2 to 3 weeks ahead
Start early and use this chance to cook with what you already have in your pantry and freezer.
One week ahead
- Pack up the food that’s left in the pantry;
- Plan meals based on what you still have in the fridge;
- Avoid purchasing new food as much as possible, unless you’re certain to use it up completely. This will keep you from throwing out too much food.
Now’s the time to plan a soup, frittata, legume-based fritters or even a rice dish using whatever you have on hand.
soups and broths
Hearty Chicken and Rice Soup
Zero-Waste Recipes
Kitchen Sink Fried Rice
Two days ahead
Once the fridge is empty, you can begin defrosting the freezer so that it’s dry and ready by moving day.
This is also the time to prepare an emergency box with paper towels, utensils and shelf-stable food items, such as chewy bars, dried fruit, granola, bottled water and crackers.
Healthy Snacks
Chewy Dark Chocolate Granola Bars
Breakfast and Brunch
Granola
24 hours ahead
It’s time to unplug and empty the fridge and freezer and pack up everything into a cooler. Prepare a simple lunch like sandwiches or a meal salad to keep you energized on moving day. Take this opportunity to properly wash the interior with hot water and vinegar.
Moving day
Upon arrival at your new home, wait at least five hours before plugging the fridge back in so that the liquids inside can stabilize. You can then return the food from your cooler to the fridge. An important note: the appliance will take about three hours to reach a safe temperature once it’s turned back on.
For more ideas on how to maximize the use of your ingredients, be sure to consult our selection of zero-waste recipes: