Using up not-so-fresh ingredients…
By sishy7
@sishy7 (27166)
Australia
March 14, 2017 9:41am CST
# 60
We all have food that we would not consider as ‘fresh’ yet would be a shame to waste. Things like left-over, food nearing its expiration date/just past its best before date, or over-ripe fruits would be some examples. Some people are really creative in using them and come up with something fresh and delicious... 
Even with my limited culinary skills, I have my share of attempting not to waste old or stale ingredients and turning them into something delicious instead. Examples of such attempts are:
1. Bread pudding
This is probably my favorite example. I can turn stale bread into yummy bread pudding which often nearly gone shortly after it’s out of the oven. My family loves this dish and the picture is from last weekend showing one I made.
2. Banana bread
There are many ways to use over-ripe bananas. What I often do is using them to make banana bread. My sons use them to make shakes or smoothies, and I’ve seen my husband making banana fritters out of them.
3. Fried rice
Once in a while we have left-over steamed rice. Steamed rice is best eaten fresh and its left-over would usually stay in my fridge for days if it is left as is. I find that turning it into fried rice would be the best way to use them up.
What other ways do you do with your not-so-fresh ingredients to avoid tossing them in the bin?
Even with my limited culinary skills, I have my share of attempting not to waste old or stale ingredients and turning them into something delicious instead. Examples of such attempts are:
1. Bread pudding
This is probably my favorite example. I can turn stale bread into yummy bread pudding which often nearly gone shortly after it’s out of the oven. My family loves this dish and the picture is from last weekend showing one I made.
2. Banana bread
There are many ways to use over-ripe bananas. What I often do is using them to make banana bread. My sons use them to make shakes or smoothies, and I’ve seen my husband making banana fritters out of them.
3. Fried rice
Once in a while we have left-over steamed rice. Steamed rice is best eaten fresh and its left-over would usually stay in my fridge for days if it is left as is. I find that turning it into fried rice would be the best way to use them up.
What other ways do you do with your not-so-fresh ingredients to avoid tossing them in the bin?
28 people like this
31 responses
@mysdianait (66005)
• Italy
15 Mar 17
Some of my best and most popular dishes were made with leftovers and spur of the moment ideas. The only problem is that they are difficult to repeat 
I make very occasionally bread and butter pudding adding sultanas too. My nana made that often and it so reminds me of her.
I make very occasionally bread and butter pudding adding sultanas too. My nana made that often and it so reminds me of her.3 people like this
@mysdianait (66005)
• Italy
16 Mar 17
@sishy7 I shall think of you next time I make one! 
2 people like this
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
17 Mar 17
@mysdianait SmilePie said she thinks of me every time she's having pancakes... It's nice being thought of by friends having meals around the world 
2 people like this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
15 Mar 17
Bread pudding is what I make with leftover bread and a few other items such as 'bread wada'
2 people like this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
15 Mar 17
@sishy7 They are both. I add a bit of sugar to the curds.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
17 Mar 17
I love fried rice! I am not actually much of a rice eater. But when it's fried rice, oh my, I can eat a lot! Even if the viand is only "tuyo" , I would be already super happy to eat.
I make fried fish left-overs into sweet and sour to make it a new dish. Or a sarciado. 
2 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6771)
• Defiance, Ohio
20 Mar 17
I tend to take leftovers and turn them into new meals as well. Pot roast, I tend to cut down and make a beef stew out of it.
1 person likes this
@rusty2rusty (6771)
• Defiance, Ohio
20 Mar 17
@sishy7 Yes, I find it easy to do. many have no clue how to re-use a meal. I think this is a great topic discussion. It gives me new ideas.
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
20 Mar 17
@rusty2rusty Thank you. I also learned new ideas from the responses and comments I got here...
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Mar 17
We do banana bread and fried rice for sure! But I've never made bread pudding before . . . apparently Hubby gets it at work a lot (they get catered lunches) so I don't make it 
.
If there are veggies that need to be used up now, I'll make soup out of them . . . tonight I'm actually going to do that as we have leftover roasted chicken (chicken vegetable soup). If I have leftover rice or pasta, I'd toss that in too.
.
If there are veggies that need to be used up now, I'll make soup out of them . . . tonight I'm actually going to do that as we have leftover roasted chicken (chicken vegetable soup). If I have leftover rice or pasta, I'd toss that in too.1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
14 Mar 17
I give my leftovers to my parents 
They will whip something up with them usually
They will whip something up with them usually2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
16 Mar 17
I do love banana bread, never tried fried rice, how to you turn old steamed rice into fried?
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
18 Mar 17
Oh, when there's some leftover steamed rice, I always put it in a sealed container and put it in the fridge. Usually by the next day, I'd use it to make fried rice. I stir fry some meat and vegetables, add some eggs, pour some sauces, then last I put the rice into the wok. I continue stir-frying them until everything is well-mixed then it's ready to be served... 
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
19 Mar 17
@sishy7 what all sauces or spices go in it?
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
19 Mar 17
@Jessicalynnt Hmmm... that part I have to 'cheat'... I have to have a recipe in front of me and follow what and how much sauces and spices go in it... Sometimes I even buy this ready-to-use spices package for fried rice. I remember one recipe I like used soy sauce, others used oyster sauce, or combination of those kind of sauces...
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
14 Mar 17
We give them to my Grandmother. As she likes to use gross food and we dont
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
16 Mar 17
@Courtlynn Then perhaps it's best if you try to buy or cook as you need so there won't be any wasted.
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
15 Mar 17
@sishy7 for some people, maybe. Not here though.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
16 Mar 17
I love fried rice and would do the same there- you'll have to tell us what goes into that great bread pudding one day!
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
31 Mar 17
@MarymargII I checked - and both my bread pudding and banana bread bubbles weren't included in the ones I was able to retrieve... 
Oh well, I'll just have to re-write a new post, I guess... 
Oh well, I'll just have to re-write a new post, I guess... 1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
31 Mar 17
@sishy7 Why not- the less effort the better! And you know it's a winner anyway! LOL!
And you know it's a winner anyway! LOL!1 person likes this
@diosabella (4789)
•
19 Mar 17
I like making garlic rice whenever I can. And make garlic bread out of frozen white bread. Hmmm there are so many to choose from.
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
19 Mar 17
@diosabella Yes, just fried rice alone the variety is probably endless...
1 person likes this
@diosabella (4789)
•
19 Mar 17
@sishy7 Yes Fried rice with garlic. Sometimes I do fried rice in bacon and mushroom. There a lot of possibilities when it comes to food. Hahahah I solely learned cooking so I can eat whatever I want.
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22085)
• United States
23 Mar 17
Food has a "best before" or expiration date?
If it still looks, smells and tastes good, then I eat it. That being said, if I find food in my refrigerator that I can't remember cooking, because it has been so long, then I usually throw it away without opening the container.
If it still looks, smells and tastes good, then I eat it. That being said, if I find food in my refrigerator that I can't remember cooking, because it has been so long, then I usually throw it away without opening the container.1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22085)
• United States
23 Mar 17
@sishy7 I tend to put bread and wraps in the freezer unless I know we are going to be eating them right away, so they will stay fresh. Otherwise, we do not eat bread often enough to keep it fresh just sitting on the counter. I also put most fruits in the refrigerator, so they will stay fresh longer.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
17 Mar 17
I absolutely hate wasting food. I do the three you mentioned and also make potato pancakes from mashed potatoes.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
23 Mar 17
i would fry our leftover rice for breakfast. i do not like, as much as possible, to throw excess food in the garbage bin.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
24 Mar 17
@sishy7 ndeed. and since it is Friday, we had fish for lunch. i put the fish bones outside so the stray cats can come and eat those.
1 person likes this
