CHRISTMAS has come early for veggie lovers – British farmed favourites for a festive feast have been hugely reduced across many supermarkets.
Some major retailers have lowered the cost of vegetables by up to 95 per cent, helping shoppers stretch their seasonal budgets.
The savvy shopper took to TikTok to share her storage solutionCredit: TIKTOK/@jadesbitesuk
She added in the video that you shouldn’t wash the spuds and the other veggies before storing themCredit: TIKTOK/@jadesbitesuk
Amongst them is also the popular discount supermarket Aldi, which officially declared war on Christmas costs, slashing the price of a full festive dinner to .
Thrifty shoppers can take advantage of the famous “Christmas Super Six” promotion, which sees festive veggie staples crash to just 5p per pack.
That includes 2kg of white potatoes, 1kg of carrots, 500g of parsnips, and the controversial Brussels sprouts, all for copper coins.
But how to make your veggies last longer if you want to make the most out of the epic deal?
One cash-savvy mum, Jade, recently took to TikTok to share how the cut-price veg will last her into March after spending just £1 at the supermarket.
To store them properly, the TikToker (@ jadesbitesuk ) first took the veggies out of the plastic bags and placed them on a clean tea towel to dry out for 24 hours, so there’s no trapped moisture.
She added in the video that you shouldn’t wash the spuds and the other veggies before this step, as storing them when still wet “is the number one cause of spoiling”.
Once the time’s up and the veggies are all dry, it’s time to store them in a box – while a plastic one works, “cardboard would be much better”.
Start by placing a sheet of paper at the bottom (newspaper will do), then continue with one type of veg, another layer of paper and so on.
“The paper absorbs moisture, keeps out light and lets the vegetable breathe,” Jade said in the video .
“The cabbages I wrapped individually but obviously, the outer leaves are gonna protect the veg anyway.”
For storage, the savvy TikToker said, you’ll need to find a cool, dry place
“But you definitely need protection from , so if it’s in like a garage or a shed it needs to be in a sealed container off the floor.”
By following this method, the mum said spuds will last around two to four months, carrots and parsnips – one to three months, cabbages two to four months, swedes two to three months.
How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. .
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert , could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
This means that some of the veggies will last her all the way into March.
It’s also essential to check every couple of weeks – if you spot any veggies starting to spoil, remove them immediately, and replace damp paper if needed.
Uploaded just two days ago, the informative clip has proven to be a major hit amongst viewers, racking up more than 600k views and hundreds of comments.
One person said: “Wow, I didn’t realise they stay fresh for so long stored like that!”
“I found this really helpful, thank you for sharing,” a second chimed in.
“Spent a fiver on veg today. It’s all chopped up and in the freezer now for the rest of the year,” a third shared their method.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
