Cooking

Cook creatively for less waste

Most of us don’t want to waste food, but in the dash to make dinner, food waste might not be the first thing on our minds. For those of us who want to break the shop-cook-waste cycle, the good news is that with practice, wasting less food can become an effortless cooking habit.

Swap This for That

If I am missing an ingredient for a recipe I will find a substitute I have on hand and use that instead.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Ingredient substitution guide

Whole List of Herb Substitutes-- All Common Herbs in Cooking
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DAILY ACTION
Revive Limp Produce

I will rescue limp produce like leafy greens or carrots by soaking them in cold water or using them in recipes where appearance doesn't matter.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

5 Ways to Revive Food

How to Revive Limp Vegetables
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DAILY ACTION
Set a Timer

I will set a timer to keep me on track with kitchen tasks and cooking and baking times so that I don't ruin food.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Timing is (Yes, Actually) Everything in the Kitchen

How to time your cooking so everything is ready at once
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DAILY ACTION
Taste Test Trial

When I try a new food or recipe, I will only make a small amount first to make sure my household likes it.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Reducing the Size of Recipes

How to Scale Any Recipe to Make it a Small Batch Recipe
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DAILY ACTION
Reimagine Leftovers

I will learn about how to repurpose my leftovers into new meals and then try it.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Don't Throw That Away! 10 Creative Ways to Use Leftovers
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DAILY ACTION
Cook Just Enough

I will scale down the recipe of a meal to make just the right amount for my household of (___) so we eat everything up.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Portion Planner

How to Scale Any Recipe to Make it a Small Batch Recipe
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DAILY ACTION
Make Soup Broth

I will store vegetable scraps or bones in my freezer and use them to make veggie stock or bone broth. I will make (___) batches.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Vegetable Scrap Stock Recipe

Chicken Bone Soup Broth
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Cook From Root to Leaf

I will try root-to-leaf recipes, which utilize all parts of the vegetable, such as beet greens, carrot tops, and herb stems.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

How To Use Beet and Carrot Greens

How to Not Waste Your Extra Vegetable Parts

7 Vegetables You Can Eat from Root to Stem
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DAILY ACTION
Cook From Snout to Tail

I will try a recipe that utilizes parts of an animal that are typically wasted (skin, bones, organs, etc.).
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Nose to Tail Cooking for Beginners
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Use the Edible Portion

I will learn about what food is still safe to eat if portions have gone bad and make sure to utilize the edible portions if I can.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

AskUSDA: If Food Has Mold, Is It Safe to Eat?

How to tell if food is actually safe to eat

25 ways to eat almost spoiled food
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DAILY ACTION
Save the Peels

When life gives me lemons (or other citrus peels), I will use the rinds to make a nontoxic cleaner.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Repurpose Citrus Peels

Green Cleaning Recipes from Hennepin County
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ONE-TIME ACTION
CREATE A CUSTOM ACTION

Ideally, you’ll choose at least one measurable goal so that you can measure your success but there are no limits on what you can choose—so exercise your creativity!

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