What’s for dinner? 5 tips for maximizing leftovers

Leftovers are an easy solution to the common question, “What’s for dinner?” and are a simple step toward more sustainable living. A recent survey found that 72 percent of Americans identify as pro-leftovers — but how can we cook and store these foods for maximum mealtime “yum” and less food waste? Whether you are pro-leftovers all the way or need some convincing, follow the tips below for a more sustainable approach to mealtime joy.

1. Keep an organized fridge.

An organized fridge is key to making the most of your leftovers and limiting food waste. Give your fridge interior a refresh so you can best find food items and develop a system that works for your family.

A recent Bosch survey found that 61 percent of people believe they would waste less food if their fridge had more useful storage capacity. Utilize flexible storage and shelving solutions like the FlexBar from Bosch to make space for taller items, like large cakes or bottles, so every inch of your fridge interior is maximized.

Label your leftovers with the date they were made, and store them in airtight, glass containers. It is easy to forget what is in your fridge until it is too late — glass storage containers are not only reusable and sustainable, but also allow you to see what is inside.

2. Cook meals that you already know will make great leftovers.

Many Americans choose their meals based on whether or not they will make good leftovers for future meals. In the survey, Americans noted that eggs and sushi are by far the worst things to keep as leftovers (42 percent and 33 percent), whereas soups (79 percent), meat (62 percent) and pasta (60 percent) are among some of the best leftovers. Rather than making that egg frittata for your at-home brunch, consider sweet potato hash browns or cheesy pasta bake so you can enjoy the leftovers for days to come.

3. Treat “extras” as a foundation for new meals.

We all have that one recipe that calls for only a small amount of one ingredient, but you do not need it for anything else. To save time and money, think about what extra ingredients can become. For example, repurpose vegetable scraps to make a soup or stock. Toss extra carrots, onions and the like in a gallon zip-top bag in the freezer. If you prepare twice the vegetables you will need for a meal, you will have a starting point for a soup or pasta salad later in the week, such as Leftovers Veggie Soup.

4. Maximize freshness with the right products and appliances.

Choose a refrigerator that features freshness technology specifically designed to extend the shelf life of your food so you can have peace of mind, knowing your leftovers will be good to eat in days after you first eat the meal. The Bosch French door bottom-mount refrigerator with a VitaFreshPro drawer optimizes both temperature and humidity to keep meat, fish and produce fresher longer.

You can also freeze leftovers if you want to extend their life for a longer period of time. An easy storage hack for leftover soup or sauce is to freeze it in muffin tins or ice-cube trays for small portions to easily use for other meals.

5. Reheat your leftovers like a pro.

There are a number of ways to best reheat leftovers, and 41 percent of survey respondents said reheating ability is a key factor that would encourage them to eat more leftovers.

Your cooktop is a key method to making your leftovers feel like a brand-new meal. While microwaves are handy when in a time crunch, they might give your leftovers an undesirable consistency, whereas cooking on the stovetop on low heat maintains the food’s original taste and texture. Leftovers can also be reheated on an induction cooktop for fast and precise reheating to ensure that they do not have any cold spots, and for easy cleanup.

Steam cooking is another great way to reheat leftovers, as it retains nutrients, moisture and the original integrity of the food. Try reheating foods such as fish and veggies in a steam oven — leftovers will come out fresh and flavorful.