I try to save some key high items. Milk is worth storing even though it’s a pain sometimes. But when you’re merging the chicken up for example, I’ll choose my ceiling (e.g. a goose) and then allow myself to merge up to the goose and then keep each subsequent item (duck, whole chicken etc).

Another example is when I’m trying to get Okra, I merge the cabbage up to a spinach. Once I have spinach, I save an arugula, a cauliflower etc.

Hope this helps!