We tend to be quick with chucking those leftover food away, not realising that they can be used creatively, from small portions to actual meals that fill you up.
You can even channel some of the great chefs, I mean why not add a little drama!
According to the Antigaspi initiative website, “Leftovers can be used for other meals very easily. There are no limits to how creative you can be.”
Here are a few ideas:
Blend or purée bruised fruit, use leftover fish or meat in sandwiches, or toss cooked potatoes, pasta, or rice into a salad, the above website states.
Meanwhile, I Value Food makes a valid observation and provides more reason to salvage instead of tossing food away, stating that “For all kinds of reasons — environmental, social and financial — it makes sense for us to get smarter about fully using the food that we purchase. And that means getting smarter about leftovers.”
The above source then further says that one evening’s side dish of steamed, roasted, or grilled veggies can be transformed into soup the next day. All you need to do is blend the veggies with three or four cups of chicken or vegetable broth and reheat the soup in a pot. Toss in some pesto, olive oil, or croutons, and season with salt and pepper to suit.
Feasti suggests adding cooked meat leftovers to salads, tacos, and sandwiches and meat scraps can be repurposed into tasty stews or tacos.
“Stale bread or bread ends can be used to make breadcrumbs, croutons, or delicious bread pudding,” the above-mentioned source adds.
The above source also says that the freshness of leftovers can be extended by making use of proper food storage hacks, such as using airtight containers and quickly refrigerating perishables.