Collection Chuseok 2026.08.03

Reducing Food Waste During Chuseok Shopping and Storage

Safe Cooking and Portioning for Holiday Meals

#Shopping #Food Storage #Chuseok #Holiday Food

The biggest reason holiday food goes to waste is that we don’t calculate how many people will eat and how many meals we will have before shopping. If you prepare generous amounts of traditional dishes and side dishes without distinguishing between family meals and dining out schedules or return times, you will quickly run out of refrigerator space. As the quantity of ingredients increases, so do the risks of cross-contamination, leaving food at room temperature, and repeated reheating. When different generations are making decisions together, it’s better to ask short questions about necessary conditions instead of having one person decide for everyone.

This list starts from deciding on the number of people and the menu, goes through organizing the refrigerator, the shopping order, separating raw ingredients, distinguishing cooking tools, ensuring sufficient heating, quick cooling, portioning, and utilizing leftovers, arranged in the actual flow of the kitchen. It is based on the food safety guidelines for holiday shopping, cooking, and storage from the Food Safety Nation, but it prioritizes checking product labels and conditions rather than arbitrarily deciding storage periods for each food. Schedules and arrangements may change, so always review the official guidelines right before you start shopping or ordering.

Taking a picture of your fridge before shopping and sharing it with the menu planner can help reduce duplicate purchases. Serve only the amount of completed dishes that you will eat, and for leftovers, divide them into clean containers by meal portion and label them. It’s safer not to eat food that has been left at room temperature for a long time or smells and appears suspicious, no matter how much you hate wasting it. When preparing the next meal, check your stored food before considering new dishes.

Start by Listing the Number of People and Meals

Writing down the number of people and meals in advance is the starting point for reducing the total amount before shopping. When preparing for your event, first write down the number of people attending and the meals you'll be having, along with dining out schedules in a table. Especially don’t over-prepare out of concern for unexpected visits. The link is for verifying the basis for this item and checking official use and product information, and it’s good to review any changes in operating hours, reservation conditions, and product composition right before your visit or order. Depending on the family members' ages, the available storage space, and how you will transport items, even the same choice can differ in terms of convenience, so prioritize your own situation over the order of the list. Instead of trying to complete all preparations at once, it’s better to make notes of the necessary confirmations and share them with the person in charge to reduce omissions and duplications.

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Reduce Overlapping Holiday Menus

Reducing overlapping holiday menus helps to avoid duplication of similar cooking methods and ingredients. When preparing, determine the number of types of jeon (Korean pancakes), stir-fried dishes, steamed dishes, and namul (seasoned vegetables), and share the menu responsibilities among family members. Especially, check for allergies and foods that might be hard to chew before cooking. The link is for verifying the basis for this item and checking official use and product information, and it’s good to review any changes in operating hours, reservation conditions, and product composition right before your visit or order. Depending on the family members' ages, the available storage space, and how you will transport items, even the same choice can differ in terms of convenience, so prioritize your own situation over the order of the list. Instead of trying to complete all preparations at once, it’s better to make notes of the necessary confirmations and share them with the person in charge to reduce omissions and duplications.

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Create Space in the Refrigerator Before Shopping

Creating space in the refrigerator before shopping is preparation for safely storing purchased ingredients and completed dishes. When preparing, check any leftover food and expiration dates, and make sure to free up empty space on each shelf. Especially, do not judge the safety of food left at room temperature just by smell. The link is for verifying the basis for this item and checking official use and product information, and it’s good to review any changes in operating hours, reservation conditions, and product composition right before your visit or order. Depending on the family members' ages, the available storage space, and how you will transport items, even the same choice can differ in terms of convenience, so prioritize your own situation over the order of the list. Instead of trying to complete all preparations at once, it’s better to make notes of the necessary confirmations and share them with the person in charge to reduce omissions and duplications.

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Buy Room Temp Items First, Then Refrigerated/Frozen Foods

Purchasing in an order from room temperature to refrigerated and frozen items helps to minimize the exposure of temperature-sensitive ingredients to the environment. When preparing, start with rice and oil, then fruits and vegetables, followed by refrigerated processed foods, and finally meats and seafood. Especially if you will be returning home late, prepare insulated bags and ice packs. The link is for verifying the basis for this item and checking official use and product information, and it’s good to review any changes in operating hours, reservation conditions, and product composition right before your visit or order. Depending on the family members' ages, the available storage space, and how you will transport items, even the same choice can differ in terms of convenience, so prioritize your own situation over the order of the list. Instead of trying to complete all preparations at once, it’s better to make notes of the necessary confirmations and share them with the person in charge to reduce omissions and duplications.

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Store Meat and Seafood Separately from Vegetables

Separating meats, seafood, and vegetables helps to reduce cross-contamination when storing raw ingredients in the refrigerator. When preparing, use separate containers for raw ingredients and place items that you will cook immediately in the lower compartments. Especially, promptly organize any leaks to ensure they do not come into contact with other foods. The link is for verifying the basis for this item and checking official use and product information, and it’s good to review any changes in operating hours, reservation conditions, and product composition right before your visit or order. Depending on the family members' ages, the available storage space, and how you will transport items, even the same choice can differ in terms of convenience, so prioritize your own situation over the order of the list. Instead of trying to complete all preparations at once, it’s better to make notes of the necessary confirmations and share them with the person in charge to reduce omissions and duplications.

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Separate Knives and Cutting Boards by Ingredient

Separating utensils for each ingredient helps to prevent mixing raw materials with cooked dishes. When preparing, separate your knives and cutting boards for meat, fish, and vegetables, and ensure they are thoroughly washed when switching between stages. Especially, do not reuse dish towels or tongs used with raw food directly. The link is for verifying the basis for this item and checking official use and product information, and it’s good to review any changes in operating hours, reservation conditions, and product composition right before your visit or order. Depending on the family members' ages, the available storage space, and how you will transport items, even the same choice can differ in terms of convenience, so prioritize your own situation over the order of the list. Instead of trying to complete all preparations at once, it’s better to make notes of the necessary confirmations and share them with the person in charge to reduce omissions and duplications.

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Cook Pancakes and Meats Thoroughly

Cooking pancakes and meats until they are thoroughly cooked means not simply judging based on their exterior appearance. When preparing, confirm that thicker meatballs and grilled items are cooked through to the center, and try not to fill the pan all at once. Especially, avoid the practice of partially cooking and then leaving food to finish cooking later. The link is for verifying the basis for this item and checking official use and product information, and it’s good to review any changes in operating hours, reservation conditions, and product composition right before your visit or order. Depending on the family members' ages, the available storage space, and how you will transport items, even the same choice can differ in terms of convenience, so prioritize your own situation over the order of the list. Instead of trying to complete all preparations at once, it’s better to make notes of the necessary confirmations and share them with the person in charge to reduce omissions and duplications.

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Cool Cooked Food Quickly and Store in the Refrigerator

Quickly cooling completed dishes before refrigerating them is part of cleaning up after meals while minimizing time left at room temperature. When preparing, serve only the amount you plan to eat, and for leftovers, divide them into clean containers to cool down before covering them and placing them into storage. Especially, avoid leaving large pots unattended for a long time or using the veranda as if it were a refrigerator. The link is for verifying the basis for this item and checking official use and product information, and it’s good to review any changes in operating hours, reservation conditions, and product composition right before your visit or order. Depending on the family members' ages, the available storage space, and how you will transport items, even the same choice can differ in terms of convenience, so prioritize your own situation over the order of the list. Instead of trying to complete all preparations at once, it’s better to make notes of the necessary confirmations and share them with the person in charge to reduce omissions and duplications.

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Portion and Label for One Meal

Portioning leftovers and labeling them helps reduce the frequency of retrieving and reheating the same food. When preparing, label containers with the name of the food and the order in which to consume them, while distinguishing between refrigeration and freezing. Especially, prioritize the labeled storage methods and expiration dates, and if the condition is in doubt, throw it away. The link is for verifying the basis for this item and checking official use and product information, and it’s good to review any changes in operating hours, reservation conditions, and product composition right before your visit or order. Depending on the family members' ages, the available storage space, and how you will transport items, even the same choice can differ in terms of convenience, so prioritize your own situation over the order of the list. Instead of trying to complete all preparations at once, it’s better to make notes of the necessary confirmations and share them with the person in charge to reduce omissions and duplications.

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Prioritize Leftover Food Before New Dishes

Prioritizing leftover foods before new dishes helps to prevent holiday meals from being forgotten in the refrigerator. When preparing, first list the remaining jeon, namul, and meat on the meal plan for the next meal and reheat only what you need. Especially, do not mix leftover food with uneaten food in the same container. The link is for verifying the basis for this item and checking official use and product information, and it’s good to review any changes in operating hours, reservation conditions, and product composition right before your visit or order. Depending on the family members' ages, the available storage space, and how you will transport items, even the same choice can differ in terms of convenience, so prioritize your own situation over the order of the list. Instead of trying to complete all preparations at once, it’s better to make notes of the necessary confirmations and share them with the person in charge to reduce omissions and duplications.

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한눈에 보기 10개

Start by Listing the Number of People and Meals

Reduce Overlapping Holiday Menus

Create Space in the Refrigerator Before Shopping

Buy Room Temp Items First, Then Refrigerated/Frozen Foods

Store Meat and Seafood Separately from Vegetables

Separate Knives and Cutting Boards by Ingredient

Cook Pancakes and Meats Thoroughly

Cool Cooked Food Quickly and Store in the Refrigerator

Portion and Label for One Meal

Prioritize Leftover Food Before New Dishes