Eliminating Food Waste | How To Have a Zero Waste Kitchen!

[@janettemetzger7644]

As a single woman I have to deal with leftovers all the time. So something I started doing is immediately portioning out meals, putting them in containers and freezing them. Then I have a constant rotation of easy meals to thaw and reheat for the busy days and I don't get stuck eating the exact same thing the whole week long. Also, I grab them and take them to work. By the time they are thawed out, they are ready to heat up and eat. I think that this could work well for families too depending on how much leftovers there are.

[@amykru]

Baked Pancakes! In Finland they put pancake batter in a rectangular baking dish and bake at 400 for about 40 minutes. Stirring leftovers into either sweet or savory pancakes is awesome. You can cut them up and freeze them for later. Just take them out and heat them up on a frying pan on the stove right from the freezer. Easy and cheap!

[@frugalgreengirl]

amy kru Nice suggestion, I will try that!

[@nanbrum56]

This is the way I was raised, too. Food waste didn't happen. Leftovers were served again or frozen. Plate scrapings were mixed in with the dog's food. I worked for many years in a group home and used the same rule of freezing leftovers because there were occasions when the shopping money was late or reduced for whatever reasons. While other houses were scrambling during those times, I always had my frozen leftovers to fall back on. It did bother me a lot that my boss insisted all foods be thrown away on their expiration or even sell by dates. And I was not allowed to freeze the unused milk. I could have cried. ;)

[@yettawat1564]

Your kitty is SO adorable!

[@kencurtis2403]

I have recently begun throwing my leftovers into the freezer. With just husband and I now, we have lots of food leftover from the main meal. We might eat leftovers from that meal once or twice more and then we are tired of it. Then I pull out the leftovers the next month when I want a quick precooked meal. I have been keeping a good inventory of what I have because things tend to get lost because I have 2 freezers, 2 fridges with freezers, and a mini fridge. Last month we were out of town for a week, then back for a week, and then gone for 2.5 more weeks. So I was very busy at work, trying to pack for a trip out of the country, etc. during the week in between. I pulled out every leftover frozen meal I had and that’s what we ate all week so no cooking that week. It was so handy to have all of those frozen meals. I have also started freezing some leftovers in small portions to give to my elderly parents because they barely cook anymore. They love my frozen soups.

[@mrs8792]

I grow and raise a very large part of my food. Very little food goes to waste and what can be composted for better soil, goes to the bunnies and chickens for manure compost.

[@FarmerG]

Lots of great tips. Couple years back I took a master food preserver course. I highly recommend everyone find their local master food preserver branch and go to a couple classes. Classes are free. Course cost a little. Lots to learn from them.

[@sandrantexas]

Miss your videos in 2021.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I love sharing with friends. I juice wiltty spinach along with fruit

[@jeanskilling708]

Don't buy a chest freezer. we layer new stuff on top then the old stuff goes bad.

[@DouglasCohen1962]

I buy jarred pasta sauce and use it for pasta and pizza as well as soup bases

[@melaniehomburg3366]

And chili base! Pasta sauce does everything!

[@juliacarlson1698]

Just found your channel, loved every minute of this video, instant subscriber ☺🐱

[@frugalgreengirl]

Julia Carlson Wellcome new friend!

[@komerwest9520]

If like me you have chickens and rabbits there is no food waste. O and a compost been. Im always asking people for their food waste.lol

[@mariayelruh]

When we've finished a meal I deal with the leftovers. I package them how I will use them either for future meals at home or to take for work. Years ago I decided that instead of throwing out science projects, I'd make myself throw out food instead of just sticking it in the fridge without a plan. The freezer soup container was born. I have several round Tupperware/Rubbermaid containers that fit nicely in my crockpot. The half of onion? Chopped up and thrown in. Two Tablespoons of tomato sauce? Half a hamburger (diced up)? Some chicken/beef broth? I don't put things like hot dogs or strong items like beets or cabbage in it. When I want soup I take it out, defrost enough to see what is in it and cook in the crockpot. I may add a can of tomatoes or some chicken stock. If it's light on meat I may serve it with a sandwich, or just a salad and bread if it isn't.

[@The_Gallowglass]

My roomate wastes a lot of food. She doesn't like leftovers either, but she'll always make enough for an army.

[@shaunaleessnackidies]

OMG cute kitten cat! Love that. Great video too!

[@GlammyBee]

Awwwww! Love your kitty cameo!!!! :)

[@pyr8at40]

love your stuff.......

[@viviannoyb5181]

Zero waste kitchen also includes how you by your food. Try to eliminate plastic containers .

[@krisr3493]

I’m all in except the cheese water😂

[@nayashams6845]

Love kitten, thanks for your videos.

[@wilde1909]

What is the kitty’s name? It sure is cute.

[@melaniehomburg3366]

I waste a lot of milk. My son (8 years old - has to have high calorie foods on hand because he has issues keeping weight on) is the only one in the house that drinks milk. But there's only so much he can drink. At the end of each gallon it inevitably sours with a few cups left. I'm tempted to spend more to buy half gallons because at least it would get used before it goes bad. Sigh.

[@mariayelruh]

You can freeze milk. I do it all the time.

[@EmbraceWithin]

Freeze it, I do it too! Works great just make sure to unfreeze properly

[@patwagner9308]

Melanie Homburg Milk can be frozen.If you divide a gal.into smaller containers, you can thaw a little at a time...& smaller amounts thaw quicker.

[@Kathleen67.]

Always thaw milk in the fridge, and Mason or Kerr jars are great to freeze milk in if you need to take some from a gallon jug. Otherwise, you can freeze milk right in the gallon jug or carton, we do it all the time too.

[@patwagner9308]

Definitely thaw milk in fridge. Small containers of frozen milk thaw much quicker than a whole gal. Also, small containers will prevent the souring issue because you can thaw a little at a time & it will be an amt.that will be drunk soon. 😌

[@susanrobinson408]

Do you know if you can dehydrate cucumbers or zucchini?

[@Kathleen67.]

Yes, you can, just put in your web browser, how to dehydrate cucumbers, and then how to dehydrate zucchini; you will find plenty of information.

[@ashleywatson2007]

I am horrible at makin rice. Do you use a rice cooker? Anyone have any suggestions to making rice or should I just purchase the rice cooker,

[@mio.giardino]

ashleywatson2007 1 cup of rice in 2 cups water. In a pot with a tight fitting lid, (don't peek) bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer for 15-20min. I've given up on white rice, it always boils over so we have switched to wild rice (bump up the cook time 5min). A rice cooker is nice but it's a dedicated appliance that isn't 100% needed when a pot will work.

[@mio.giardino]

ashleywatson2007 oh and 1 cup of raw rice is enough for 2 adults.

[@hotlatte3230]

I love my rice cooker! It steams my veggies too

[@Kathleen67.]

I have always used twice the water as rice (example: 1 cup rice, 2 cups water). So, put two cups cold water (tap water or room temperature, not refrigerator), turn the burner on high, immediately dump one cup of rice right in the center, shake the pot just a little if the rice piles higher than the water, just to get the rice at water level, even if some is floating. Wait for it to come to a boil (DO NOT USE A LID!), once boiling, turn it down to a simmer. Check your packing, some rice simmers for 10 to 15 minutes, some rice simmers for 25 to 35 minutes. When your rice is getting toward the end of the simmer, stick a fork right in the center and dig down about half way to get rice on your fork, the rice is done when it is at a consistency that is pleasing to you. I have had perfect rice every time for decades. A couple of times the water was nearly gone, and the rice wasn't quite done, I added a quarter cup of water and waited another approx. 7 minutes and it was fine.

[@serenakoleno9338]

Instant pot has rice cooker button. I used to cook perfect rice in a pyrex casserole dish with lid in the oven. 2 parts water to one part rice. 45-60 minutes.

[@ooocarniegirlooo]

Awesome tips and info. Thanks for sharing!! =)

[@joanbish5556]

Please... need an answer on this. I see you have an instant pot. do you really use things like breadmaker, instant pot, waffle iron, etc. I have these put away but not sure if I will use these. We are retired but I cook a lot for us, just hesitant to hang on to extra appliances I might not use.

[@joanbish5556]

I should have added that these were gifts, not purchased by me. We have a small home and I am a very tidy, not used to having a lot of stuff sitting around. Thanks for all you videos. We may not have children at home anymore and we have been frugal all our married life, but we love learning new things and seeing what others are doing!

[@frugalgreengirl]

Hi Joan, I do use must of my kitchen gadgets but everyone is different. If you don't use things please don't feel bound to keeping them. Sometimes people can feel guilty if they don't keep gifts and I think that is wrong. If they are a burden and not a help, let them go.

[@nicidevine6670]

We get paid 2 times a month and then we go shopping for food

[@monalexi649]

Hey! 🖐

[@frugalgreengirl]

Hi Mona!