From the fridge to the shopping list

The Kitchen section chains three tools: the Food Storage Guide, Leftover Chef and the Weekly Meal Planner. Each step feeds the next.

1. Pantry and fridge

In Pantry and fridge add one row per item with quantity, unit and — where it matters — the expiry date. Items that expire within three days are listed right under the table as Use first.

You can also import a list: File → Import table (CSV)…, choose Pantry and fridge in Import into and check the preview before you press Import. The first line of the file must be a header such as item, quantity, unit, expires.

2. Stored leftovers and frozen food

Add what is in containers or the freezer: What is it? (your own name, for example “Leftover roast chicken”), the Food type (storage chart), where it is stored and when it was cooked or frozen.

3. Plan the week

Set Days to plan, People per meal, Diet, the Maximum cooking time (min) and anything to avoid in Meal settings, then press Plan the week. Hearth runs:

1. Food Storage Guide for every stored row. The Storage check table shows Fine, Use soon or Discard and the date to use it by.
2. Leftover Chef with your pantry and stored food — anything the storage check says to discard is left out, and items to use soon go first.
3. Weekly Meal Planner with your pantry and expiry dates.

4. The shopping list

The Shopping list merges what every dinner still needs (same item and unit are added up). Tick items as you shop; the ticks are saved with the household and the dashboard counts what is left. Download CSV or Open in another app… hands the list on.

5. When things change

Edit a quantity or a date and the run block says Inputs changed since the last run. Press Plan the week again — or R on the keyboard — to update all three steps.

Good to know

• The Dinner time (calendar) setting places dinners in the household calendar export.
• The storage chart covers meat, fish, eggs and leftovers; for anything else rely on the pantry expiry date.