to think it's DH that wastes food not me.

[shotinfoot]

Small rant. DH is ways 'creating' leftovers and the moaning at me for the amount of stuff we throw out.

I don't mean double cooking then freezing, but just over cooking.

2 examples. He made rice and daal last week but cooked enough rice to serve about 8. In a bit funny about leftover rice and won't eat it past a day old so it just goes to waste, but he blames me.

Also, he needed eggs last week but cracked 4 not 2 and put the other 2 in the fridge. 4 days later it is my fault they have not been used.

We try to meal plan but DH will never just 'make do' with what's in the cupboard and will go out and buy specific things - which is a whole separate thread.

Right. Rant over.

the egg thing is weird but rice could just be a mistake, i generally overcook rice

Hands up - I overcook.

a) Freeze everything, don't put it in the fridge.
b) Every 3-4 days, put all leftovers together in a pan. Heat, and serve to DH.

dp does this too

pisses me off no end

my advice?

get a big dog that eats anything but bread
hug you dh and think about how it would feel if he wasn't there
and
work on not sweating the small stuff

I'm not being funny, I'm actually telling you what I do to try and deal with it

You can freeze cooked rice.

But yes, it does sound as if he is contributing to food waste.

Balia, that it a genius idea

or what balia said

Ah Trin, I would do if he wasn't so busy moaning at me about wasted food

If you go into any supermarket, you will see ready meals in the chilled and frozen section that have rice in them. So long as you chill it quickly (use cold water to rinse it) and then refridgerate or freeze, it is fine. Perfect to use then for adding to dishes, or making fried rice with.

Surely most eggs have more than a week before they are past their best before?

In fairness, rice is one of the biggest food poisoning culprits on buffets. Somethings about little bacterial spores that survive the cooking and then 'hatch' when the rice is cool again. So I would eat rice after a day or two unless I had frozen it (it works!).

My DH is a bit useless a portion sizes, but I am just grateful he tries and will happily cook dinner a couple of nights a week. He does ask for help sometimes and times everything to the minute for how long it should cook for! Could you offer your help and say that half a mug of rice is enough for two small portions, a whole mug for 4?

As for using up cupboard and freezer supplies in the days running up to a big shop, it takes creativity and an open mind as to what 'goes' with what! And some people are funny about eating mis-match meals!

I tend to overcook, but then DH will happily take leftovers to work for lunch so it neve goes to waste.

mrs ozz i read that as he cracked 4 eggs but only needed 2, so put 2 already cracked eggs back in the fridge ? maybe im wrong

Also, the eggs, if they have been kept in the fridge will still be fine to use for cooking.. they would be fine for at least 5 days.

Oh well if they were already cracked then I have no idea how long they are ok for! I thought it was whole eggs, in shells that hadn't been used within 4 days!

Mrsozz, he'd cracked and whisked them. Then put them uncovered on the top shelf of the fridge. I often freeze separated eggs but I don't think you can freeze normal forked eggs (prepared to be told otherwise)

I can sympathise with the rice, I have issues with cooking WAAAAY too much rice for 4 of us (even boil in the bag!) & it's become a standing joke between me & DH!
I like Balia's idea

Rice is tricky IME. I always seem to do a bit too much. But rinse the leftovers immediately in cold water and refrigerate it - it will be fine (rice salad?).

Eggs is just weird. Why would you crack eggs you don't need?

I normally weigh rice (and pasta, porridge oats, any dried grains) otherwise I always end up doing far too much! Do you have kitchen scales?

It is weird about the eggs, unless it was a mistake (e.g. if he was scaling down a recipe for a larger number of portions?) I agree they should be OK in the fridge for a few days, no idea what would happen if you froze them though...

We tend to make too much rice as well. I use left overs for making rice pudding. I also use a day or two old rice to make little savoury 'cakes'. I mix the rice with yogurt, fresh garlic, chillies and salt. Mash with either a little bit of potato or bread. Shape into balls and press down till they are flattish cakes (not too flat). Cook either on a nonstick griddle with some oil or brush with butter and bake.

Really yum as the carb accompaniment to any meal.

Your dh needs to take some responsibility for example he could have had scrambled eggs for breakfast/snack the next day. Or he could have mentioned the eggs and if you had known you could have used them in any number of ways (cakes or whatever).

It's part of a wider moan really. He is very particular about what he wants to eat and therefore does most of the cooking. But I am always being moaned at for the meal planning and shopping.

When I try to use leftovers (general ones) he moans that 'he didn't want to eat that' but also complains about waste.

In his head, I think he wants to cook whatever he likes and then for me to be creative with the kids dinner (I.e. get rid of it all on them).

It really is such a minor moan I feel foolish now

I cooking ratatouille and lamb today to use up leftover aubergine and tomatoes (leftover from my cooking) but I know he will complain that he wanted something else.

Our family motto is, if you overcook it, you eat it.

I have disgarded my clean plates policy because everyone was getting fat, so I serve smaller portions, cook less, fill up on fruit/veg etc.,

The waste is no longer an issue.

So if its your DH overcooking, then its for him to eat it or chuck, rather than blaming you for not wishing to have 3 day old rice or pre-cracked eggs.

My old neighbour used to do the "freeze all leftovers in one bag and fry up at the end of the month" thing.

She actually used to scrape the family leftovers off plates and add that to the same bag though.

Yes I think if HE overcooks or over prepares HE should then either eat or deal with the leftovers AND NOT BLUMMIN MOAN ABOUT IT.

Measuring cup or scales for rice etc.

Can your DH take part in planning meals and shopping - giving some thought to what others might want to eat too? Expecting the rest of you to eat his leftovers is pretty weird and selfish.

Why doesn't he do the meal planning then?