Top 10 foods we bin...

We have recipes and tips to stop you throwing away the unused – but still perfecly edible – food in your fridge.

Top 10 foods we bin...

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



 


 

...

Comments

(You have to be registered and signed-in to make a comment)

Close

Email article
Email a friend this article
Send
Sign in
Sign in

Forgot password ?

Why sign up?
Save recipes, enter exclusive competitions and upload you own recipes!

Register for free now