It is a fact that we humans need to change our habits in the very near future if we wish to slow down climate change. For many, this will involve quite a radical change of habits. There are many ways in which this can be done. One way is, for example, to be more mindful of reducing food waste. There are many smart and delicious ways to cut down on food waste – so you can both take care of the planet and save money at the same time.
Recycle leftovers
Most people occasionally find themselves with leftovers after cooking. These can either be cooked or uncooked leftovers. With a bit of creativity, there are actually enormous possibilities for using these leftovers in ways that are both delicious and reduce waste. For example, make a delicious hash from meat leftovers by simply cutting the meat into smaller strips and frying it in a pan with onions and boiled potatoes. Most dishes can also be used in delicious Asian dishes. Add tasty sauces and spices and make, for example, a wonderful wok dish or homemade spring rolls filled with leftovers.
There is also plenty of opportunity to make stocks and soups from many leftovers. You can make stock from seafood shells, chicken bones, or vegetable stock from peels and tops of vegetables. Later, you can use such a stock to prepare delicious sauces whose taste will surely impress. Thus, you are doing both the planet and yourself a favor by recycling your leftovers in this way.
Use the freezer
If you have many leftovers, the food can certainly be frozen. Remember to use your freezer. You can freeze food in portions so that you always have a portion of food ready to be reheated and eaten. This way, you are doing the planet a favor by reducing your food waste, and you are also doing yourself a favor because you’ll always have food on hand for days when you might be too busy to shop or cook. Most food takes no harm from being frozen and will taste exactly as when you first prepared it.
Only buy what you need
When you wish to reduce your food waste, the process actually starts when you shop. A good place to start is to ensure you only buy the groceries you actually need. You can ensure this by planning what you need to buy before visiting the supermarket. Create an overview of what dishes you would like to make and write down which ingredients you are missing and the quantities of each ingredient you need to buy. This way, you avoid making purchasing mistakes or buying too much when you finally visit the supermarket and ultimately avoid ending up with a lot of leftovers that you don’t know what to do with.
Recipes from leftovers
In line with the best stop food waste mindset, we have collected our best recipes below to use up leftovers or reduce food waste. For ease, we have divided it into sections.
Pickling leftovers
Pickling is a brilliant way to preserve your produce. It allows you to enjoy, for example, fruits and vegetables during the winter when they are out of season.
Pickled Red Onions
Pickled Spiced Broccoli Stalks
Pear Chutney
Snacks from leftovers
Instead of throwing away peels or stale rye bread/bread, you can easily turn them into delicious snacks. Your shellfish shells can also be used to make a seafood oil that you can stir into a mayonnaise or a sauce.
Crispy Carrot Chips
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Potato Peel Chips
Rye Bread Chips
Rye Bread Sticks
Seafood Mayonnaise
Bread Croutons
Side dishes (made from leftovers) for the savory kitchen
A Royal Sunday Tapas
Baked Celery
Fried Potatoes
Baked Mashed Potatoes
Butter-fried Spätzle
Risotto Balls
Pesto Flutes
Egg Custard in Water Bath
Homemade Breadcrumbs
Main Dishes (made from leftovers) for the savory kitchen
These dishes are typically made with leftovers. Make larger portions and freeze the rest. If you have made a large portion of pulled pork, it can be used in a pita bread, a pie, or a stew. Your boiled chicken can be shredded and used in pies, tartlets, or soups. Your roast pork or duck roast can be put in a sandwich or burger, and the shells from your seafood can be boiled into a bisque.
Pulled Pork Pie
Empty the Fridge Pie
Cabbage Tart with Bacon and Apples
Tartlets with Chicken
Curry Soup with Chicken
Christmas Burger with Duck Confit
Roasted Ham
Squash Tart
Pork Roast Sandwich
Pork Roast Sandwich
Sloppy Joe
Pizza with Potatoes and Pork Cheeks
Seafood Bisque
Potato-Leek Soup
Asian Dishes (made from leftovers) for the savory kitchen
It’s easy to take classic dishes and give them a twist towards the Asian kitchen with sauces and herbs from there. Duck roast, pork roast, and even pulled pork can easily be used as meat filling in, for example, bao, dumplings, and spring rolls.
Homemade Spring Rolls
Bao with Duck
Fried Rice
Dishes (made from leftovers) for the sweet kitchen
It’s always a good idea to think about how you can use all your ingredients. If your bananas are getting too brown, they can be used for, for example, pancakes.
If you have cake that you won’t finish, put it in the freezer in a large bag and fill it up gradually. When you have collected a bag full, you can use the contents to make a roulade, tree trunks, or rum balls.
Your rye bread leftovers can be used for øllebrød, and porridge leftovers can be used for pancakes.
Banana Pancakes
Chocolate Mousse
Easy and Moist Banana Cake with Chocolate
Rum Balls Deluxe
Small Student Breads
Oatmeal Pancakes
Large Student Breads
Pancake Waffles
Roulade
Tree Trunks
Pancakes
Øllebrød
Elderflower Cordial and Elderflower Vodka
Baked Goods (made from leftovers)
If you have some leftover oatmeal or maybe your yogurt is near the end of its shelf life – then baked goods are your friend.
Oatmeal Rolls
Rolls with Oatmeal
White Bread with Yogurt
White Bread with Oatmeal
