Masking Tape and a Sharpie OR How to Avoid Spoiled Food

I’m not a religious person but I do believe in some very firm ‘Commandments’  to follow in the kitchen. The first and most important is’Thou shalt not Waste’ followed by ‘Thou shalt always label thy food containers’. But seriously- labeling food and writing the date is so important in helping to eliminate spoiled food. I wasn’t always a ‘food-labeler’ but going to culinary school and subsequent jobs in many professional kitchens have taught me that labeling food is extremely important and in some places I worked- a requirement.

Labels also work as a communication tool for other people in your kitchen about what food you have in the fridge, freezer and pantry AND it helps remind you to utilize the food that you have on hand. This is one of those ‘techniques’ that isn’t a difficult thing to incorporate into your kitchen routine either. My favorite label is a roll of plain old masking tape and a Sharpie pen or ball point pen. I keep mine out in a bucket up on our counter by the refrigerator so I label items as they are about to be put away. The husband-geek knows the routine and follows it too(sometimes)! All the labeled containers are placed in the fridge, freezer or pantry with the labels facing out towards you or ‘faced’ as we say in the retail food world.

So go out today and get a roll or masking tape and a Sharpie pen and start labeling your leftovers today. Please.