If there’s one thing I love almost as much as soup (hi, Soup Sunday crew), it’s finding ways to stretch every ingredient and make our kitchen work smarter—not harder. Did you know the average family throws away over $1,500 worth of food each year? That’s basically a vacation fund sitting in your trash can! Let’s fix that.

Here are 5 easy ways to reduce food waste and save money in your kitchen—all while keeping your meals delicious and your conscience clear.

1. Save Your Vegetable Scraps for Homemade Stock

You know all those carrot tops, onion skins, celery ends, and parsley stems you usually toss? Pop them in a freezer bag instead. When the bag is full, simmer them with water and a pinch of salt for a few hours, and voilà: free, homemade vegetable stock!

Pro Tip: Add chicken bones or leftover rotisserie chicken carcasses to make a rich chicken stock. Perfect for all those Soup Sunday recipes.

2. Give Stale Bread a Second Life

Before you toss that day-old loaf, think croutons or breadcrumbs.

• Cube stale bread, toss with olive oil and seasoning, and bake for homemade croutons.

• Blitz hardened bread in the food processor for breadcrumbs (freeze them in a jar).

Why It’s Genius: Store-bought croutons and breadcrumbs cost more—and don’t taste as fresh.

3. Regrow Your Veggies

That bunch of green onions you used once? Don’t let it shrivel up. Place the root ends in a jar of water, and they’ll keep growing for weeks. Celery, lettuce, and even carrots can regrow in water, too.

Bonus: It’s like having a free mini garden on your windowsill.

4. Embrace the ‘Leftover Bowl’ Day

Every week, have one day dedicated to using up leftovers. Mix and match proteins, veggies, and grains into stir-fries, burrito bowls, or hearty soups.

• Example: That half cup of roasted veggies + a handful of rice + leftover chicken = an instant grain bowl.

  
  

  Why It Works: You’ll clear your fridge and avoid the dreaded “science experiment” container.

  
  

5. Freeze Like a Pro

Instead of letting that bag of spinach wilt, freeze it. Same goes for herbs (freeze them in olive oil in an ice cube tray), bananas (perfect for smoothies), and even extra tomato paste.

• Tip: Label everything with the date to prevent freezer mystery meals.

  
  

Why This Matters

Reducing food waste doesn’t just save you money—it helps the environment, too. Plus, there’s something empowering about using every single bit of what you buy.

Want More From-Scratch Kitchen Hacks?

Check out my Soup Sunday recipes and from-scratch recipes for more ways to make your kitchen work smarter. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter where I share recipes, seasonal meal plans, and kitchen tips delivered straight to your inbox.