If you’ve been reading this newsletter for a few months, than you know that I hate throwing food away; I am all about using every bit that I can and minimizing the food we waste and throw out! However, sometimes it just happens. We have unexpected plans pop up, our family gets sick, life happens- and we don’t always get through the food we think we’re going to. Or maybe, we are simply throwing things out because we don’t know we can actually re-use them! To cut back on costs and to help utilize every bit of food in your kitchen that you can, check out this list of things you shouldn’t be throwing out and see if you’re guilty of throwing any of them out!

*Sour Milk- Granted, if you’re milk is curdling or changing colors, definitely don’t keep it; but if you catch it early enough where it’s just starting to get that sour taste, then use it in your baking! It can make a great substitute for buttermilk, and you can always freeze the rest to save for future baking experiences if you can’t quite use all of it. Or if you’re brave, use it to make your own homemade cottage cheese!

*Stale Bread- By itself, so so gross. But you can easily use stale bread to make homemade croutons, bread crumbs for casseroles, or even for bread puddings! Be creative ;).

*Bacon Grease- Sometimes it just feels easier to throw it out, but since you have to wait for it to cool anyway before tossing it in the trash, just put it in an airtight container and you can keep it in your fridge for 6 months! Use it as a base when frying eggs, sauteing veggies, add a little to your fried rice- I mean really, is there much that won’t taste better with a hint of bacon flavor? ;)

*Stale Chips and Crackers- These definitely aren’t worth eating… at least before you learned this magic trick! I haven’t personally tried this, but I can’t wait to- just lay out your stale crackers/chips on a sheet and stick in the oven for 5-10 minutes at 375 degrees. They’ll come out nice and crispy, and add a little dip or salsa, and who’s going to notice?! (Have any of our readers tried this?? I’d love to hear how it worked for you!)

*Browned Bananas- We get way too many of these at my house (my kids love bananas, but sometimes we just don’t get through them fast enough!). But rather than throwing them out, freeze them and save them for banana breads, muffins, and cakes- they’ll actually have a much tastier flavor, and you’ll be saving yourself a future trip to the store!

*Orange peels- One of my all-time favorite desserts is orange rolls- so why would I ever throw perfectly good orange peels from which I could get all the orange zest I desire?? Freeze them on a plate (so they don’t clump together), and then after about an hour just transfer it to an airtight container. Even if you don’t like orange rolls, orange chicken is one of the tastiest things out there ;). Basically, don’t ever throw out orange peels! (Same goes for lemon peels!)

*Chicken bones- You can make your own chicken stock by boiling chicken bones, so don’t throw them away! This is also a great way to use some veggies if they’re starting to go bad (celery, onions, etc).

*Peelings- Many people peel things like apples, potatoes, or cucumbers before eating them, but try to avoid this! With fruits and vegetables, many of their nutrients are contained in the actual skins, so you’re losing out on some of they key nutritional benefits if you are peeling your fruits and veggies before eating them! Just don’t do it ;).

What would you add to this list? Help us to make the most of the food in our kitchen ;).