Reusable QR labels for leftovers: know what's in every container

Every fridge has one: the container at the back that nobody remembers filling. Writing on tape works until the marker smudges or you forget. A reusable QR label fixes it for good - stick it on once, and each time leftovers go in, a quick scan records what they are and the date. Anyone in the house can scan it later and see when to eat it by.

How long leftovers keep

These are USDA guidelines for cooked leftovers. Frozen food stays safe longer, but taste and texture fade. When in doubt, throw it out - and never taste food to check.

Why a reusable label instead of tape and a marker

• The label stays on the container; only the information behind it changes.
• It holds more than you'd write: what it is, how many servings, the day it went in, and the eat-by date.
• It can remind you before the leftovers go off, instead of you finding out later.

Setting it up

1. Print a sheet of tags. Each needs its own code. Print at 100% size and test one with your phone before printing a whole sheet. No printer? A library or print shop can print a PDF onto label sheets.
2. Pick labels that survive. Waterproof vinyl labels hold up in the fridge, the freezer and hand washing. Removable labels let you move a tag to another container. Or print on paper and seal it under a clear self-laminating label.
3. Stick it where you'll see it. On the lid's flat top or the side facing out, so it scans without unstacking.
4. Hand-wash tagged containers, or check that your labels say dishwasher-safe. A dishwasher's heat lifts most labels.

Good supplies

• Waterproof vinyl labels, 1 × 2⅝ in (30 per sheet) - small tags for lids.
• Removable labels, 2 × 4 in (10 per sheet) - bigger tags that peel off cleanly.
• Clear self-laminating labels - to seal a paper tag.
• Glass containers with flat lids - a smooth spot for the tag, and fridge to microwave in one.

Make it a habit

• Scan the tag as the leftovers go in - it takes a few seconds while the lid's still off.
• Put the oldest containers at the front of the shelf.
• Plan a leftovers night once a week to clear what's due.

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