Here are 14 creative ideas to help you use up your food scraps.
* Food waste is a serious issue. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that 30–40% of the food supply in the United States is wasted each year.
* Food waste not only depletes many of our natural resources but also increases greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to climate change.
1. Pickle watermelon rinds Watermelon is a popular summertime treat, but the rinds are often discarded in favor of the fruit’s sweet flesh.
2. Try making bone broth Instead of purchasing pricey bone broth supplements or powdered mixes, you can make your own bone broth at home.
3. Make croutons using stale bread If you have a loaf of bread that’s gone stale, there’s no need to toss it.
4. Sauté the stems of leafy green leafy greens like kale and collards have fibrous stems that can be difficult to eat.
5. Regrow your veggies in water Many types of vegetables can be regrown by putting their stalks in water, helping you save money on groceries while reducing waste.
6. Save the leaves of beets, carrots, and radishes Most people discard the leafy greens that sprout from root vegetables like beets, carrots, and radishes.
7. Make vegetable stock One of the best ways to use up vegetable trimmings is to make your own veggie stock.
8. Use coffee grounds as fertilizer coffee grounds make an excellent natural fertilizer for plants and add organic material to the soil to increase growth.
9. Freeze leftover herbs The next time you have fresh herbs on hand that you don’t need, freeze them to use them later instead of throwing them away.
10. Whip up fruit peel jam Instead of tossing the peels of fruits like apples or oranges, you can easily save them to make a tasty fruit peel jam.
11. Save citrus peels for an easy air freshener Citrus peels make an excellent addition to homemade air fresheners because they absorb odors.
12. Make suet from bacon grease set is a type of animal fat that’s often used in bird feeders to help birds stay warm during the winter.
13. Freeze leftover tomato paste Recipes often call for very small quantities of tomato paste, so there’s usually quite a bit left in the can.
14. Try composting Composting is a great way to use food scraps without creating waste.