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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think everyone uses leftovers

347 replies

moogy1a · 31/10/2013 18:36

Certain smug, lispy, fat tongued chefs make a living at the moment by telling people not to throw perfectly good food away if you've cooked too much.
Surely no one does anyway?
Would anyone really cook say a roast chicken, not eat it all, so bin it rather than keep for sarnies / stir fry/ nibbling at secretly in the kitchen?
Do you bin leftover food or use it later?

OP posts:
BackforGood · 31/10/2013 19:28

You'd be amazed how much food is thrown out.
Interesting website Here

VisualiseAHorse · 31/10/2013 19:28

What does that phrase mean HansieMom?

I use everything. We're also very lax about sell by dates in this house. Just smell it, or look closely for signs of mouldy spores etc. If I'd made a lasagne on Monday, I'd happily eat it today.

You just need to remember to store it correctly. So, leave it to cool on the side - I tend to portion it off into those plastic take away tubs - it must be cold before it goes in the fridge. If you portion it out, it will cool quicker. Then I label it with the date and what it is. Then straight into the fridge. If it's been in the fridge for longer than a day or two, I tend to stick it in the freezer. For frozen things, leave to defrost on the sideboard during the day for it to be ready for an evening meal. And when reheating, make sure it's hot all the way through.
We don't have a microwave, so things either get reheated on the hob, or in the oven.

BMW6 · 31/10/2013 19:28

I use leftovers all the time (unless the dog gets it!)
Mashed spud & veg = bubble & squeak
Or leftover cooked veg chucked into curry or stew

Or, our ultimate "leftover" - we roast a leg of lamb or pork joint one Sunday for dinner, then the rest is kept in fridge till the next Sunday - sliced and reheated in gravy.

A chicken is used right down to the carcass, then that is boiled and I make a casserole in the slow cooker.

nemno · 31/10/2013 19:28

I know plenty of people who do throw away perfectly good food. I can't understand it and if I think too much about it it makes me seeth. So I don't think about it till reminded by things like the OP Angry Grin

coffeeinbed · 31/10/2013 19:36

No waste here.
All leftovers used.
Saves me time and money.

ZenNudist · 31/10/2013 19:40

I always save bits of food & often cook more so I have a portion for the next day.

Rice I know is meant to be dodgy but guess I've been lucky. The only way to get decent egg fried rice is by letting it cool.

I can't imagine having to cook from scratch every night. I always have at least one leftover & one batch cooked & frozen meal in normal working week.

ArtemisatBrauron · 31/10/2013 19:41

We try not to waste any food at all - we have a large tupperware in the bottom of the freezer for leftover veg and I make a veg soup about once a month from it, adding herbs, stock, spice etc.

I would feel terrible throwing away edible food.

MrsOsbourne · 31/10/2013 19:44

I think meal planning means you are constantly thinking about what the chicken will be used for -eg
Sun: roast chicken
Mon: chicken curry
Tues: soup with chicken stock
Weds ... only joking !

I should add that leftovers are not the scrapings from plates !- just spare food

loveandsmiles · 31/10/2013 19:44

4you haha, thought it was only my DH that did thisGrin

We always seem to have leftovers and I think they will be lovely for my lunch next day, only to get up next morning to find DH ate them as a late night 'snack' ~ then he has the cheek to wonder why he's putting on weight, and says its my fault for cooking too much.......!

AmeliaToppingLovesShopping · 31/10/2013 19:47

If I do something like sausage casserole or chili I will eat any leftovers the next day but I am rubbish about using leftover roast chicken. I have the best intentions of making a pie or curry but it doesn't normally happen.

everlong · 31/10/2013 19:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fluffycloudland77 · 31/10/2013 19:59

I have relatives who throw food out if it gets near date. Unopened packs of ham get thrown in the bin Angry.

brettgirl2 · 31/10/2013 20:05

now I've heard it all, chucking out leftover chicken Confused . Half the world is starving! !!!!!

SpookedMackerel · 31/10/2013 20:06

We don't get many leftovers, I must be too god at cooking the right amount. Though I sometimes cook twice as much on purpose with the plan of getting another meal out of it.

Anything left on plates would get put in the bin, anything still "unserved" in the dish would get eaten by dh put in a plastic box in the fridge.

I have half a jacket potato with tuna sitting in the fridge, not entirely sure what to do with it, but have put it in the fridge until I think of something.

My favourite leftover is reheated Chinese takeaway. Yes, I know it is supposed to be dodgy as hell to reheat rice, but I've always been fine. Wouldn't give it to the kids though.

FatimaLovesBread · 31/10/2013 20:15

As long as the rice has been cooked properly in the first place it's fine.
It's when it's cooked but not at a high enough temperature to kill the bacteria, it's then cooled and the bacteria multiplies. Reheating then kills the bacteria but the toxins released are left behind and that's what makes you ill.

justanuthermanicmumsday · 31/10/2013 20:38

I think its PC nonsense about not reheating food or not eating leftovers. It's the same as the so called use by date on products I ignore it and go by look , smell and taste.

I rarely throw anything away either, although I have when it's been forgotten about.

If leftovers is food that is not cooked on the same day then I eat that everyday. My main food is Bangladeshi, mainly curries. There is always curry left over, always enough for meals the next day. The pot stays in a pantry or anywhere cool, then it is heated on The stove and I actually think it can taste better with age. all bangla families I know do this it's the norm.

rice is also always left over nowadays it's heated in the microwave, sprinkled with a bit of water and heat, it tastes as good as new. I'm shocked on the advice about not reheating rice. It's bull rice is my staple food. If it's not yours you may get an upset stomach intially but believe me it won't last. A better way of reheating old rice is in a colander with hot water underneath, it takes longer but it makes the rice a softer. This has been abandoned by most except the old fashioned folks.

curry can be freshend up by frying it like a stirs fry with birds eye dried chillies in some ghee butter, lots of garlic . Kids fight for here left overs it's got a char grilled taste.

Just had spaghetti bolognese from yesterday. The meat mixture is from yesterday but the spag is boiled new, I don't see the issue.

What about cheese that's a bit mouldy do u cut and use or throw away. I always use it

I think it's disgusting if people are throwing away a lot of food. We have become a nation of ungrateful gluttons. We over eat here in the west whilst people our neighbours and those abroad are dying from a lack of food.
That's my mantra any time I think I throwing food away, and it's what I drum into my kids when they say I'll eat what's on this half of my plate but not the other half.

justanuthermanicmumsday · 31/10/2013 20:41

To be honest i can't bin my kids leftovers, either I eat it or my husband does. My religious views have a part in my thinking it's considered a great sin which I as a parent will have to answer for if my prepubescent child is wasting food. When they're of age they're accountable so until then leftovers it is.

EBearhug · 31/10/2013 20:48

I was brought up on leftovers. I assume we had firsts on other days besides Sunday lunch, but it nearly always seemed to be leftovers.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 31/10/2013 20:49

just I'm curious, what religion is that if you don't mind me asking?

LaurieFairyCake · 31/10/2013 20:52

I cannot believe people throw away food Shock

It's a disgrace.

I'd rather people shagged their bil's than wasted food.

Less of a sin in my book Grin

wildflowering · 31/10/2013 20:55

well my BIL's dead and I waste food

Fishandjam · 31/10/2013 21:01

Leftover lamb jalfrezi and tarka dhal for breakfast is the best start to the day I know.

DontmindifIdo · 31/10/2013 21:02

Some things I keep, others I don't. I'd keep meat (cold cooked chicken or beef in sarnies on a monday from a sunday roast is lovely!), I'll keep left over roast veg but not potatoes (don't reheat well).

I'm also funny about where left overs have been, I won't keep food off people's plates, but left overs still in the pan (we normally make enough for another meal when cooking things like pasta sauces), or serving dishes, I'll keep.

I've had to stop myself eating DS's left overs though, it's a bad habit that was adding unneccessary calories to my diet.

bundaberg · 31/10/2013 21:13

Shock cold roast potatoes are the BEST

Lamu · 31/10/2013 21:16

I cannot believe that people will throw away half a roast chicken!

Left over chicken from our Sunday roast went into tonight's risotto. I try very hard not to throw food although on the odd occasion things get lost in the back of the fridge. I reheat rice till it piping hot and never had any issues. Lasagne, shepherds pie, curry type meals last several days and taste even better.

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