Indian cuisine is known for its variety of flavours and spices. However, it is also known for its generous use of ingredients, which can sometimes lead to a lot of food waste. Food waste is not only bad for the environment, but it also wastes resources and money.
In this blog post, we will discuss some tips for reducing food waste in Indian cooking and creating a zero-waste Indian kitchen. Though the tips are particularly for Indian cooking (my personal experience) but can be used in any kitchen (my general knowledge) with little modifications.
Plan Your Meals:
The first step to reducing food waste is to plan your meals. Before you go grocery shopping, make a list of the meals you want to cook and the ingredients you need. This will help you buy only what you need and avoid overbuying.
Store Food Properly:
Storing food properly is essential to keeping it fresh and reducing waste. Store fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator, and keep them in separate compartments to prevent them from spoiling quickly. You can also use airtight containers to store leftovers and keep them fresh for longer.
Use All Parts of Vegetables:
In Indian cooking, many vegetables are used, and it is essential to use all parts of the vegetable to reduce waste. For example, use the stems of coriander and mint to make chutneys and the peels of vegetables like potatoes and carrots to make broth. The vegetables are made from the peels of sponge guard and peels of pea are delicious and healthy. The only condition is that the veggies should be farm fresh.
We had a huge kitchen garden in my maternal home. Veggies were fresh and my mom used to make these vegetables. If I have to share my opinion, I loved these peels-veggies better than the veggies.
Use Leftovers Creatively:
Leftovers can be used creatively to make new dishes. For example, leftover rice can be used to make fried rice or pulao. Leftover dal can be used to make parathas or used as a filling for sandwiches. You can also use leftover vegetable curry as a filling for samosas or use it as a topping for pizzas. This is what influencers are promoting these days. :). My idea of using leftovers
Compost Food Scraps:
Composting is an excellent way to reduce food waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your plants. You can compost food scraps like vegetable peels, fruit scraps, and eggshells. Composting not only reduces waste but also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Buy in Bulk:
Buying in bulk is an excellent way to reduce packaging waste and save money. You can buy staples like rice, lentils, and spices in bulk and store them in airtight containers. This not only reduces packaging waste but also saves you money in the long run.
Freeze Food:
Freezing food is an excellent way to preserve it for a longer time. You can freeze fruits and vegetables that are about to spoil and use them later in smoothies or soups. You can also freeze leftover cooked food in small portions and use it later as a quick meal.
Reducing food waste is essential for the environment, our wallets, and our health. With these tips, you can create a zero-waste Indian kitchen and reduce your carbon footprint. By planning your meals, storing food properly, using all parts of vegetables, using leftovers creatively, composting food scraps, buying in bulk, and freezing food, you can reduce food waste and contribute to a more sustainable future.
This post is part of the #BlogchatterA2ZChallenge.
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