Be it cheese ends or lettuce heads, you can make use of many kitchen leftovers and scraps. They can be used in sauces, as a base or even as a flavour enhancer. Scrappy cooking is a great way to put off going to the grocery store again. It has become quite a popular form of cooking. Many influencers have taken to social media to talk about sustainable cooking.
It also does a great deal for your food budget. In this way, you’re lessening your food waste and budgeting your meal prep.
But first, you need to understand how you can use kitchen leftovers and scraps best (just in case we get stuck in another quarantine).
#1. Orange and Lemon Peels
Oranges and lemons may not be sold for a penny, but you can make the most of them. Citrus peels and zest are great for a variety of dishes. You can use them to make your trash smell better. They are also a great seasoning or garnish. Besides that, you can also use it as a fire starter. There are various recipes that make use of these kitchen leftovers and scraps.
#2. Eggshells
You can use broken eggshells as tiny seed starters. Add a coffee stirrer with a tag to name them. Besides that, you can also be used as compost fuel or in different arts and crafts projects.
#3. Stale Bread Slices
You can make use of stale bread slices and ends to make croutons, breadcrumbs or even breading in your cutlets. You can store them in tight containers or bags.
Besides that, you can also make some yummy bread pudding or french toast. These kitchen leftovers and scraps also work great as a binder in meatloaf and meatballs.
#4. Cheese Ends
Cheese rings are great to thicken your sauces. They are rich in flavour and add a savoury touch to your dish. You can also cut them into blocks or slices and add them while cooking a stew or soup. You can save them in the freezer in a zipper bag.
#5. Vegetable Stems And Tops
There are many vegetable stems and tops that you can use. Keep your celery leaves, carrot tops, onion skins, herbs and garlic pods.
Throw them in a blender and make a fun pesto sauce. You can also cook the ends of these kitchen leftovers and scraps like vegetables. Stems and tops are great additions to any dish. You can save them for vegetable stock.
#6. Vegetable Peels
On the topic of veggies, most people forget that peels hold all the flavour. Cucumber peels are great to moisturise your skin. You can infuse them in your bath water. Besides that, potato peels are a delicious snack. You can toss them in the oven with seasoning and oil.
Vegetable peels are great for soups and stock. You can puree them to make the texture better. Also, they make for great crispy snacks.
#7. Coffee Grounds
Your coffee grounds can make for a great body scrub. You can also use them in body oils or soaps. Besides that, it is a natural lip and body exfoliant. They also make for great hair scrubs.
Besides that, coffee grounds are great fertilisers. You can use them for compost, or as a bug repellent. It is also a great way to mask bad smells. You can even use them to clean your pots and pans.
#8. Bacon Fat
Bacon fat is a yummy addition to any meal. You can use these drippings in various recipes like pasta. You can also use them as alternatives to oil. Lather your foods with bacon fat for some beautiful flavours. You can make popcorn, mashed potatoes, and biscuits. Besides that, grilled cheese sandwiches taste amazing with bacon fat. You can use it to roast, saute or bake.
#9. Banana and Apple Peels
Banana peels are a great compost material. They add many nutrients to the soil. Besides that, you can also rub your teeth with banana peels to whiten them. They are also a great remedy for acne.
Also, banana peels help moisturise your dry skin. You can even try easing out a splinter with it. This can be done by putting it on your skin and holding it there. You can even add banana peels to some milk or cream. They have a lot of flavours and the entire peel is edible. You can then add it to your coffee or cereal.
In addition to bananas, apple peels are also great kitchen leftovers and scraps. You can add these peels to some hot water for tea. Besides that, it also helps you to clean pans. Fill your pan with your peels and water. Put it on the fire for 15 minutes and then wash it.
#10. Expired Milk
There are many uses for expired milk as well. You can soak your silverware in sour milk to make them shiny. Expired milk can also help in cleaning your toilet tank. It also works as a good fertiliser. Besides that, there are various uses for sour milk in recipes.
In Conclusion
Kitchen leftovers and scraps are a great way to make the most use of your produce. You can also reduce your spending and kitchen waste. There are various scraps and leftovers that you can use. For instance, vegetable peels, stems and tops make for great vegetable stock or soups. You can also do the same with meats and bones.
Besides that, stale bread slices can be used for croutons, french bread and breadcrumbs. Bacon fat is a great alternative to oil, while coffee grounds can be made into scrubs. You can also add cheese rinds to your sauces and gravies to give them a rich and flavourful taste. Don’t forget to make the most of your fruit peels. For instance, apple peels are great cleaners. And orange peels make for great firestarters. You can also use lemon zest as a garnish in drinks and in many dishes.
Which are your favourite kitchen leftovers and scraps? What are some unique ways you use scraps at home? Let us know in the comments section below.
Danielle is a content writer with a love for books, music, and lifestyle blogs.