Homemade stockpiling
Kira Zabe
November 13, 2021
I love fresh fruit and vegetables and like to buy them at the farmers' market. When I'm at the supermarket and find an unbeatable offer just before closing time, I'm happy to grab it twice.
Nevertheless, I quickly reach the point where I can't eat that much fresh fruit or vegetables. Moreover, my family rebels if there's salad to eat three days in a row.
Depending on the temperature, some food items spoil faster than they can be incorporated into meal planning, or perhaps you want to enjoy the delicious mirabelles from summer on a cold winter's day with rice pudding. Maybe you also pay attention to the additives in your food and canned or jarred goods from the supermarket are simply not an option for you.
With this contribution, we would like to support you in self-made food storage and highlight the advantages of each method.
There are many ways to preserve fresh food for longer. The most common method is probably canning. Especially when making jam, the barrier to giving it a try yourself is relatively low.
Bread in a jar. The alternative for long-term bread storage.
In our last post "Step by Step to Perfect Pantry Stocking" we promised to give you a detailed report on "Bread in a Weck Jar" and its shelf life. Here is the promised post including the recipe.
If you need to replenish your bread supply quickly, you can use a bread mix or try this recipe.
Once the dough is prepared, proceed as follows:
- Brush glasses with oil
- Put breadcrumbs into a glass and distribute by swirling
- Pour the excess into the next glass, proceed in this manner with all glasses
- Place a ball of dough into each glass (The ball should not fill more than half of the glass)
- Take a dish towel and cover the glasses, let the dough rise for 30 minutes in a warm place
- Clean the rim of the glass from dough and oil residues
- Place the filled molds without a lid on a tray or rack in the preheated oven
- After the baking time, turn off the oven and leave the jars inside to cool for about 10 minutes (slightly open the door for this)
Sealing and Durability
Check again to make sure there are no crusts or oil residues on the edges of the jars. Then put the lids on. If the bread has baked over the edge, cut it horizontally so that the jar can be closed without any problems. Caution, hot! If you take the jars out of the oven and seal them immediately, the bread will stay fresh for at least 2 weeks. Turn the jars upside down immediately and let them cool on the lid.
Beware of condensation water!
However, this method can lead to faster mold growth or the crust becoming somewhat soggy due to the condensation water that forms. If you want to keep your bread fresh for several months, please proceed as follows to minimize the formation of condensation water. Let the jars cool down until no more condensation water forms on the lid briefly placed on top. Preheat the oven to about 90 degrees Celsius. Now close the jars and place them in a baking dish or a higher baking tray. Fill the dish with about 2 cm of warm water. Slide the filled dish into the warm oven and bake the jars for 30 minutes. After baking, take them out of the oven and let the jars cool on a rack.
Your supply of bread is ready!
Did you already know all the methods? I myself have only tried canning and drying so far. I will definitely try baking bread in a Weck jar and fermenting. What do you plan to test? If you've become interested in more and would like to see our compiled list of recipes, please write to info@speisekammer-app.de and you will receive our best-researched recipes.
I look forward to your message, yours Alice
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!
Get the most out of your Smantry App: Activate these premium features!
🖼️ Private photos for your articles
Make your inventory management visual! With the feature "Upload Your Own Images" you can add a photo to each item – for example, of the packaging, the jar, or the portion in the freezer. This is especially helpful if you share with others in a community or if you want to visually remember your supplies better.
Activation: Open app → Account (last tab in the mobile app) → Settings → "Activate Personal Pictures"
🔍 Target nutritional information
The app automatically displays calorie and nutritional information – super convenient when you're shopping or eating mindfully. Don't need this info right now or want a cleaner view? You can also simply hide the display!
Control:Profile → Account Settings → Enable “Hide Nutritional Information”, to hide it.
💶 Prices & Expenses at a Glance
If you want to know how much you spend on which item or how much money is lying dormant in your pantry, the Price Entry feature can help you. With it, you can plan your shopping even better and even track your budget.
Activation: Open app → Account (last tab in the mobile app) → Settings → “Enable price input”
💡 Prepper Mode: Even More Control
The Prepper Mode has been introduced for those who really want to keep track of everything – including minimum quantities, emergency supplies, and individual notes for serious situations. It's also useful if you just want to make sure you never run out of anything important.
Activation: Open app → Account (last tab in the mobile app) → Settings → “Show Prepper Information”
Here's how you can find your account settings
In the mobile app you can find the settings easily in the last tab on the far right (Account). In the web app click on Account → "Settings".
All mentioned features are part of the Premium-Version. If you don't have a premium license yet, feel free to check in the app or on app.speisekammer.app/upgrade – there's also a family license available!
✨ Conclusion: You have more options than you think. Activate the hidden premium features now and get the most out of your Smantry app. Because smart inventory management starts with the right tools.
If you have any questions about activation, feel free to contact support or check out our Help Center. And if you have feature requests – we always welcome your feedback!
Never forget leftovers again: Soon you'll be able to mark opened products 🧃✨
💡 The new feature: Mark products as "opened"
With the upcoming update, you will soon be able to specify in the Pantry App when a product was opened. This way, you always keep track:
- What is already open
- Since when it has been open
This is particularly useful for fresh or perishable food items, but also for sauces, canned goods, spreads, or snacks.
🔔 Reminders included
Of course, if you wish, you will also be automatically reminded, when an opened product should soon be consumed – all in keeping with the motto: Use rather than waste.
🎯 Why this is important
Food waste often doesn't occur while shopping – but at home, in everyday life. If we know better what is open and should be consumed, it becomes easier to make the right decisions. And that's exactly what the Pantry App wants to support you with even better with the new feature.
🛠 When will it be time?
We are currently working hard on the implementation – the feature is expected to be rolled out in the next update. So you will be able to test it very soon yourself.
If you want to participate in the testing or have feedback, feel free to write to us in support. We look forward to your ideas!
With the Pantry App, stockpiling becomes not only more sustainable, but also easier – step by step.
Stay tuned – it's getting exciting! 💚
🌍 Small ideas – big impact: These companies help you save food in everyday life
🍏 Foodsi (Poland)
This mobile app connects users with restaurants, bakeries and cafés offering surplus food at reduced prices—especially valuable in Polish cities like Warsaw or Kraków.
🛍️ OLIO – Share Surplus Food with Neighbors
OLIO connects neighbors and local businesses to share surplus food instead of throwing it away. Users can offer or request free food via the app — reducing waste and building community.
🍌 Imperfect Foods – Selling "Ugly" but Edible Food
This U.S.-based grocery delivery service rescues "imperfect" produce and surplus goods that major supermarkets reject due to appearance or overstocking — and delivers them directly to your door.
🔗 https://www.imperfectfoods.com
📦 Dispatch Goods – Reusable Packaging for Takeout
Dispatch Goods partners with restaurants to replace single-use containers with reusable packaging. This reduces packaging waste — and their system tracks and collects the containers for reuse.
🔗 https://www.dispatchgoods.com
🥬 Fresh.Land – Farm-to-Consumer to Prevent Waste (DK)
Fresh.Land shortens the supply chain by connecting consumers directly with farmers. This means fresher produce, longer shelf life, and fewer losses due to long storage or transport.
🧊 ColdHubs – Solar-Powered Cold Storage in Nigeria
ColdHubs installs solar-powered cold rooms for small farmers and markets to store perishable foods. This innovation significantly extends shelf life and reduces spoilage in hot climates.
🧃 Winnow – AI to Track Food Waste in Commercial Kitchens
Winnow’s smart scales and AI help restaurants and hotels measure and reduce food waste. By showing how much food is wasted and why, kitchens can adapt their behavior.
🔗 https://www.winnowsolutions.com
Why this matters for you
When you use the Smantry app, you can track and manage rescued food items in your pantry – whether they came from Foodsi, Karma, or another initiative. We’re building integrations to log these products, set reminders, and reduce waste in your household.
Know any other businesses doing this well?
We’d love to hear about them! Email your favourites to kira@mantry.com or write us in the chat or social media. Your tip might inspire others and be featured next. 🌿