REDUCING FOOD WASTE
The USDA recommends a great tool that you can use in your home to reduce food waste: the FoodKeeper App, which provides guidance on storage for more than 650 food and beverage items. This app provides guidance on safe handling and preparation. FoodKeeper is available free as a mobile application for Android and Apple devices, or via desktop at FoodSafety.gov.
Here are some tips to reduce food waste at THANKSGIVING – or at any meal.
1. Plan your meal
For turkey, one rule of thumb: one pound per person.
If guests want to bring a dish, coordinate in advance.
2. While preparing dishes, save the scraps for future cooking.
Freeze scraps like vegetable peelings and meat trimmings for your future culinary creations in broths and soups.
3. Store or give away leftovers
4. Be creative with your leftovers.
Extra rolls and bread going stale can be made into bread crumbs or pudding.
Leftover mashed potatoes can be used for fritters or potato pancakes.
Make turkey stock with the carcass.
Use vegetables in soups.
5. Donate
If you have extra cans of pumpkin pie filling, green beans, or cranberry sauce, donate them to your local food bank.
6. COMPOST any leftover plant-based food either at home or at the Recycling Center.
The USDA recommends a great tool that you can use in your home to reduce food waste: the FoodKeeper App, which provides guidance on storage for more than 650 food and beverage items. This app provides guidance on safe handling and preparation. FoodKeeper is available free as a mobile application for Android and Apple devices, or via desktop at FoodSafety.gov.
Here are some tips to reduce food waste at THANKSGIVING – or at any meal.
1. Plan your meal
For turkey, one rule of thumb: one pound per person.
If guests want to bring a dish, coordinate in advance.
2. While preparing dishes, save the scraps for future cooking.
Freeze scraps like vegetable peelings and meat trimmings for your future culinary creations in broths and soups.
3. Store or give away leftovers
4. Be creative with your leftovers.
Extra rolls and bread going stale can be made into bread crumbs or pudding.
Leftover mashed potatoes can be used for fritters or potato pancakes.
Make turkey stock with the carcass.
Use vegetables in soups.
5. Donate
If you have extra cans of pumpkin pie filling, green beans, or cranberry sauce, donate them to your local food bank.
6. COMPOST any leftover plant-based food either at home or at the Recycling Center.
*Litchfield’s Waste Reduction Committee thanks the Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market for sharing its Sustainable Tip of the Week.
