We have recipes and tips to stop you throwing away the unused – but still perfecly edible – food in your fridge.
Here at delicious. we were concerned to discover that a third of food bought by UK consumers ends up in the bin. There's usually nothing wrong with this produce – it's leftovers from a dish we prepared, or it's just 'on the turn'.
In response to this, delicious. conducted a survey to see what our readers throw away – almost 1,000 people replied. Over 40% frequently throw out bread, more than a quarter chuck out bananas, and one in five regularly give unused cucumbers the boot.
Top tips for preventing food waste
- Store food wisely – most foods can be frozen, including cheese, and ruit and veg can be kept in the fridge
- Containers, containers, containers! If they're airtight, and watertight, they'll keep food fresher for longer
- Use measurers to avoid to cooking too much – especially rice and pasta
- Plan ahead – use up perishables first, such as fresh vegetables
- Have staples in your storecupboard, such as Worcestershire sauce and tinned tomatoes, so you've got essential ingredients to hand.
Here are the Top 10 foods we discard... and some great recipes to remedy this.
1. Bread
Got too much? Freeze it.
delicious. recipe ideas: Queen of puddings; bread and butter pudding; bread-based stuffing.
Pan-fried bread & butter pud
Parsley and thyme stuffing
Potato and bread soup
2. Salad leaves
Got too much? Make compost (find out more).
delicious. recipe ideas: whizz into soups to add flavour and colour.
Pea and lettuce soup
3. Bananas
Too many? Freeze them.
delicious. recipe ideas: banana bread or cake; banana muffins; smoothies.
Gaynor's healthy banana cake
Papaya and banana smoothie
4. Cucumber
Too much? Make compost (find out more).
delicious. recipe ideas: gazpacho; chilled cucumber and melon soup.
Green gazpacho
5. Potatoes
Too many? Make compost (find out more).
delicious. recipe ideas: rosti; potato dauphinoise; potato soup.
Sausage and onion rosti
Dauphinoise potatoes
Potato soup with chorizo
6. Cooked sliced meat (such as salami, chorizo)
Too much? Always store in airtight containers; if they dry up, add to hot dishes, which will soften them.
delicious. recipe ideas: sliced meats make great toppings for pizza or baked potatoes; mix in a risotto, pasta sauce, or cauliflower cheese.
French bread pizzas recipe
Spuds with spicy beans
Mushroom & salami risotto
7. Yogurt
Too much? Freeze it.
delicious. recipe ideas: add to cake or muffin mixtures for a tangy flavour; include in smoothies or curries.
Banana yogurt cake
Appl and pecan muffins
Red berry yogurt smoothie
Spiced tomato chicken
8. Cooked vegetables
Too many? Practise portion control, but any leftovers can be used in a stir-fry, frittata or gratin. Alternatively, add to the compst heap (find out more).
delicious. recipe ideas: leftover vegetables are the perfect ingredients for a frittata or gratin.
Brunch-style frittata
Courgette and ham gratin
Potato and celeriac gratin
9. Carrots
Too many? Try storing half in the fridge; they'll last for longer. Grate fresh carrots into sauces or mashed potato; roast older carrots or make cake from them.
delicious. recipe ideas: carrot juice is a nutritious breakfast drink or liquid snack; make carrot cake or muffins; grate into coleslaw; mash up carrot and potato for a popular side dish; add spices for an unusual side dish.
Carrot and mango crush
Carrot cake
Carrot and coriander muffins
Carrot and cumin coleslaw
Carrot kachumber
10. Apples
Too many? Store in a cool, dark place, away from bananas which spoil other fruit or store in the fridge. Remove any bad apples, or make apple sauce and freeze it.
delicious. recipe ideas: soup (yes, soup!); pork Normandy; apple crumble and tarts; apple sauce.
Sweet potato & ginger soup
Normandy pork with cider
No-bake toffee apple tart
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