We are all becoming more aware of where our money goes. Trying to reduce food costs is a goal for everyone. Although everyone is trying to shop smarter and wiser most of us will end up with leftovers at sometime. Knowing how to use these leftovers wisely can help to make your food dollar go a little further.
As with anything though, you need to be organised and thoughtful about how to get the best from your leftovers.
If you always have leftovers and you do not make use of them then carefully consider the quantities you do cook and try to get better at judging the right amount of food you need to prepare. When preparing vegetables sort them into individual serving amounts for each person and don’t get into the habit of doing an extra little bit just in case. Buy meat based on the number of serves you need. If you buy a tray of meat which is larger than you need think whether it is best to freeze the raw meat you don’t need or will you get better use from it if you cook it and then use what is left over for the next day’s lunch or dinner.
Another important consideration when using leftovers is safety – to make sure that they are safe to eat. You do not want your economical habits leading to food poisoning in your family! It is important that any left over food is chilled quickly – leave it on the bench for no longer than 30 minutes and then put it in the fridge. Cover your leftovers so that they cannot be contaminated by other foods. Write a date on the lid so you know how long it has been in the fridge. Always store cooked leftovers above raw meat so that uncooked juices can not drip into your cooked food. When re-heating your leftovers make sure that they are re-heated to a high temperature all the way through, you don’t just want the edges to be warmed.
So what would make for some tasty leftovers recipes?
Vegetables:
- Add them to soups
- Add them to stews or casseroles
- Make them into a vegetable pattie by adding them to mashed potato
- Add them to an egg dish such as a frittata or selfcrusting quiche.
- Use up the ends of raw vegetables in stirfries, or do a vegetable medley mix by slowly roasting them in the oven
Roast chicken
- Use the carcass to make a stock for a soup base. Boil the carcuss in water that has a whole onion, carrot and celery, salt and pepper for flavour
- Left over chicken meat can be used in a stir fry, added to soup, used as a filling for a burger or a wrap.
- Make a white sauce, add the chicken, add some cooked penne pasta, top with a crumb topping and bake in the oven. You could add a little bacon for extra flavour
- Left over roast chicken is great in sandwiches.
Fruit that is past its best
- Freeze bananas in their skins and then thaw, peel, drain off any excess fluid and use in a banana cake. They may not look very nice once they are frozen and thawed– but they work perfectly well in a cake!
- Gently stew raw fruit that is going past its best – peel, cut up and just simmer gently in a little water till the fruit softens, you only need to add a little sugar (if any). Use this fruit with breakfast cereal.
- Use the stewed fruit as a base for a dessert – serve with custard or yoghurt, or make a fruit crumble with the stewed fruit. Healthy desserts can help to fill the gap for growing active children – it may mean you can serve a smaller amount of meat and vegetables.
Bread
- Turn into bread crumbs – grate stale bread, and then freeze so you have a supply of breadcrumbs on hand
- Stale bread rolls can be used like mini individual pizza bases – add a little grated cheese and any other toppings you may have and bake in the oven.
- Stale bread can also be used for mouse traps which can be good served hot or cold – heat the oven tray in a hot oven, use a thin spread of vegemite and top with grated cheese, place bread on hot oven tray and bake in hot oven until golden
Cooked rice
- Use as a base for a salad
- Make stirfry rice
- Add to soups for extra bulk and filling power
So take up the challenge of making the most of your leftovers, but remember to plan and think about how you can use them. Keep a careful record of leftovers in your freezer or fridge so that you don’t forget you have them.
There are no savings to be made keeping leftovers if you let them stay so long in your fridge or freezer that they cannot be eaten.
