In the kitchen, being resourceful is an excellent way to save cash, prevent wastefulness, and craft delicious meals. This article will discuss three key ways that you can be more frugal: using leftover fat for other cooking endeavors, reusing bones for soups and broth creation, and freezing food before it spoils.
Use Leftover Fat
Using leftover fat for other cooking is an excellent way to reduce waste and add flavor to your dishes. For example, if you cook bacon, save the grease in a container and use it later to fry eggs or to sauté vegetables. This not only adds a delicious smoky flavor to your dishes, but it also helps you reduce waste. Similarly, if you roast a chicken or a turkey, save the juices and fat that collect in the bottom of the pan and use it for basting or for making a gravy. These simple techniques can help you get the most out of the ingredients you have on hand and reduce the amount of waste you produce.
Use Leftover Bones
Another great way to be more resourceful in the kitchen is to use leftover bones to make soups and broths. Bones are a great source of flavor and nutrition, and most garbage disposals aren't made to chop up bones, so instead of throwing them away, use them to make a flavorful broth. Bring the bones to a boil in water, adding vegetables like onion, carrots and celery, as well as seasonings such as bay leaves, peppercorns and thyme. Let the broth simmer for several hours before straining it off - now you have a perfect base to create soups, sauces or stews! Not only does this save money by avoiding waste but also creates healthier dishes that taste divine.
Freeze Food Before it Goes Bad
Finally, To become more resourceful in the kitchen, it's wise to freeze food before it spoils. If you have any leftovers such as vegetables or meat that you're unsure if you'll eat soon enough, cut them up and store them away for later. That way, whenever hunger strikes all your meals are already set with pre-prepared ingredients that won't go bad - no need to worry about wasting precious food! Additionally, if you have fresh herbs that are about to go bad, chop them up and freeze them in ice cube trays with a little bit of oil or water. This way, you can easily add fresh herbs to your cooking, even in the middle of winter when herbs aren't in season.
Being creative in the kitchen is a wonderful way to save money, help the environment, and make delectable dishes. For instance, you can repurpose leftover fat for other recipes, create soups with bones that were once meant to be thrown away or freeze food before it goes bad. Not only are these methods cost-effective but also they contribute to healthier meals! So next time you're prepping something up in your kitchen, take note of how resourceful you can be and get more out of what's already available.
Check out this article on Why Cooking at Home is Healthier!