UK households are being encouraged to adopt a simple but effective storage method for pasta sauce jars to combat food waste. Many people, after using half of a jar, find that it becomes moldy and unusable within a few days. This contributes to the larger issue of food waste in the UK, with jars of pasta sauce, salsa, and tomato purée being significant culprits in the garbage. To alleviate this problem, Ryan Allen, a food blogger known as The Cooking Duo, suggests an easy change in storing leftover sauce—turning the jars upside down.

The advice is straightforward: instead of keeping opened jars standing up, flipping them onto their lids can create a vacuum seal, which slows down the growth of bacteria and preserves the quality of the sauce for a longer period of time. This method is particularly appealing for those who often use only part of a jar and find that the remaining contents spoil quickly. By employing this simple technique, households can effectively minimize waste and make better use of their food supplies.

This guidance not only benefits individual households by extending the lifespan of sauces but also contributes to reducing the broader environmental impact associated with food waste. As more people become aware of effective storage techniques, it could lead to a significant reduction in the amount of food discarded, reflecting a growing trend towards sustainability and mindful consumption in the UK.