The 10 Most Wasted Foods & What To Do With Them Instead

Food waste is a major problem worldwide, with millions of tons of food being thrown away every year. To help combat this issue, here are some of the most commonly wasted foods and some creative ways to use them instead:

1. Bread

There are 24 million slices being wasted every day! Some people are tempted to keep their bread in the fridge, but this makes your bread go stale much more quickly and you are more likely to throw it away. Very stale bread can be made into breadcrumbs or croutons and be kept in an airtight jar for up to a week. If your bread is a little stale, it will make a delicious Bread and Butter Pudding.

We recommend keeping sliced bread in the freezer, it stays fresh for longer, and you can pop it straight into the toaster.

2. Bananas

Don’t be put off by black skins, the fruit inside will be sweeter and softer than ever, and the obvious choice for a slightly old banana – a lockdown classic: banana bread. Bananas that are still fairly yellow can be frozen in slices, ready for smoothies and milkshakes.

3. Potatoes

In the UK, we waste an astounding 4.4 million potatoes a day. If you suspect yours are about to sprout eyes, turn them into mash and freeze it in portions. These can later be used for fish cakes and pie toppings. You can leave your pre-prepared mash in the freezer for up to a month.

4. Cake

I didn’t realise it was possible to have left over cake, but it is one of the most wasted food items. Sliced up and frozen, it will last for another month in your freezer.

5. Home cooked meals

The average family is throwing away the equivalent of an entire meal every day. Don’t throw out those leftovers, freeze them for later. You’ll thank yourself when you next want a proper meal but haven’t got the time to cook one from scratch.

6. Bacon

Separate your bacon rashers with greaseproof paper and they’ll store in the freezer for 8-12 weeks.

7. Milk

Milk can be frozen in ice cube trays to add to hot drinks. If you have some in the fridge with a limited life, you can make milkshakes, custard or Mac and Cheese.

8. Bagged Salad

Bags of salad are one of the most wasted foods with over half of it ending up in landfill. If you have a bag, that has seen better days, why not try this recipe:

Ingredients

150ml/5fl oz olive oil or vegetable oil, plus extra for the jar

50g/1¾oz nuts and/or seeds (such as cashews, peanuts, walnuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds)

1 garlic clove

50g/1¾oz hard cheese, grated or crumbled (such as cheddar, feta or parmesan)

200g/7oz greens (such as leftover cooked broccoli, salad leaves, soft herbs, rocket or spinach)

pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Pour the oil into a jug, then add the remaining ingredients.

Blend to a coarse paste with a stick blender, then spoon into a clean jar.

Top with a spoonful more oil, then screw the lid on. The pesto will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge.

9. Chicken & Poultry

A large amount of chicken is wasted each year with the equivalent of 86 million chickens being thrown away. There are hundreds of chicken recipes to try and be sure to boil the carcass for stocks, soups and sauces. Chicken also freezes well.

10. Cheese

It’s a good idea to keep your half-used cheeses together in a box in the fridge. They’ll stay fresher and will be useful for making a cheese sauce, nacho toppings or cauliflower cheese. Most cheeses can also be frozen.

Reducing food waste is not only beneficial for the environment but also for our wallets. By being mindful of our food waste, implementing a few simple strategies, and finding creative ways to use commonly wasted foods, we can all make a positive impact on the environment and our communities by significantly reduce the amount of food that goes to waste.