Less Food Waste in a Maltese Kitchen

Less Food Waste in a Maltese Kitchen

A few small habits and the right storage can make a real difference to how much food ends up in the bin. Here is how to waste less, save more and make the most of every ingredient in a compact kitchen.

Store it where you can see it

Food you cannot see is food you forget, and forgotten food is food that spoils. Clear storage containers keep everything visible, so you know exactly what is in the fridge or cupboard and use it before it goes off. This matters even more in Malta's heat and humidity, when fresh produce turns faster than you expect. A quick glance at stacked glass jars filled with grains, lentils or beans makes planning meals far easier, and cuts down on unnecessary trips to the shop.

Store it where you can see it
ISTAD resealable bag, patterned/green, 6/4.5 l, 30 packISTAD resealable bag, patterned/green, 6/4.5 l, 30 packIKEA 365+ lid, rectangular/plastic, 21x15 cmIKEA 365+ lid, rectangular/plastic, 21x15 cmISTAD resealable bag, patterned/black yellow, 1/0.4 l, 60 packISTAD resealable bag, patterned/black yellow, 1/0.4 l, 60 packKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass, 1 lKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass, 1 lIKEA 365+ lid, square/plastic, 15x15 cmIKEA 365+ lid, square/plastic, 15x15 cmKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass, 0.5 lKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass, 0.5 l

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Give leftovers a second life in the freezer

Vegetables past their best do not need to end up in the bin. Chop them up, pop them into a resealable bag and freeze them for later use in soups, stews, sauces or smoothies. The texture changes slightly after thawing, but the nutrients and flavour stay put. This is a particularly useful habit in smaller Maltese kitchens, where fridge space is often limited and freezing little batches helps avoid the temptation to over-buy fresh produce in the first place.

ISTAD resealable bag, patterned black/yellow, 2.5/1.2 l, 50 packISTAD resealable bag, patterned black/yellow, 2.5/1.2 l, 50 packISTAD resealable bag, patterned/blue, 1/0.4 l, 60 packISTAD resealable bag, patterned/blue, 1/0.4 l, 60 packISTAD resealable bag, with slider/mixed colours, 1/2/4 l, 80 packISTAD resealable bag, with slider/mixed colours, 1/2/4 l, 80 packISTAD resealable bag, light pink, 1 l, 25 packISTAD resealable bag, light pink, 1 l, 25 packISTAD resealable bag, multicolour/patterned, 1.0 l, 20 packISTAD resealable bag, multicolour/patterned, 1.0 l, 20 packISTAD resealable bag, patterned blue/red, 1.0/2.0 l, 50 packISTAD resealable bag, patterned blue/red, 1.0/2.0 l, 50 pack

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Turn odds and ends into pantry staples

Almost any fruit, vegetable or herb can become something new rather than something wasted. Pickles, preserves and pesto are obvious options, and infusing oil with garlic, chillies, lemon or herbs is another easy way to stretch ingredients further. Glass bottles and jars with a good seal are ideal for this, keeping flavours fresh and infusions tidy on the worktop. It is a satisfying way to slow down kitchen waste while building up a small stock of homemade extras.

KORKEN jar with lid, clear glass, 1.8 lKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass, 1.8 lKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass, 2 lKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass, 2 lKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass, 13 cl, 3 packKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass, 13 cl, 3 packKORKEN bottle shaped jar with lid, clear glass, 1 lKORKEN bottle shaped jar with lid, clear glass, 1 lKORKEN strainer/funnel set of 3, stainless steelKORKEN strainer/funnel set of 3, stainless steelKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass/patterned green, 13 cl, 3 packKORKEN jar with lid, clear glass/patterned green, 13 cl, 3 pack

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Grow a little greenery by the window

Shop-bought herbs tend to wilt quickly and arrive wrapped in more plastic than anyone would like. A sunny windowsill is all that is needed to grow your own basil, mint or parsley, even in the smallest apartment or maisonette kitchen. A dedicated plant stand keeps pots tidy and within easy reach of the worktop, so snipping a few leaves becomes part of the everyday cooking routine rather than an afterthought. It looks good too, adding a patch of green to the kitchen.

Grow a little greenery by the window
SATSUMAS plant stand, bamboo/white, 70 cmSATSUMAS plant stand, bamboo/white, 70 cmSATSUMAS plant stand, bamboo/white, 78 cmSATSUMAS plant stand, bamboo/white, 78 cmSATSUMAS plant stand, bamboo/white, 36 cmSATSUMAS plant stand, bamboo/white, 36 cm

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Sort what cannot be saved

Some scraps genuinely cannot be reused, and that is where good waste sorting earns its keep. A pull-out solution fitted inside a kitchen drawer makes it simple to separate organic waste from general rubbish, keeping the kitchen tidy and the process almost effortless. Vegetable roots such as spring onion or leek bases can also be regrown in a jar of water rather than discarded outright. Between regrowing, composting and sorting properly, very little needs to go to landfill at all.

Sort what cannot be savedSort what cannot be saved
HÅLLBAR bin with lid, light grey, 10 lHÅLLBAR bin with lid, light grey, 10 lHÅLLBAR bin with lid, light grey, 22 lHÅLLBAR bin with lid, light grey, 22 lHÅLLBAR pull-out frame for waste sorting, light grey, 26.5x31.5x45 cmHÅLLBAR pull-out frame for waste sorting, light grey, 26.5x31.5x45 cmHÅLLBAR bin with lid for organic waste, light grey, 10 lHÅLLBAR bin with lid for organic waste, light grey, 10 lHÅLLBAR bin with lid, light grey, 3 lHÅLLBAR bin with lid, light grey, 3 lHÅLLBAR bin with lid, light grey, 35 lHÅLLBAR bin with lid, light grey, 35 l

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Small changes in the kitchen add up over time, and the right tools make them easier to keep up. Browse the range online and have your choices sent to your door in Malta or Gozo.

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