Recipe Matcher

I heard on GMA yesterday that the average U.S. household throws out nearly a quarter of the fruits and vegetables it buys. For a family of four, that adds up to about $500 each year, according to a study by the University of Arizona. Read the rest of the story to learn how to store your food to keep it fresher and make it last longer.

Image via CrunchBase

RecipeMatcher looks like a handy site to help you use the foods you have so they don't go to waste. Occasionally I might throw something out, but I don't think it's nearly a quarter of my produce. Maybe it's because I cook this way on a regular basis - planning meals around whatever's in the refrigerator that needs to be used. I think it's important to use what you have. Otherwise, you're just wasting money.

Check your refrigerator and pantry, visit Recipe Matcher, and start typing in the ingredients you have on hand that need to be used. You can also choose the type of recipe you want and what your main ingredient should be, and then search to find recipes using the ingredients you have. You'll get a whole list of recipes to choose from. Each recipe lets you know how long it takes to prepare as well as the other ingredients you'll need.

It looks like anyone can search and find recipes, but signing up for a free account lets you leave comments, keep an online pantry, make and print shopping lists, keep lists of your favorite recipes, and even submit your own, so I signed up. I'm guessing that once I stock my online pantry by checking off all the items I have in my refrigerator, freezer, and pantry, the recipes will fit my needs even better, because the site will be able to suggest recipes I have all the ingredients for.