Learn how to "surf the fridge'' is one of Dunedin cook Judith Cullen's favourite sayings.
Ms Cullen held a sold-out food waste "pop-up'' as part of Food Design 2016, showing home cooks how to decrease waste from their fridges.
"Using leftovers requires on-the-spot decisions on how to deal with it.
"If you don't have good cookbooks. use the internet, Mr Google will have an answer.''
DEAL WITH PERISHABLES FIRST
• VEGETABLES
Root vegetables can be diced, mixed together and tossed with vegetable oil and roasted to be served as a side dish, mixed with vinaigrette and fresh herbs to make a warm salad, combined with eggs and milk to make tarts and pies, make dips or soups.
Grate vegetables such as cucumber and radishes then fold through plain yoghurt with a little lemon juice and chopped parsley to make a dip or an accompaniment to barbecued meats.
Large quantities of excess vegetables can be made into chutneys.
• SALADS
Trim salad leaves and use immediately with herbs and a vinaigrette
• LEFTOVER BREADS
Make croutons. Toss in a little oil and bake. Use to top soup and salads or mix with chopped parsley and grated cheese as a pie topping.
Thinly slice bread and bake in an oven to make toasts for finger food Put stale bread through a food processor to make fresh crumbs.
• FRUIT
Poach or stew down for breakfast and desserts.
Use fruit in baking.
Fruit such as apples, kiwifruit and pears can be diced finely and used in coleslaw.
HINTS
By having a simple herb garden you can add a flavour hit to your cooking.
Pastry can turn leftovers into another meal.
Pancakes can also be filled with leftover vegetables, meat, fish or fruit.
Have basics on hand always: flour, sugar, baking powder, vegetable oil, salt, pepper, butter, milk, pasta, rice, potatoes and onions.
Stock up on cheap cans of chopped tomatoes.
Buy a tasty cheese so you don't have to use as much.
WHEN SHOPPING
Use a list.
Buy exactly what you need. Buy small amounts to save wastage. Buy in-season and take advantage of specials in the fruit and vegetables.
Make use of your freezer and don't let it all get forgotten about.
Buy New Zealand-grown produce when you can.
