If you often find yourself with food waste after cooking meals, don’t just throw it away. There are plenty of further uses for leftovers, and here are the most creative ways you can reduce food waste.
Create a Stir-Fry with Rice and Veggies
It’s really difficult to cook the perfect amount of rice and vegetables for a dish, but that doesn’t mean you should waste the leftovers. They make for the ideal base for a quick stir-fry; simply sauté your veggies, add the rice, and toss with a splash of soy sauce and a dash of sesame oil. Best of all, this dish is easy to customize based on whatever leftovers you have.
Blend Overripe Fruits into Smoothies
Don’t throw away your overripe fruits because while they may not be appealing to eat on their own, they’re perfect for smoothies. Blend them with some yogurt, milk, or juice for a refreshing and nutritious drink, making for a great way to ensure that no fruit goes to waste.
Make Bread Pudding from Stale Bread
It’s tempting to throw stale bread in the trash, but don’t–it can be turned into a delightful bread pudding. Combine the bread with a mixture of eggs, milk, sugar, and spices, and bake until set. This comforting dessert is a great way to give new life to bread that’s past its prime.
Transform Roasted Vegetables into Frittatas
As The Mediterranean Dish shares, if you have leftover roasted vegetables after cooking a meal, we’ve got good news–they’re super versatile and can easily be repurposed into a savory frittata. Simply whisk some eggs, mix in your leftover veggies, and bake until golden. This creates a nutritious and satisfying meal that’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Make Broth with Vegetable Scraps
Another excellent use for vegetable leftovers, especially scraps like carrot tops, onion skins, and celery leaves, is to make a homemade broth. Simmer the scraps in water with a few herbs and spices to create a flavorful base for soups and stews, adding depth and richness to your dishes.
Turn Leftover Meat into Sandwiches
Never throw away leftover meat scraps from roasted chicken, beef, or pork, as these can be transformed into delicious sandwiches. Shred or slice the meat, add some fresh vegetables and a spread like mustard or mayo, and enjoy a quick and tasty lunch option that makes the most of your leftovers.
Use Cheese Rinds in Soups
A lot of people don’t realize that hard cheese rinds, like those from Parmesan, are totally edible. While they may be too tough to eat on their own, they can add a lot of flavor to soups and stews once melted down. Toss the rind into the pot while your soup simmers, and remove it before serving, and the taste of your homemade soups will be much richer.
Repurpose Mashed Potatoes into Pancakes
Believe it or not, leftover mashed potatoes can be turned into savory pancakes. Mix the potatoes with an egg, a bit of flour, and some seasoning, then fry until crispy. These pancakes are a delicious side dish or a base for other toppings, although they’re probably more suited for dinner, unlike regular breakfast pancakes.
Turn Cooked Pasta into a Salad
Just like with rice, it’s easy to cook too much pasta, but the extras can be repurposed into a refreshing pasta salad. Toss it with some fresh vegetables, a protein like chicken or beans, and a light dressing, making for a perfect quick lunch or a side at dinner.
Make Croutons from Leftover Bread
Another creative way to use up your stale bread is to transform it into crunchy croutons. Cut the bread into cubes, toss with olive oil and seasonings, and bake until crispy. These homemade croutons are perfect for adding texture to salads or soups, and you’ll never buy them pre-prepared again.
Use Citrus Peels for Infused Water
Once you’ve squeezed the good stuff out of a lemon, lime, or orange, keep the peels, which are fantastic for infusing water with a refreshing flavor. Simply add the peels to a pitcher of water and let it sit for a few hours. This creates a tasty, zero-waste drink that’s perfect for staying hydrated throughout the day.
Create Stuffed Peppers with Leftover Rice
Yet another fantastic use for leftover rice is to use it as a filling for stuffed peppers. Mix the rice with some beans, veggies, and spices, stuff into bell peppers, and bake until tender. Not only is this nutritious and delicious, but it makes for a pretty fancy dish.
Blend Herbs into Pesto
If you normally buy pesto from the store, consider blending leftover herbs with other ingredients to make your own. Simply combine the herbs with garlic, nuts, olive oil, and cheese and blend until smooth. This versatile sauce can be used on pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip, adding a burst of flavor to your meals.
Make Ice Cream with Leftover Cream
No leftover cream should ever be put in the trash because you can use it to make delicious homemade ice cream. It just needs to be mixed with sugar and flavorings and then frozen until set. This delicious treat is a fun way to use up extra cream and can be customized with your favorite flavors.
Turn Cooked Meat into Tacos
Another creative way to use leftovers and reduce food waste is to integrate leftover cooked meat into tasty tacos. Shred the meat, add some fresh toppings like lettuce, tomato, and cheese, and enjoy in a warm tortilla. This quick meal is perfect for using up leftover proteins.
Use Old Bananas for Banana Bread
Most people are quick to throw overripe bananas in their compost, but before you do this, remember that they’re ideal for making banana bread. Mash the bananas and mix with flour, sugar, eggs, and baking soda, then bake until golden. This classic recipe is a delicious way to ensure your bananas don’t go to waste.
Add Leftover Vegetables to Omelets
Another smart way to use up leftover vegetables is to add them to omelets for a nutritious breakfast. It’s so easy—just sauté the veggies, pour beaten eggs over them, and cook until set. This quick meal is a great way to start the day while using up extra produce.
Make Jams with Overripe Fruits
Another great way to repurpose overripe fruits is to turn them into homemade jams. Cook the fruit with sugar and a bit of lemon juice until thickened; this preserves the fruit’s flavor and creates a delicious spread for toast, yogurt, or desserts.