If you’ve ever opened the door of your fridge and said, “Ew, what WAS that?” then you might want to keep reading.

Everyone hates wasting food. It’s money down the drain and a disappointment when you’re looking forward to eating something only to find it’s now a slimy mess in the fruit drawer.

So check out www.stilltasty.com or download their iPhone app. It’ll tell you all you need to know about shelf life and food safety like how to best store fruit, how long thawed meat will stay safe, how long things will last in the freezer, and the truth about expiration dates.

And when you’re storing food, don’t forget to label what you’ve put in the fridge or freezer:

• Which labels? Post-It notes with all over sticky backs or basic white mailing labels are great for both bags & containers. They’re cheap and come off easy. Keep them stuck to the side of the fridge with a magnet so they’re right where you need them.

• What to put on the label? On the label, write what the food is and the date you stored it. Go one step further and write the projected expiration date so it’s a no-brainer at clean out time.

• Where to store it? Store your newest containers at the back of the fridge and move existing ones forward so they get used first.

• Keep it clean. Clean out your fridge right before you shop for groceries. It’ll be its emptiest and will give you a chance to see what you already have so you don’t repurchase. It’s also a great time to quickly wipe down the shelves & drawers.

To make the most of your leftovers and to prevent wasteful shopping, try these sites for a little help with meal planning:

• Lowes Foods to go: www.lowestogo.com – purchase groceries online and someone at the store shops for you and you pick up in designated zone. Can repeat common shopping items.
• The USDA has a wonderful resource with shopping & food safety tips, planned meals, and shopping lists.
• www.bigoven.com – $29.95/mo for recipe software or searchable database, calculate nutritional values, has calendar for meal planning.
• www.mealsmatter.org – cost is free and focuses on healthy eating and recipes
• www.sparkpeople.com – great for dieting & fitness meal planning!