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Browse or search the tips below to find ways to save food and money when you PLAN, STORE, EAT and COMPOST well!
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Helpful Host
Tired of telling guests where to put their dirty napkins and paper plates? Make a sign to show them what goes into the compost bin.
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Holiday Dinner Planning
Keep your holiday season waste to a minimum by reviewing these planning tips from The Zero Waste Chef.
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The Guest-imator
Use this dinner party calculator from Save The Food to estimate how much food you need to keep your guests full and happy.
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Pickled Veggies
Got more raw vegetables than you can use? Turn them into a tasty condiment with quick-pickling.
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Dried Apples
Turn your extra apples into a healthy on-the-go snack by slicing and drying them.
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Preserved Lemons
A staple in Moroccan cooking, this flavorful condiment is a great way to use up extra lemons.
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Apple Sauce
Turn your extra apples into a delicious apple sauce that everyone will love!
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Avocados
Allow green, unripe avocados to ripen on the counter, then transfer to the refrigerator. Once cut, keep the pit in and rub with lemon or oil to reduce browning.
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Veggie Snacks
Place cut carrots and celery in jars filled with water to keep them fresh, crisp and easy to grab for up to a week.
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Tomatoes on the vine
Keep tomatoes tasty by storing them on the counter, vine side down. Transfer them to the refrigerator when fully ripe.
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Reviving Mac & Cheese
Leftover macaroni and cheese can be transformed into a new tasty meal or side-dish.
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Turkey Soup
Make the most out of your turkey by turning the bones and leftover meat into a tasty and healthy turkey soup.
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Asparagus
Trim the ends of asparagus and place them in a jar or glass with 1-2 inches of water, just like fresh cut flowers. Keep them in the refrigerator.
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Mushrooms
Keep raw mushrooms in a paper bag or porous container in the refrigerator for the longest shelf life.
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Potatoes
Store potatoes with an apple to avoid early sprouting. Keep them away from onions and in a cool, dark place.
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Shepherd's Pie
Use leftover turkey or chicken, gravy, veggies and mashed potatoes to make this comfort food classic.
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Pears
For the tastiest pears, keep them on the counter until fully ripe, then, transfer them to the refrigerator to extend shelf life.
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Apple Pie
Use those surplus holiday apples to make a simple and tasty apple pie!
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Bread Pudding
Turn your stale bread into a delicious dessert.
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Fresh Berries
To keep berries fresh, place them on top of a paper towel in a sealed container to absorb excess moisture and reduce chances of molding.
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Pasta Frittata
Tired of that leftover pasta? Give it a new life by turning it into a pasta frittata.
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Tub It
Keep a small tub near your cutting board to collect vegetable trimmings, then easily dump into the curbside green bin.
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Citrus Peels
Before composting the peel, consider alternative uses for kitchen and household clean-up.
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Shopping Tips
Reducing food waste starts with smart shopping. Adopt these shopping habits to avoid overbuying at the grocery store.
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Lettuce
Roll unwashed lettuce in a dry towel, then store in a sealed bag in the refrigerator.
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Egg Test
Not sure if your eggs are still fresh? If the date has passed, they may still be good to eat.
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Bread Crumbs
Save your stale bread and hard heels for later by turning them into bread crumbs.
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Expiration Dates
The USDA states that even if the expiration date on your food item has passed, it should still be safe to eat if handled properly until the spoilage is evident.
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Citrus Juice Cubes
Citrus nearing its end? Before composting the rinds, save the juice for later by making frozen juice cubes!
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Fresh Herbs
Store cilantro and other fresh herbs just like cut flowers in a jar with 1-2 inches of water and covered with a plastic bag to maintain moisture.
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Hardy Herbs
Woody or hardy herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and chives, should be arranged lengthwise on a damp paper towel, rolled up, and then sealed in a plastic bag. Store in the refrigerator.
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Fried Rice
Repurpose your leftover rice and clear out your veggie drawer by making a tasty fried rice.
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Prep Now, Eat Later
Prepare perishable foods soon after shopping. That makes it easier to whip up meals later in the week, saving time, effort and money.
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Carrot Top Salsa Verde
A new spin on the Italian classic, this salsa uses carrot tops. Great with fish or to drizzle on roasted root veggies.
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Thanksgiving Sandwich
A post-Thanksgiving favorite. Don’t forget to incorporate any leftover stuffing and cranberry sauce for a heartier sandwich.
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Food Donation
If you're hosting a catered event, no need to toss trays of edible leftovers in the compost bin. With a little planning, your celebratory feast can help feed others!
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Apples
Keep sliced apples from browning by brushing them with lemon juice. You can also put the slices back together and secure with a rubber band to minimize exposure to the air.
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Neat News
Line your compost pail with newspaper or a paper bag to minimize any mess. Dump everything into your green bin.
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BASIL
To keep basil full and fresh, trim the stems and place them in a jar with 1-2 inches of water, just like cut flowers. Store them on the counter and away from direct sunlight.
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Frozen Herbs
Don’t let your surplus herbs go to waste! Save them for later by making herb cubes with oil or butter.
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Hearty Greens
Keep hearty, winter greens, such as chard, kale, collards, and bok choy, in a sealed container in the fridge and don't wash until ready to use.
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Stuffed Bell Peppers
Put that stale old bread to use by making this simple stuffed pepper side dish.
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Bread
To keep from drying out, store all types of bread in a breadbox, not the refrigerator.
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Croutons
Save leftover bread from going into the compost bin by turning it into delicious homemade croutons.
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Cranberry Treats
Not sure what to do with all that leftover cranberry? Consider adding it to these tasty treats!
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Veggie Stock
Keep your veggie scraps and floppy carrots and celery in the freezer to make a flavorful veggie stock in the future.
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Portion Size
Don’t get left with loads of leftovers- consult the portion size chart and plan accordingly!
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Apples
Store apples up to 7 days on the counter, then move them to the refrigerator. Keep them away from bananas and avocados as they speed ripening.
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Turkey Sushi
Interested in trying something new and adventurous with your leftover turkey? Try wrapping it up in a tasty sushi roll!
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Carrots
Floppy carrots don't need to go into the compost. Use water to bring them back to life and keep them crunchy.
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Citrus
Refrigerate oranges and other citrus in a bag for up to 3 weeks. Freeze citrus and zest for recipes.
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Bananas
To keep bananas from browning quickly, break up the bunch and separate. Don’t store bananas with apples, which speed up ripening.
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Winter Squash
Before cutting open that squash, make sure you have a plan to use up all those pounds of material.
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Peel It
Don’t forget to remove the produce sticker before composting your peels! These tiny pieces of plastic are a major problem for composting facilities.
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Pumpkin Apple Butter
Unsure of what to do with all those decorative autumn pumpkins? Try this simple Pumpkin Apple Butter recipe!
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Line It
Line your pail with a bag to keep things even tidier. Just make sure the bag is compostable.
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