freeze mushrooms, peppers, onions, and anything else destined for the frying pan to preserve freshness or prevent them from going bad before you can use them.

Bottom line

Zamrznuti tonovi/Adobe Woman holding shopping cart at grocery store

The first step to saving money shopping is eating what’s on hand and making sure the food you buy doesn’t go bad. This can be tricky, especially with food items that only last a few days.

The biggest takeaway is to store foods properly to slow spoilage. With some thought and planning, you can extend the life of your favorite foods and enjoy delicious meals and snacks without waste.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details


Author Details

Jenni Sisson

Jenni Sisson is a freelance writer and editor who focuses on personal finance, real estate, and entrepreneurship. She has been published in Business Insider and The Ways to Wealth. In addition to writing, Jenni hosts the Mama's Money Map podcast to help fellow stay-at-home moms on their journey to financial freedom.