The average Brit has an astonishing £171 of uneaten food sitting in their kitchen.
A study of 2,000 adults found tins, condiments, herbs and spices amount to £88 of the unused goods, but even the freezer is home to £83 of produce.
Brits admit they have at least four food items in the kitchen they have no idea how to use – with many of the ingredients and sauces left unopened, or used once, bought for unusual recipes or on a whim.
One in five adults attribute a lack of food planning as the main reason for their food wastage – or hunger getting the better of them, forcing them into impulse purchases on the day.
Overestimating portions and having to buy ingredients that come in excessively large packaging are also major contributors to food waste at home in the UK.
Man's Christmas Day dinner 'wrong on so many levels' – as he adds bonkers extra
Brits are sick of Boxing Day sales and most would rather be at the pub
While many are hoarding ingredients, 44 per cent feel a sense of guilt due to the amount of food wasted in their household – throwing away nearly £8 of food each week.
Laurent Guillemain, CEO of HelloFresh UK, which commissioned the study, said: "We're seeing many people overspend on ingredients that they never use and ultimately have to throw away which is bad for their wallets and the environment.
"Our research shows that double the amount of food is thrown out over the festive period.
"As many look to waste and spend less in the new year, HelloFresh is an ideal choice for dinner – delivering all the pre-portioned ingredients needed to cook chef inspired recipes from scratch at home."
The study also found more than six in 10 Brits enjoy cooking, but nearly a quarter don't clean their fridge or freezer for at least six months, with some leaving it up to a year before having a clear out.
Heartbroken family of cancer victim to have life-size cut out at Christmas table
When Brits eventually make the time to have a clean-up, nearly £12 worth of food has to be thrown in the bin.
And while rummaging through their frozen goods, the average Brit finds food that has been kept in the freezer for nearly two years.
It also emerged dinner leftovers, fruit and veg and bread are the most frequently thrown away perishables, with more than half of Brits binning them in an average week.
Old classics like pasta, tinned tuna, baked beans and rice make up some of the many products stored for in excess of a month in our cupboards – as well as other long-life products such as flour, herbs and spices.
When stock is running low, half of Brits will go without if they're missing a vital cooking ingredient until their next visit to the shop.
But while a third of consumers can take or leave a visit to the supermarket, 22 per cent say they don't enjoy food shopping at all.
Despite this, a favoured topic for nearly a third of respondents to discuss is what to have for dinner.
Similarly, 37 per cent of those polled via OnePoll feel like the time and effort spent on food shopping could be better served doing something completely different altogether.
When shoppers manage the strength to venture to the supermarket, they try to pick up ingredients for five dinners per week, leaving room for a takeaway or eating out on the weekend.
Nearly 50 per cent also write a list, pack reusable shopping bags, as well as check their freezer before a trip to the supermarket – yet only 17 per cent set themselves a budget.
One in five buy their foodstuff with health in mind, with a similar number focused primarily on price in the aisles.
Nearly a third prefer to avoid the supermarket completely, ordering a takeaway as a treat or because they're tired – with a quarter of respondents making do with a quick fix of toast.
Laurent Guillemain added: "We want our customers to enjoy a wide range of ingredients and not have to worry about unwanted excess food being thrown in the bin unnecessarily.
"From family-friendly meals, rapid recipes for those on the go, premium dishes for more decadent dinners, low calorie options and a wide variety of British classics and world cuisine, HelloFresh is a great choice for dinner without the hassle of planning, shopping and food waste."
Source: Read Full Article