As the weather heats up and fridges start filling with ham, salads and party platters, Love Food Hate Waste NZ is urging Kiwis to “summer-proof” their food storage – or risk throwing money straight in the bin.

Despite rising food prices and careful budgeting, New Zealand families are still throwing out a significant chunk of what they buy.

The latest Rabobank Kiwi Harvest Food Waste Survey shows that households waste around 10.9% of their weekly food spend, which adds up to around $1364 a year per household, or $3 billion in food waste nationwide.

Love Food Hate Waste NZ’s own Deck the Halls with Data Christmas study reveals what goes wrong when the weather heats up, and the fridge fills up.

At Christmas, the top reasons food is wasted are leftovers not used (42.2%), too much food cooked (26.1%), and too much food bought (16.2%).

More than a third of households (35.1%) say limited storage space is their biggest barrier to cutting festive food waste, and nearly a quarter (23.3%) point to food safety worries, such as food left out on tables for long periods.

“We put huge effort into planning the menu, but very little into planning where everything will actually go,” Love Food Hate Waste NZ programme manager Sophie Wolland said.

“In summer, a crowded fridge and food left out too long can turn a beautiful spread into both a food safety risk and a waste of money.”

Summer‑proof your fridge: Five fixes to stop food going off

1. Clear space before you do the big shop

A stuffed fridge can’t stay cold. When shelves are jam‑packed, cold air can’t circulate properly and temperatures creep up, shortening the life of meats, dairy, salads and leftovers.

• Do a pre-Christmas clear-out of mystery jars and old condiments.

• Move drinks to a chilly bin with ice so the coldest shelf space can be used for food.

• Set your fridge to 2–5C and –18C in the freezer.

“A fridge that’s too full and too warm is one of the quickest ways to turn perfectly good food into waste,” Wolland said.

“Making a bit of space before the big shop can save a lot of money later.”

2. Graze smart

Summer gatherings often mean food sitting out for hours while people graze, but warm conditions drastically shorten the safe window for perishable foods.

• Follow the two‑hour rule – after two hours at room temperature, chill or freeze leftovers.

• Keep back‑up platters in the fridge and rotate smaller plates in and out instead of topping up the same one all day.

• Seafood, poultry, ham, dairy dishes and creamy desserts are especially vulnerable in hot conditions.

3. Give leftovers a plan, not just a container

The Deck the Halls research showed that unused leftovers are the No 1 driver of Christmas food waste, even though many say they manage leftovers better at this time of year.

• Cool leftovers quickly in shallow containers and refrigerate within two hours.

• Eat within two days, or freeze portions for up to two months for best quality.

• Create an ‘eat me first’ shelf so everyone knows what needs using next.

“People have the best intentions with leftovers, but by day three we’re all sick of ham and salads,” Wolland said.

“Freezing early – not on day five – is the difference between a bonus meal and a bin full of waste.”

4. Food in the fridge, drinks in the chilly bin

At Christmas, drinks often take up precious fridge space that could be keeping food safe.

• Use chilly bins or tubs of ice for drinks and free up shelf space for food.

• Store condiments in the door and keep the coldest parts of the fridge for meats, seafood and salads.

5. Store high‑risk foods where they’re safest

Some Christmas favourites are both expensive and fragile in the heat.

• Keep raw meats and seafood covered and on the bottom shelf to avoid drips onto ready‑to‑eat foods.

• Store Christmas ham in a clean, damp ham bag or pillowcase in the fridge, and slice and freeze portions if you won’t get through it within a few days.

• Always defrost in the fridge, not on the bench.

Confusion around date labels continues to drive unnecessary waste. Love Food Hate Waste NZ reminds households that use by equals safety, while best Before equals quality – food may still be perfectly fine past its best before date if it looks, smells and tastes normal.

With a few simple changes, Kiwi families can enjoy their festive feasts without letting good food – or good money – go to waste.

-Content supplied by Love Food Hate Waste NZ