What to do with leftovers before they go bad

I’m conscious that some individuals, for one purpose or one other, don’t eat leftovers. That wouldn’t be our family, even earlier than today of excessive meals costs.

It’s estimated that we Americans waste 30% to 40% of the meals we buy. That equates to 219 kilos of groceries that every of us tosses within the rubbish yearly, based on the Environmental Protection Agency. And two-thirds of that meals is a fruit, vegetable or dairy product that leads to a landfill as a substitute of nourishing a physique with important vitamins.

What can we do when greens go unhealthy earlier than we eat them? Eat them earlier than they go unhealthy … duh.

Many meals will also be frozen for future use. I actually don’t like overripe bananas. So I freeze them, three to a bag, and so they’re prepared for my subsequent batch of banana bread. Onions and droopy celery will also be chopped and frozen to be used in soups and different dishes.

We name our clean-out-the-refrigerator meals “conglomerates.” Last week, for instance, I chopped and sliced the unbelievable tomatoes and zucchini our gracious neighbors had left on our porch. I cooked them with a leftover half-onion and kernels shucked from the final of the candy corn we obtained from our farmer pal. Oh, and that little Tupperware of leftover meat and inexperienced chile from my enchildas a number of days in the past? That went into the combo, too. A number of seasonings besides, and we had a meal that took me proper again to my native New Mexican roots.

Some leftovers is usually a problem. I used to cringe every time I’d open an entire can of tomato paste when the recipe referred to as for only one tablespoon. I by no means appeared to make use of the remaining earlier than it developed creepy mildew.

Then I realized leftover tomato paste might be frozen in particular person parts with the assistance of plastic wrap and a freezer-proof container. Now I simply want to recollect it’s within the freezer.

On a bigger scale, many organizations get better contemporary, edible meals not wanted by eating places, grocers and different meals institutions and distribute them to individuals in want.

Local meals banks resembling feedingamerica.org or foodbanking.org, in addition to applications like Food Rescue US (foodrescue.us), use volunteers to redistribute surplus meals to food-insecure individuals each day. That’s encouraging.

No one’s excellent, nonetheless. The different day, I discovered a misplaced gem at the back of the fridge that had clearly been hidden for manner too lengthy. In this case, the previous adage nonetheless holds true: If doubtful, throw it out.

Barbara Intermill is a registered dietitian nutritionist and syndicated columnist. She is the creator of “Quinn-Essential Nutrition: The Uncomplicated Science of Eating.” Email her at [email protected].