20 Clever Ways to Cut Your Food Waste

A season by season list of inventive ways to use up food that is either leftover or food that has gone passed it’s prime. Get clever: cut #foodwaste.

Collage of images with text overlay about cutting food waste

Welcome to my second post dedicated to finding ways to cut food waste in support of #forfoodagainsthunger. Today’s post is a round-up of inventive ways to use up food that is either simply leftover or food that has gone passed its prime. I’ve listed a handful of recipes for each season, focusing on food that is generally in abundance (in the UK) at this time of year. There’s also a short collection of year round recipes to inspire you to use up rather than throw away your leftovers.

Let’s get started.

Spring: March/ April/ May

Kicking off Springtime is an ingenious recipe for Fruit Shrubs (aka drinking vinegars) @ The Flavor Bender. Although the post features a summertime Strawberry Shrub, the recipe can be adapted to use blood oranges and kiwi fruit, both of which are in their prime in Spring. And bonus – it’s a great way to re-use pre-loved vanilla pods. An all round #nofoodwaste winner.
Have you ever thought of pickling asparagus to extend the season? Me neither. But I can’t wait to get a supply of these Winey Briny Pickled Asparagus @ SidewalkShoes into my pantry next Spring.
And try this recipe for spicy Italian Giardiniera @ A Dish of Daily Life/ Take Two Tapas. It really crosses the border between spring and summer, but since cauliflower is a big component and cauliflower is best in springtime, I’ve dropped it here. Regardless – it’s so versatile and a great way to use up surplus ingredients.
Think Spring… Think Easter. And what do lucky people get too much of at Easter? Chocolate. These Overloaded Easter Rocky Road Brownies @ Giraffes Can Bake are a devilishly delicious way to use up supplies.

Summer: June/ July/ August

No round-up of this nature would be complete without a recipe for banana bread and this Choc Cherry Banana Bread @ The Road to Honey gives it the perfect summer spin to use up over-ripe bananas and excess cherries… if there is such a thing?
Did you end up with more strawberries than you could handle. Give over-ripe, mushy strawberries a new lease of life in my very own Roasted Strawberry Sauce.
When you’ve left those glorious avocados a little too long and they’ve turned to brownish mush, fear not. These Creamy Chocolate Fudgesicles @ Eating by Elaine are the answer to your prayers, turning those unlovable avocados from inedible salad to heavenly dessert in one swift move.
All The Veggies Turkey Pasta @ Bet on Dinner is a year round recipe, but particularly special when you wind up with a glut of summer fresh tomatoes & zucchini.
Next time you have an abundance of ripe peaches, try these full on fruity Ripe Peach Popsicles @ The View From Great Island. I’m wishing I had a little peach tree in my garden.

Autumn – September/ October/ November

Fans of kale will be familiar with the problem of what to do with those pesky stems. Kale Stem Pesto @Healthy Slow Cooking is the solution from now on.
If your definition of autumn includes an abundance of sweet potato, you’ll love these Healthy Chocolate Smoothies @ A Virtual Vegan. Next time you have some leftover spud taking up room in your fridge, whack it into your blender instead.
As a last hurrah to summer, get a jar of these Easy Refrigerator Pickles @ Strength & Sunshine into your fridge.

Winter: December/ January/ February

Roasting a joint of ham is one of our family favourites over the Christmas period, but, since I do not own a doggie who would happily gnaw on it, I’ve never known quite what to do with the leftover bone. From now on I’ll be whipping up this Crock-Pot Ham Bone Soup @ Simple Nourished Living.
I’ll be putting excess cranberries to use in this colourful seasonal Cranberry, Walnut, Apple Smoothie @ A Virtual Vegan.
And at the risk of overdoing the Christmas theme completely, it seems remiss not to mention leftover turkey. And what could be finer than these snazzy Leftover Turkey Tartines @ Mon Petit Four.

Year Round

It doesn’t happen often for me, but I have been known to make more cake than even I can handle. Cake Crumb Truffles @ Sandhya Hariharan are the sweet way to go on these rare occasions.
It’s not unusual for me to overdo it on the potato front though. You too? Let’s impress everybody by transforming our stodgy leftovers into these Gluten Free Tator Tots @ What the Fork Food Blog.
Bread must be the most frequently wasted product in my house. But we needn’t just settle for breadcrumbs or croutons. We could also be turning our stale bread into these wonderful Bread Crackers @ The Cook’s Pyjamas.
And just in case you have some leftover fish to use up try making some Sardine Pate @ Use Your Noodles. Hint: it goes great with Bread Crackers. Two birds. One stone and all that…
One of my greatest pleasures is throwing together a Frittata with whatever is to hand. Get a little sensible inspiration with Purge the Fridge Frittatas @ Good in the Simple.

And that completes my short round-up on ways to reduce food waste. I really hope there are one or two recipes that take your fancy.

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