{"id":45774,"date":"2023-12-22T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-22T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/?p=45774"},"modified":"2026-09-14T06:01:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T13:01:55","slug":"what-to-do-with-leftovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/blog\/what-to-do-with-leftovers\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Cook: What to Do with Leftovers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The holidays are a time to celebrate. And, if you\u2019re anything like my (Italian) family, you have way too much food in the house \u2014 especially if you\u2019re the one hosting! Whether it\u2019s prepared leftovers or a handful of ingredients from making recipes (I\u2019m looking at you, cranberries), having leftovers on hand may create an extra level of holiday stress.<\/p>\n

Eating leftovers day after day can also get old. And having one or two ingredients left after preparing a dish feels like a waste as it creates extra work in figuring out what to do with those scraps. So, what are some tasty and easy-to-implement ways to use up leftovers to prevent food waste?<\/p>\n

First Off, Wasting Food Is, Well\u2026 A Waste!<\/h2>\n
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iStock.com\/Gennadiy Kravchenko<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Food waste is a big issue in the US and other industrialized countries. According to the USDA<\/a>, food waste is estimated to be 30\u201340% of the food supply in the United States, increasing by 25% during the holidays<\/a>.<\/strong> And in China, household waste is 10% of all food purchased<\/a>, with the largest category being fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n

That being said, there they are, those leftover food scraps staring you right in the face on your plate, or in your fridge. Maybe you took more food than you could eat at once. Or you didn\u2019t end up using an entire fruit or vegetable for a recipe. So what do you do with those food scraps before they go bad?<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t throw them away! You can save food scraps in a bin or airtight container in your refrigerator. Or check out our article How to Use Food Scraps<\/a> for all the know-how on making the most of those bits and pieces.<\/p>\n

Another tip to avoid food waste is to not leave perishable food out for longer than two hours. If you\u2019re planning on having a buffet-style meal with people coming and going throughout the day, consider placing cold, perishable food over ice or hot food over warming plates to keep everything at the proper temperature<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Or, if your party is more of a sit-down dinner, consider taking perishable food out of the refrigerator just before your guests arrive and putting it away immediately after they leave. If friends or family members still have food on their plate, or you have a significant amount of leftovers, consider providing eco-friendly to-go containers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Store Leftovers Efficiently<\/h2>\n

Properly storing food and consuming it within a safe time period is key when it comes to perishable foods. According to the USDA,<\/a> refrigerated leftovers last about four days.<\/strong> And storage containers<\/a> should be airtight to keep food fresh for as long as possible. You\u2019ll want to practice first in, first out for prepared food \u2014 use up what you have on hand first before opening something new.<\/p>\n

Another option for storing leftovers is to freeze them. You can freeze leftover vegetables or whole meals. Portioning them into individual serving containers makes it easier to grab and go as needed.<\/p>\n

Leftover dry goods and pantry staples can continue to be stored in a cool dark place (like a cabinet or pantry) in airtight containers. Things like whole grains, legumes, and flour do have expiration dates. Therefore, make sure to store them properly, use them before they expire, or consider freezing them to extend shelf life.<\/p>\n

Visit our blog posts Healthy Plant-Based Pantry Food Essentials<\/a> for tips on setting up a plant-based pantry and 10 Easy Pantry Meals to Make Using Minimal Ingredients<\/a> for ideas on using those staples.<\/p>\n

Get Creative with Leftovers and Think Outside the Box<\/h2>\n
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iStock.com\/Rawpixel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When it comes to reusing leftovers, allow your creativity to shine. Think beyond what they were intended for. For example, \u201cdinner food\u201d doesn\u2019t only have to be eaten at dinner.<\/strong> A savory breakfast can be delicious, or you can split meals up into snacks.<\/p>\n

For an additional bit of flavor and nutrition, add a plant-based sauce to veggie dishes. Cauliflower Squash Cheese Sauce<\/a> is a house fave, or try one of these homemade sauces<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Have ingredients left over that you tend to only use during the holiday? Try googling (or Ecosia<\/a>-ing if you like to plant trees while you search) the name of your leftover ingredients along with the word \u201crecipe\u201d and see what pops up. You just might find yourself a new favorite dish, like Green Bean Casserole<\/a> or a twist on mashed potatoes<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Ideas for Using Up Leftovers During the Holidays<\/h2>\n

Watch the video below for more creative ways to use up leftovers and create new recipes.<\/p>\n

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