When the trash can is a temptation

The first step to recycling leftovers is wanting to do it; the second is being strong when the trash can is tempting. Tiredness in the kitchen and garbage nearby is a terrible combination.

Order in the refrigerator

From the moment we get home from shopping, it's important to think about using up the food that's been in the refrigerator the longest. To do this, you should keep things organized and put the oldest items closest to the front, planning your next meals around using up the food that needs to be used up soon, paying special attention to vegetables, which taste better the fewer days they've been in the refrigerator.

With a chaotic refrigerator, it will take you longer to organize everything. I don't like to give exact guidelines on how you should have it arranged, because every household has its own customs, but I do want to remind you that meat and fish should go on the bottom shelf, clearly separated so they don't absorb odors, right above the vegetable drawer, as this is the coldest part of the refrigerator. Cold cuts, dairy products, or any product that requires refrigeration after opening can be placed on the middle or upper shelves.

The door is the least cold area and, therefore, the ideal place for products such as butter, jams, and eggs.

Pantry

Always keep some basic ingredients in your pantry: they'll give you more options for repurposing leftovers. In future posts, I'll make a list of essential pantry ingredients so you can easily transform leftovers into something better and avoid throwing them away.

Adjust portions

But the key skill to practice is portion control. You can transform leftovers into a magnificent dish, but that doesn't mean you have to eat leftovers all day long. If you make a mistake once, it's not the end of the world, but next time remember to use less. We have to realize that we don't have to feel completely stuffed: we're fortunate enough to eat again in a few hours.

To conclude

The trash can should never be an option. All leftovers should be recycled for economic reasons, out of respect for the product, and out of responsibility for not generating waste. Furthermore, we should consider that adjusting portion sizes is beneficial in every way: clean plates, without leftovers, in case we don't have time to recycle, and in this way we use what we buy properly, without anything having time to spoil.

Tell me in the comments how you recycle leftovers. I love reading your posts; I find everything you share very enriching.

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