Here's how - step by step to the perfect stockpile
Kira Zabe
November 6, 2021
In a previous blog post I discussed pantry storage in small spaces. This is a topic that affects many of us. I hope you were able to take away some useful tips for yourselves.
When one thinks of stockpiling, they surely imagine a cellar full of canned goods and jars of preserves. Perhaps you remember this from your grandparents. Supermarkets and gas stations with their to-go sections have made it easy for us to be supplied around the clock. But I still remember the times when there was 'long Thursday'. That was one day of the week when you could go shopping after 6:00 PM. Otherwise, stores were closed on weekdays by 6:00 PM and on Saturdays even by 1:00 PM. During those times, it was common practice to plan and stock up on meals in advance.
Is stockpiling still socially acceptable?
What has contributed to the fact that stockpiling is now frowned upon and no longer socially acceptable? At our house, we always made a meal plan for the week. This allowed me to look forward to my favorite dishes. Since I've been living alone, I continue to do this just like at home and am always well-prepared for spontaneous visitors. Fortunately, there are still households that stock up like in grandma's times. This is practiced, for example, by larger families and by people who live further away from the hustle and bustle and the constant availability of food.
With today's post, we want to raise awareness and show you how to create a supply that is up-to-date and suits your eating habits. Moreover, it won't immediately burn a hole in your wallet when you start stocking up.
Prepared for the worst-case scenario!
The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) recommends maintaining a permanent supply for 10 days in case of an emergency. It is clear that in our country, we are well taken care of and it is rare that an emergency supply is necessary. However, if we look back, there have been incidents that allow us to relax with a supply tailored to our needs in extreme cases.
When stocking up appropriately, the BBK's list can be helpful to get an initial overview. However, one should pay explicit attention to their eating habits. After all, what good is a can of corned beef if you are a vegetarian? Moreover, one should keep in mind that a supply should not only be useful in everyday life but also practical in extreme cases. For example, dry products like legumes and grains can be stored for a very long time. However, their preparation requires additional water and they have a long soaking or cooking time. In the event of a power outage, this can adversely affect meal preparation.
Your inventory digitally represented on the tablet with our app.
Good planning pays off!
If you want to start stocking up your supplies, good planning pays off. What's always on your meal plan when you go grocery shopping, and what can be easily prepared in an emergency? This consideration ensures that food that is not useful for you doesn't end up in the trash later. Once you have figured this out for yourselves, you can easily use our App to set the minimum stock level for common products, and you'll always be informed when something falls below the minimum stock level. This way, you can start by building a supply that might last for 2-3 days. If that goes well and you still have space, you can increase it to last for additional days.
What should you consider?
When thinking about long-term food storage, canned goods immediately come to mind. Sure, canned food has a long shelf life and is also relatively inexpensive. If you generally don't use canned food often, it shouldn't be the first choice for stockpiling. Moreover, they are not exactly a healthy option, and especially if cans are dented, they should no longer be used.
What should you know about canned food?
- For the sake of your health and the environment, do not use canned food and beverage cans!
- Never heat food directly in a coated can! Due to the heat, more BPA is transferred into the food!
- Cans that are bent or severely dented should be thrown away. Damage to the protective coating can lead to tin and BPA leaching into the food. Additionally, the metal may already be rusted. Therefore, the shelf life is no longer guaranteed.
Are canned goods in the pantry really a healthy alternative
No to canned food, then what?
An alternative to canned goods are preserved foods in jars. Nowadays, there's almost an alternative in glass for everything, and you don't have to compromise on shelf life. Plus, you can see if something has gone bad prematurely.
Bread from the Weck jar - stays fresh and lasts long
Bread in a jar - always fresh and long-lasting
Bread is one of the food items that spoil the fastest. This poses a greater challenge when it comes to food storage. However, if you bake bread in a jar, its shelf life can be extended up to 2 weeks. Moreover, it is a healthy alternative since it does not contain any preservatives that would extend its shelf life. In our next Saturday Blog we will show you how easy it is.
Are you now inspired and ready to get started? That's good. If you haven't used the app yet, download it HERE and digitize your home supplies. Set your minimum stock levels and gradually prepare for your stockpiling.
I wish you lots of fun! Yours, Alice
More clarity when shopping: How Open Food Facts and the Smantry app make nutrition transparent
Many foods look healthy at first glance – but what's really inside them? Are the nutritional values balanced? How processed is a product? And what impact does it have on our environment?
This is exactly where the Smantry-App comes in: It uses the globally open database Open Food Facts, to give you immediate clarity when scanning your items. But what's actually behind the colorful labels like Nutri-Score, NOVA or Eco-Score, that you encounter in the app?
Let's take a closer look at the background.
Open Food Facts: From the Idea to a Global Database
The journey began in 2012 with the founding of Open Food Facts – a non-profit organization that collects, analyzes, and makes food information freely accessible worldwide. The goal from the beginning was to provide consumers with scientifically substantiated information.
What started as a small project has now become a global platform with millions of products. And it is precisely this data that the Smantry-App uses to give you a clear overview directly on your smartphone.
An overview of the most important scores
1. Nutri-Score – how healthy is my product?
Since 2016, the Nutri-Score has been legally established in France – and it has quickly spread throughout Europe.
- A (green) means: very balanced.
- E (red) means: unbalanced, enjoy in moderation.
The rating is based on calories, sugar, salt, saturated fats – but also on positive factors such as fiber, protein, and the proportion of vegetables.
👉 So in the Smantry app, you can see at a glance whether a food item fits into your everyday life – or perhaps should be on the table less often.
2. NOVA-Score – how processed is it?
Not only the ingredients, but also the degree of processing plays a significant role for health. This is exactly what the NOVA-Score (integrated into Open Food Facts since 2018) shows you:
- 1 = unprocessed or minimally processed (e.g., fresh fruit, plain yogurt)
- 2 = ingredients such as vegetable oils, sugar, flour
- 3 = processed foods (e.g., bread, cheese, canned goods)
- 4 = highly processed products ("Ultra-Processed Food"), often with additives, flavors, and industrial processes
👉 With the Smantry app, you can instantly tell if a product is still 'close to nature' – or if it falls into the category of being highly processed.
3. Eco-Score (soon to be Green-Score) – how sustainable is my shopping?
Since 2019, Open Food Facts also includes an environmental assessment: the Eco-Score. It takes into account, among other things:
- CO₂ emissions from production and transportation,
- Packaging and recyclability,
- Origin and seasonal factors.
The rating is – similar to the Nutri-Score – from A (very eco-friendly) to E (less sustainable).
By 2025, this will become the Green-Score, which will take into account even more detailed data and thus provide you with even better guidance for sustainable consumption.
👉 For you in the Smantry app, this means: You can see not only whether a food is healthy for you, but also whether it is good for our planet.
What this means for you as a Smantry user
Currently, you can scan your products in the Smantry-App and view many details. The scores themselves are not yet integrated – but the integration is planned.
This means: Soon you will be able to see not only the nutritional values of a product but also how healthy, processed, or sustainable it is – all directly in your app.
Conclusion: Your Smart Nutrition Compass
The colorful labels are much more than pretty symbols. They are your quick compass in everyday life – whether you want to shop with health consciousness, reduce highly processed products, or pay attention to the environment.
With the Smantry-App you already have strong support for more transparency while shopping. And with the planned integration of the scores, it will become even more valuable – your smart nutritional compass for the future.
Cooking with the Future: Augmented Reality and Smart Interfaces for Your Recipes
That’s exactly what augmented reality (AR) and smart interfaces bring to the table. They project digital information where you need it most: into your cooking environment. This makes it easier to stay organized, cook more efficiently, and even reduce waste – because less stress in the kitchen often means fewer forgotten or spoiled ingredients.
And here’s where Smantry comes in. The app already helps you keep track of your pantry, avoid food waste, and stay in control of your kitchen. With upcoming features like leftover-based recipe suggestions, you’re already stepping into the smart kitchen future today.
👉 Bottom line: The kitchen of tomorrow is here – and it’s efficient, sustainable, and surprisingly fun.
The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes 🍲✨
Hand on heart: Each of us has them – those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.
Here are our favorites:
🥣 1. The powerful blender
Smoothies, soups, dips – a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.
🔪 2. A sharp chef's knife
Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.
🍳 3. A cast iron skillet
The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread – everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.
🥕 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater
A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.
🥡 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars
Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.
🌱 6. Kitchen Scale
It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.
🥄 7. Personal Blender
The little brother of the blender – perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.
How Smantry additionally helps you 📲
With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.
👉 Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.
New laws on food waste in Spain
Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.
Key provisions of the law:
Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.
Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.
Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.
Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.
Sanctions for violations:
Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.
Critique and Outlook:
While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.
Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.
Join in and reduce food waste! 🌱📲
Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.
👉 Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! 💚 Try it now!