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Spoilage of food is the primary reason for an average 70 percent of food purchased being thrown away in American households, as established by a recent study of over 5000 American households. If you too come under this category and are interested in wasting less food, thereby saving money, read these simple ideas to utilize plastic food storage containers more effectively.

1. Food stored in the freezer is prone to freezer-burn, a chemical process that affects food stored in sub-zero temperatures by dehydrating it and making it foul tasting. To address this issue, you get what are called freezer-proof storage bags: special plastic food storage containers that are sealed against freezer burn. They keep the food as fresh as the day you bought it, for as long as three years!

2. Breathable vegetable bags: this is a new item on the market that is designed especially for fruits and vegetables. They work by sealing your fruits and veggies against spoilage while allowing a small amount of air circulation inside the bag. This tends to keep them fresh for much longer than conventional plastic food storage containers - depending on the produce, up to six weeks.

Third, consider using multi-compartment plastic food storage containers to store small quantities of leftovers, soups, fruits, and vegetables. They are remarkably convenient because you can open a single cube of frozen food without having to deal with the rest of the cubes. This makes it much easier to freeze individual servings of soups or fruit.

4. Vacuum food storage : this is a great way to keep food fresh for longer than any other method, as well as to save space in your freezer or refrigerator. A special device extracts air from your plastic food storage containers or bags. Without air, food stays fresher longer and avoids the ravages of freezer burn. As an added bonus, bags become smaller and take up less space in your freezer or refrigerator.

If you're like most people, you're interested in long term food storage techniques. You're tired to throwing expensive food into the garbage because there's no way to preserve it. Or you find a great buy at the store but know you don't have the room to store the extras you'd like to buy. You'll be glad to know that now there are special food storage containers available that work with your freezer and refrigerator to extend the life of your groceries and help you get more for your food dollar.