4 minute read
23 simple ways TO SAVE THIS YEAR
by Asda
Fed up with feeling the pinch? Us too! Here, the experts at Asda HQ, and you – our lovely customers – swoop in to save the day and help us all reduce waste and stockpile the pennies
WORDS ALEX DREW
4
Pop a lid on it
1 USE IT ALL UP! BIGGER CAN BE BUDGET
Adam Smith, Asda Sustainability Coordinator – Zero Waste, ‘I do everything I can to avoid waste, whether it’s getting that last bit from the bottom of the jar by loosening it with oil, vinegar, or water, or using stalks and leaves from veggies like broccoli and cauliflower – which are absolutely delicious in soups and stir-fries. Nothing goes in the bin.’
2
Rachel Beckwith, Food Editor, ‘A tight-fitting lid for your pan can work wonders on saving energy. If bringing food to the boil, always put a lid on to speed up the time it takes – just keep an eye on the pan to make sure it doesn’t boil over.’
5. TASTY FREEZE
Ophelia Lieng, Old Kent Road
Asda superstore
3 Go solo ‘Opt for loose veggies so you only buy what you need. You’re more likely to eat everything and it won’t end up in the bin.’ Liam Hunt, Asda Content Planner
‘Freeze chopped herbs in ice cube trays with water and add straight to the recipe for a flavour kick. Or whizz up leftover herbs up to make a dressing.’
Alex Killeavy, Asda Workflow Manager
6. FRUITY REFRESH
‘Freeze leftover lemons, limes, berries and cucumber, and then add straight to your favourite drinks for a fruity punch.’
Sophie Rose, Asda Nutritionist
A Quick Compote 7
Rachel Langan, Asda Social Media
Co-ordinator says, ‘Make use of overripe fruit by reducing it down with a little honey, portioning it up and freezing it. It can be used as toppings on crumpets, porridge or ice cream, or stirred into yoghurt for a tangy-tasting pudding.’
8. SWAP TO SAVE
Stuart Appleby, Weymouth store
‘Instead of buying bagged leaves, try using a wholehead lettuce, such as romaine and butterhead – this will last longer, especially if you wrap half-used lettuce in tinfoil before popping it in the fridge.’
9. COOK UP A STORM
Ben Craig, Plymouth Asda superstore, ‘I batch cook fresh veg as I portion freeze stews and sauces. If I leave it for a while, I forget what’s in the fridge and it goes off.’
10 Cram The Cooker
Steph Martin, Asda Magazine Content
Planner, ‘When you turn the oven on at the weekend, fill the bottom rack with jacket potatoes to freeze for mid-week meals – they’ll cook alongside whatever else is in there and use up residual heat. Mark with a cross so they don’t explode in the microwave.’
12 GO EASY ON THE CHEESE...
‘It’s so tempting to add loads of cheese to dishes to make them even tastier but instead, I buy extra-mature cheese and use less of it. Or I reduce the amount by
Bulk It Up
Berry Go Round
‘Squishy berries, strawberries and bananas make great smoothies. Just blend with fruit juice, milk or plant-based milk alternatives .’ Jessica Timms, Asda Magazine Editor
14 LEAF LOVE
‘Shred the outer leaves of lettuce into stir fries or soup, and add to a griddle pan or BBQ for a tasty charred salad.’
Hana Rathyal, Asda Social Media Manager
15 Nutty Leftovers
‘Don’t clean and throw away your old peanut butter jars when they’re empty – use them to make overnight oats to catch all the last scrapings from the jar.’
Leanne Shields, Asda Campaign Manager
16 Every last drop
‘If I’ve ever got any wine left over, I put it into ice cube trays and freeze it. It’s great for stocks, sauces and especially risottos, and it means you don’t have to open a new bottle just for a few millilitres.’ Maz Wakefield, Swindon store
21. CUT DOWN ON YOUR KETTLE USE
Natalie Graham, Asda Content Co-ordinator, ‘ I’ve got into the habit of filling a thermos flask with just-boiled water at the beginning of each day, which I then use for all my hot drinks. The water really keeps its heat and it means I’m only boiling the kettle once a day.’
22. OATS SO GOOD
Gabriella English, Food Editor 17 says… ‘Stackable steamers are great for energy efficiency – put water in the bottom and cook up your pasta, then on the higher layers add your various vegetables. It’s a healthier way to cook, too – win-win!’
18 Cut Down Your Cooking Time
STACK ’EM HIGH
Wendy Chapman, Paignton store, says… ‘Before frying onion, microwave the chopped pieces first for 2–3 minutes to cut down on hob time. It also means you need less oil in the pan, so there’s a double saving.’
19 MAKE THE MOST...
Jenni Bass, Asda Senior Content Manager, ‘Watch a video to learn how to handle a whole chicken – you’ll find ways to get enough extra meat off a carcass to feed the family for a second time, as well as make a really flavoursome stock for soups or casseroles.’
20 Cheaper Cut
Richard Spencer, Bournemouth Asda superstore, ‘When I buy chicken, I always go for thighs instead of breast, and I get them from the frozen section. It’s cheaper than fresh and just as tasty.’
Andy Wiggan, Cambridge store, ‘We have porridge for breakfast every day in our house and I always used to cook it on the stove, but now I do it in the microwave. The secret is going for a mix of half water and half milk – this creates a really creamy texture for less kcals.’
23. TAKE IT SLOW…
Katriel Costello, Chief Sub Editor, says… ‘I use my slow cooker for so much. It’s cheaper to run than the oven and it’s way more versatile than you might think. It’s not just stews and casseroles – I’ve made poached fruit, crumbles and even cakes.’
