Most people hate wasting food. Yet, we are also aware that consuming certain types of food when its not altogether fresh may not be healthy. What then shall we do?
Here are 5 zero waste tips that can help us out of that bind.
- Love a lonely banana
Loose bananas that are not part of a bunch are typically thrown out by grocers or supermarkets. Since, bananas most likely have a lot of air miles/a large carbon footprint to get to you, buy lonely bananas. That way, you have saved the banana.
Instead of binning overripe bananas, you can also make muffins or cakes!
Zero waste champion, Kathryn Kell feels so strongly about this that she has even written a song about how to love a lonely banana! Check it out here.
2. Bread can be frozen
Baked goods can be frozen in pillow cases. This keeps it fresh up to three months. A helpful tip is to freeze them in slices. That way, you can use them bit by bit!
3. Stale Bread can be made into breadcrumbs for cooking
All you have to do is throw some stale bread cubes in a blender or food processor and you have got breadcrumbs. For toasty breadcrumbs, bake the stale bread at low heat (about 200 degrees) until it gets dry and brittle. Then throw it in the blender or food processor. Breadcrumbs can be used as a thickener for sauces or to add texture to any dish. It is delicious too!
4. Stale Bread can be used to make stuffing
One of the most common uses for stale bread is probably stuffing.
To use stale bread in stuffing, all you have to do is cut it into cubes. Add the cubes to sauteed veggies in a pan, season and moisten with broth. After letting it cook a few minutes, transfer the stuffing to a baking dish and bake until it’s golden brown.
5. Don’t throw away your lemon/lime/orange peel
You can use your lemon peel to make your own zero-waste cleaning agent! All you need is a jar, your citrus peel and white vinegar.
Mix the peels with the white vinegar and let it infuse for 2 weeks and presto you have your new non-toxic cleaner you can use all over the house!
