5 Ways To Use Up Food Scraps

Using up food scraps is a great way to reduce food waste and minimize your environmental impact. Here are five ways to make the most of common food scraps:

1. Vegetable Scraps for Broth: Save vegetable peels, trimmings, and ends like carrot tops, onion skins, celery leaves, and potato peels in a container or freezer bag. Once you have enough, you can use them to make a flavorful vegetable broth. Simply simmer the scraps in water with some herbs and seasonings for a homemade broth that can be used in soups, stews, and various recipes.
2. Citrus Peels for Cleaning: Citrus peels, such as orange, lemon, and lime peels, can be used for natural cleaning purposes. The oils in the peels help cut through grease and leave a pleasant scent. You can use citrus peels to clean cutting boards, countertops, and even add them to vinegar for a homemade citrus cleaner.
3. Fruit Scraps for Homemade Jam: Don’t throw away fruit scraps like apple cores, bruised parts, or overripe fruit. Collect them and use them to make homemade jam or fruit preserves. By boiling the fruit scraps with some sugar and water, you can create a delicious spread that can be enjoyed on toast, pancakes, or mixed into yogurt.
4. Coffee Grounds for Gardening: Used coffee grounds are rich in nutrients and can be used as a natural fertilizer for plants. Sprinkle coffee grounds around acid-loving plants like roses, azaleas, and blueberries to add organic matter to the soil and improve its quality.
5. Stale Bread for Croutons or Bread Crumbs: If you have stale bread that is no longer enjoyable to eat, don’t toss it out. Instead, cut it into cubes and turn it into homemade croutons. Toss the bread cubes with some olive oil, herbs, and seasonings, and bake them until they are crispy. Alternatively, you can blend stale bread into bread crumbs and use them for breading foods or as a topping for casseroles.

These are just a few examples of how you can repurpose food scraps instead of throwing them away. Get creative in the kitchen and find new ways to use up scraps to minimize waste and maximize the use of your ingredients. —Vita Daily