Recipes  

5 Ways to Give a Second Life to Your Leftover Ingredients

Got some bread that’s gone stale, or have parts of a vegetable that you were going to throw out? We are proponents of zero-waste cooking, so here are five tips on bringing food back to life or ensuring that every bit of an ingredient you have left is used.

1. Make an instant bottom-of-the-jar dressing

Got jars of mustard or jam that still have a little bit left at the bottom? Instead of rinsing them out before dropping them in the recycling bin, consider pouring in a little oil, lemon juice or vinegar, as well as adding a few aromatics. Close the lid, give it a shake and you’re left with an instant vinaigrette or marinade.

2. Add flavour with wine

Never throw out leftover wine! You can use it to deglaze a pan, make a marinade or toss it into a braised meat dish. Wine can also be frozen in ice cube trays for quick, last-minute sauces.

3. Eat your broccoli stems

If you have a tendency to throw away those tasty broccoli stems, don’t! You can peel and eat them raw, purée them in a soup, or toss them in a salad for added crunch. Some people even consider them to be the best part of the vegetable!

4. Bring back bread

Got a stale or frozen baguette? It’s so easy to revive it. Quickly rinse it under cold water and then place it in a 400°F oven for 10 minutes. This well-kept chef’s secret will give you back that crusty baguette texture in no time!

5. Use that cheese rind

Not sure what to do with that Parmesan cheese rind? Don’t toss it! Add it to soups or sauces, letting it simmer to release its flavours. If you’re not cooking with it right away, you can simply store it in a resealable bag in the freezer.

For more great tips and tricks on reducing waste in the kitchen, check out our selection of informative articles: