This is the slogan for Food Waste Action Week, which starts today. It is organised by WRAP [Waste Resources Action Programme] - the people behind the 'love food, hate waste' slogan
You can find dozens of recipes here - be creative, don't throw it away! There is no excuse - and with prices rising, we all need to be more careful. Look at the food you do throw away. Ask how you can find a use for it - or how you can plan to avoid the surplus.
There are some things which you probably do already
- turn leftover bread into crumbs or croutons
- make "fridge scrape" soup from tired veg, or "mystery smoothies" from fruit past its best
- take leftovers and plate them up for another meal, or a packed lunch for work.
- use stale biscuits in bases for cheesecakes, or make 'refrigerator cake, tiramisu or 'tiffin'
- use leftover rice in fried rice dishes
- milk 'on the turn' can go into scones
- use the chicken carcase to make stock
But can you be even more creative?
- Leftover potatoes mixed with canned fish will make lovely fishcakes - but but remember to coat them with homemade breadcrumbs, and pan fry them in the oil from the can
- Combine leftover ragu [or spare cheese] with leftover risotto to make Sicilian arancini
- Cut bread into large cubes and use it in place of pastry or crumble to top a casserole or stewed fruit.
- When you get to the end of the ketchup or chutney jar, rinse it out, and add to the stew for extra flavour
- If you are eating an orange, zest it first, and freeze the zest for another recipe.
Use any leftover takeaway food intelligently. Don't keep it too long, and do reheat it thoroughly. Last night's leftover chips can be pan fried to go with lunch. Curry can top a jacket potato. All sorts of leftovers make a great snack spread on toast, topped with cheese, and popped under a grill.
Don't despise 'doggy bags' - after a recent family outing to a carvery, we came home with some lovely sliced beef [the portions were extremely generous] We did not have a suitable box with us, but granddaughter Jess lent us her [clean] feeding bowl. I have since realised my collapsible Stojo Mug would be excellent for transporting some leftovers!
All good tips. Getting organised is the key. Actually monitoring what you buy, throw and so on. Kx
ReplyDeleteThanks Kezzie - you are a very organised eco warrior!
DeleteOver here, in California, at least, we have a new program where all food waste must be put in the yard waste bin to be composted. We may not put food waste in the trash bin, in order to reduce the emission of methane and other green house gasses.
ReplyDeleteI try not to have any food waste. I generally eat all my leftovers or turn them into different dishes. Certain items, like vegetable trimmings and egg shells get composted in the garden. :)
We've had food waste management in other places, sadly not here in Norfolk (yet) Composting is always good
DeleteThe problem comes when you have a huge bag of breadcrumbs in the freezer and no inclination to cook anything to use them. They used to go on crumbles and cheese dishes, but my eating habits have changed. Maybe I can incorporate them into a salad??
ReplyDeletehttps://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/what-to-do-with-leftover-breadcrumbs/
DeleteI don't know if any of these ideas appeal. Can you mix breadcrumbs into your compost?
DeleteI doubt it, it could attract rats. Thanks for the link!
DeleteOoh, I didn't think of rats!
DeleteThe Olio app is great for rescuing supermarket food that would otherwise end up as waste.I got two large bags of lovely carrots last week. Not a thing wrong with them and they were free!
ReplyDeleteBut only useful if you are n an urban area. Not much good for us village dwellers
DeleteI live in a village, Angela.It depends who is doing the volunteering and how far they are willing to travel to collect the stuff. Some of our volunteers will even deliver too but in the main, I try and use local folks who are within walking distance to me.
DeleteYou're right BMAY - It does depend on availability and ability to access it.
DeleteThe figures are shocking. I know I am unusual but I honestly do not think I have ever thrown food away. My tip is not to overbuy in the first place and avoid supermarkets if possible. Shop small and local, buy the best you can afford and you won’t waste it. Those supermarket deals come at a cost to the environment, to the community, to people’s health and well-being. Supermarkets (and their shareholders) have a lot to answer for with their car parks (whoever thought an out of town supermarket only reached by car was a good idea?!) and huge trolleys and the ease with which they persuade customers to part from their hard-earned cash. I am lucky, I do most of my shopping in our community owned and run village shop which I walk or cycle to. Carrying home shopping for three adults concentrates the mind - and is very good exercise! Wicked Leaks (the mouthpiece of the Riverford organic veg delivery business) always has interesting articles about food and farmers and waste - and delicious recipes too! Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteGreat words, Sarah. Thanks for the Wicked Leaks tip. I go not town on the bus and use my trolley for heavy loads
DeleteFried rice made with all leftover vegetables is a handy one
ReplyDeleteA delicious way to use things up. Thanks Jenny
DeleteI do many of the tips above and am thankful that I'm learning how to use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!
ReplyDeleteA good motto, not just for food, but for other household items and clothes too.
DeleteLike lots of people born in the post war era, I have done most of these things all my life. Some things are a more modern twist eg ragu sauce instead of leftover mince but basically I have always used leftovers to make other meals. Soup in our house is generally ifits- meaning if it’s in the fridge/store cupboard then it’s in the soup. We don’t eat takeaways since we retired as we both have time to cook now and to enjoy the food we make. I’ve just made up the shopping list for Wednesday and am making a birthday lemon cheesecake for our daughter and her husband’s birthday on Monday. I am going to use Asda’s own range products to make it rather than the big brand names. Fingers crossed it works or there will be two very disappointed 48 year olds. Catriona
ReplyDeleteOh I do like "If it's" soup! Great name
DeleteI hate the idea of wasting food. There is something sacred about something that others also depend on for life. I generally find ways to use up leftovers. If I make too much mashed potato I turn the leftovers into potato pancakes the following day. They go nicely with something like pork chops and gravy. I bookmarked the link to the recipes and I was surprised to find some for leftover lamb. We can't even find fresh lamb now. I like the tip about cooking fishcakes in the oil from the can. I do need a way to use up saved bacon fat, apart from creating bird treats - any ideas?
ReplyDeleteWhy not render it down and use it to cook the potato cakes?
DeleteI am always amazed at the food people throw away, I can honestly say that I do not put food in the bin. Why would I pay for something and then throw it away? I might as well just throw the money away and save myself time.
ReplyDeleteIt is horrifying to watch people wasting food
DeleteI have managed to find a solution to the problem of the left over crusts from bread loaves. I make a quick bread and butter pud-- butter+ actually I use marg) the crusts and then cut up into 1/2 inch squares . Pur on a small bowl with currents mixed in and Suger sprinkled over. Then mix 1 egg with about 250 ml of milk , whisk ,pour over the crusts then bake for about 1/2 hour depending on what you use. I have an Aga in winter but use an Air fryer in summer. Everything is adhoc by eye but no matter what it is devoured. Su
ReplyDeleteThat sounds very tasty.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have food waste but I don’t buy bread, pots, rice or pasta as too high in carbs and a,so veggie, so no meat waste. I make soups using all the veg, shop bought soups are far too salty. If everyone stuck to a Diabetic diet there wouldn’t be food waste, it’s carbs that get thrown, you only have to look at local community larder, always left over bread and buns. Too much is being produced. Just cut the carbs out. Sandra. Dorset.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting comment, Sandra. Thank you. I'm wondering if the excessive amount of carbs in the community larder is maybe to do with shelf life? A pack of buns will last longer - and maybe any fruit which is donated is either snapped up quickly, or has to discarded because its not fresh enough? Also carbs are perhaps among the cheaper food items, so people may overstock them? But you are absolutely right, as obesity levels rise, we all need to reconsider our Carb intake. Thanks for such a thought provoking comment
DeleteWe’ve been very careful about avoiding waste with our food, but unfortunately with two small children it can be hard to avoid some waste, with so much that gets half chewed or dropped on the floor or poked but not eaten!
ReplyDeleteI think that the amount of children's food that gets dropped or half chewed represents a very small proportion of the total amount wasted in the UK. And I know that there's very little "surplus" food going to waste in your home!
ReplyDeleteI had some food waste, today - I ate a banana and tossed the peel into the kitchen compost container. I have seen various recipes online for cooking banana peels, but, I am not quite sure I am ready to do so, myself. Although, there was a recipe for a vegan "bacon" using banana peels which might be worth trying!
ReplyDeleteI think composting a banana skin doesn't count as waste, you are adding nutrients to the soil and that's a good thing. I'm not convinced by these latest recipes for banana skins.
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