As we’re all hunkering down and self-quarantining to protect ourselves and the community from the coronavirus outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends having at least a two-week food supply on hand.

So, you’ve probably made a couple of trips to the supermarket to stockpile some necessities. With a lot of that shopping being done in a panic and stores running out of items, you may have ended up buying things not usually on your food list or overloaded on some of your usual staples.

“Even during a pandemic, it’s possible that people buy foods that they think they should eat instead of foods they want to eat, which can lead to unnecessary food waste,” said Alyssa Pike, registered dietitian and manager of nutrition communications at the International Food Information Council Foundation.

Keeping track of what’s in your fridge and cupboard and learning which foods to prioritise will keep you from wasting too much food and help you make do ― and, even make some delicious meals ― with what you already have. Here’s how.

Practice the “first in, first out” rule

Professional kitchens abide by the first in, first out, or FIFO, rule. That means storing older foods in the front of your refrigerator or cupboard, and newly purchased items behind them, in the back. This is a good practice for home kitchens, too, said Celine Beitchman, director of nutrition at the Institute of Culinary Education.

“You don’t want to just keep shoving groceries into wherever you can fit them,” she said. “You want to have some sense of organisation as to where you put them.”

Place fresh fruits and vegetables in the easiest-to-grab spot in the refrigerator, along with milk and other dairy with the soonest expiration dates. Arrange canned goods, pasta and other cupboard items so that those with the soonest “use by” or “sell by” dates are front and centre.  

“We know that whatever is at the very front of the line is the thing that we should use first, and what’s behind that is the thing that we’ve maybe just bought,” Beitchman said. “So, we’re always kind of moving inventory around so that we’ve got that FIFO going.”

Eat fresh produce first

Any fresh fruits and vegetables should be used first, said Kris Sollid, registered dietitian and senior director of nutrition communications at the International Food Information Council Foundation.

“Try using the ripest first, and map out a schedule for using the others as close to their peak ripeness as possible,” he said.

Storing fruits and vegetables properly, with leafy greens in the refrigerator and onions and garlic in a dry, dark space, for example, will extend their shelf life.

But just because something starts to look wilted or mushy doesn’t mean it should be thrown away. Freezing or cooking produce can make it last longer.

Over-ripe bananas turning brown can be stored in the freezer or used in smoothies or baked goods, Sollid said.

Greens can be blanched, and vegetables, like tomatoes, squashes and carrots, can be roasted. Toss cooked veggies into soups or casseroles, or freeze them, Beitchman said.

Even better, make a soup or casserole with the fresh vegetables. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for three to four days, or portion the meals out and freeze for up to three months.

FIFO goes for meat and dairy, too

Practice FIFO with meat and dairy, Beitchman said. Keep track of use by and sell buy dates and, like produce, consider freezing or cooking to make them last longer. 

Uncooked meat can be stored in the freezer for four to 12 months, and cooked meat for two to three months, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Milk, cheese and other dairy also freeze well.

Beitchman suggests portioning everything out first ― cut cheese into slices or chunks, freeze milk in ice cube trays and freeze meat in serving sizes that make sense for your family.

Another option for using up milk and cheese nearing its shelf life: Make a béchamel sauce. The versatile cream sauce can be used in mac and cheese, lasagna or other casseroles.

Keep up with expiration dates of cupboard items

After you’ve made use of fresh produce, meats and dairy, look to the freezer next. Frozen foods, whether store-bought or homemade, are usually more perishable than canned foods or other cupboard items, said Claudia Sidoti, principal chef at HelloFresh.

“But, it depends on the dates, so that is the most important thing to check,” she said, urging home cooks to put the date on anything they freeze.

Date labels on packaged foods can be confusing. They’re usually not based on science and usually offer a guide for when a food is at its best, not necessarily that something is unsafe to eat.

Cupboard items may still be safe to eat even if they’re recently expired, Sidoti said. If something looks or smells off, or you’re doubtful, throw it away.

You can always cook anything that’s about to expire, and don’t forget items like flour and grains also have expiration dates.

“Cook up the pasta and store it in a Ziploc bag and then stir into soups, or make a crazy mixed-shape mac and cheese and portion it up and freeze it,” Sidoti said.

Get creative with what you have on hand

You may end up with a random collection of ingredients, so getting creative in the kitchen is a must. Combining shelf-stable items like beans, pasta, rice and canned foods with fresh and frozen foods is the best way to make balanced recipes and use what you have in stock, Sollid said.

Making soups, chilli or casseroles lets you combine different ingredients in unique ways, Sidoti said. Check out Pinterest, Google recipes for the ingredients you have or refer to the cookbooks collecting dust on your bookshelves for ideas.

“If you look at cookbooks from the ’50s, when casseroles and bakes were popular, it’s kind of crazy to see what combos of canned ingredients home cooks were using,” Sidoti said. “With time on your hands, get creative, look up ways to use your ingredient that you are struggling to find a use for. Have fun with it and take some risks.”

Swap out ingredients and experiment with dried herbs and flavours, like honey or maple syrup, to use up foods and keep from getting bored with eating the same dishes over and over, Beitchman said.

Even while you’re hunkering down, try to eat as healthy as possible with multiple food groups and lots of fruits and vegetables, whether they’re fresh, frozen or canned, Pike said.

“Make the best choices you can based on what’s available, what you enjoy and will actually eat, what’s convenient and within your budget,” she said.