Great question — it's probably not storing food properly once it's bought or prepped. Wilted herbs, forgotten vegetables tucked in the back of the fridge, dairy that expires, bread that goes hard or moldy — that stuff adds up fast and honestly costs way more than a cooking mistake. The second big culprit is cooking portions that are too large (or not using leftovers), but that's easier to fix once you know your household's appetite. The reason storage wins is that it's invisible waste — you don't see the mistake happen in the moment like you do when you overcook meat or curdle a sauce. By the time you remember that cilantro or those carrots, they're already gone. The good news? Small storage habits — like storing herbs stem-down in water (like flowers), keeping vegetables in the right zones of your fridge, or freezing bread before it goes stale — can cut that waste in half pretty easily. Is there a specific food you find yourself throwing out a lot? I can help you store it better.
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