It's Wastefree Week, and that means: get more out of what you already have. Because what do you do with that half courgette, that leftover pasta or that last slice of cheese? Many people throw it away. That's a shame, because with a little creativity you can put something new on the table. And that not only saves waste, but also money.
Leftovers and leftovers
We call it leftovers or leftovers. The difference? Leftovers are ingredients that have not been used completely, such as a quarter of a cucumber or some overripe fruit. Leftovers are what is left over after dinner: a scoop of rice, half a casserole or a bowl of soup.
The trick is in smart storage as well as planning:
- Put leftovers in the fridge or freezer immediately. This will keep them good and avoid wasting.
- Think about what you can do with it. On the Nutrition Centre's website, you can find recipes based on what you have left in the house.
- Give old bread or ripe fruit a second life. Make croutons, French toast or a dessert with fruit through yoghurt.
- Pay close attention to hygiene. Let leftovers cool quickly, store them in a sealed container and heat through well when reheating.
- Use your senses. Dairy or cheese past its date? Look, smell and taste. Often it can still be used just fine.
- Note the difference between THT and TGT. Products with a TGT date, such as meat or fish, are no longer safe after the date.
- Know what you are storing. Leftovers will keep for about 2 days in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer. Put a date on it so you know where you stand.
- Reheated again? Throw away leftovers afterwards. Reheating twice is no longer safe. So eat what you heat up.
Looking for more ideas?
Download the handy graphic from the Nutrition Centre with four ideas for making up leftovers: soup, salad, omelette or stir-fry. Every leftover you save, every leftover you reuse, counts. Less food waste means less waste, less waste of raw materials and less burden on the environment. By being smart with what we already have, we make a big difference together - simply in our own kitchen.
