10 Reuse Ideas for Food Scraps

A healthy homemade meal can also mean a sink full of food scraps to deal with. Sure, you can compost these leftover bits and pieces. But if you live in the city, don’t have a compost pile or are just looking for something else to do with your food scraps, this is your lucky day. Check our top 10 reuse ideas for food scraps, and start mixing up everything from soup to soap.

1. Make a homemade stock

Photo: Flickr/Greencolander

Stocks and broths are classic applications for meat bones and vegetables scraps. If you’re new to cooking, the idea of making broth from scratch may sound intimidating, but it’s much easier than you think. Use fresh stocks within a few days, or put them in the freezer for up to two months.

Put vegetable scraps and meat bones in the freezer until you’re ready to make some stock. Wait until you have enough scraps to fill half of a large pot.

If you’re making vegetable stock, just thaw out your veggies and throw them into a pot with some boiling water, salt and pepper. Let simmer for at least one hour and strain. The longer it simmers, the more intense the flavors will be. So, taste as you go to get the best result for you.

For meat stock, put bones and vegetable scraps into a roasting pan and add some salt and pepper. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees until bones are well browned. Drain off fat. Transfer bones and veggies into a pot, fill with water and bring to a boil. Simmer for at least three hours, strain and enjoy.

Note: Keep in mind that when you are using the peel or skin of any fruit or vegetable, it’s very important that you wash it well to remove any wax or pesticides. Scrub the exterior of your produce with an eco-friendly produce cleanser or a mixture of warm water, lemon juice, white vinegar and baking soda.