Using Leftover Vegetables

If you have vegetables left over from other meal prep or you just have extra, find other meals to use them up to minimize food waste. This is a guide about using leftover vegetables.

Solutions: Using Leftover Vegetables

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Using Your Leftover Vegetables

This is so frugal and easy!

Put a big plastic container in the freezer and every night after dinner put the tiny bit of leftover veggies and/or potatoes that you usually throw in the garbage in the container, juice and all. When the container is full, dump it in a pot and add a can of tomatoes and maybe some rice if you like.

Add some chopped celery, onions, and garlic if you want. Throw in some basil and thyme and any other spices you like and you have the best cheapest soup ever. Best of all the kids will eat all those veggies they claim they hate.

If you do add rice, chopped celery, onion or garlic make sure to cook them first in the tomatoes before you add all those already cooked veggies from your freezer container.

Servings:	6-10
Time:	+/-20 Minutes Preparation Time +/- 30 Minutes Cooking Time

By Barbara from Rouses Point, NY

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Roast Leftover Vegetables

When you have a variety of vegetables on their last legs but not enough of any one to make a full dish, chop them all up, throw them in a roaster, coat with a light layer of oil and seasoning. Roast together for a hearty dish of roast vegetables.

By duckie-do from Cortez, CO

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Freeze Leftover Vegetables for Soups

Whenever I have leftover vegetables, especially when it is only a small amount, I put them in a 2 pint plastic container with a lid. I always keep this container on a shelf in my freezer, so it is very convenient. I keep adding vegetables no matter what kind they are, right on top of each other, and I always include the juice.

When this container is full, I use it to prepare vegetable soup or stew. This saves me from having to clean out the old vegetables that end up not being used, and I don't have to spend money on more mixed vegetables.

By Bev from Longview, WA

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Frugal Uses for Leftover Veggies

When I have just a small amount of vegetables or gravy left over, I put them in a container and freeze them. When I make soups or stews, I add this container (or containers). I do the same thing with some leftover juices like V8 or tomato juice, makes for a hardier stew.

By Victoria from Lewes, DE

None

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Puree and Freeze Excess Vegetables

If you have an excess of carrots, or some that are wilting, cut them in slices and boil until tender. Then puree them in your blender, using a bit of the water. Freeze the puree in ice cube trays and use it as baby food, or as a substitute for pumpkin in muffins, etc. I also use it in yeast doughs, substituting half of the liquid for carrot puree. Gives the dough a nice yellow color but doesn't change the taste.

By preserver from Winnipeg MB

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Use Leftover Vegetables For Future Meals

If I have less than one serving of cooked vegetables left, they go into an omelette. When I have 1-2 cups left over, they get minced and added to meat loaf, burgers, or poultry stuffing.

If I have a lot of leftover vegetables, or some languishing in the crisper drawer, it's time to make veggie broth. A gallon of water, a pile of veggies, and an hour to simmer gives you a gallon of flavorful, nutritious veggie broth for pennies. Strain and toss the veggies, cool and freeze the broth, and you've got a delicious, healthy base for sauces and soups.

Most greens wilt beautifully, so leftover salad can go into an omelette or the stockpot. Just sacrifice yourself and eat all the bits of avocado first.

By Fishercat from Albany, NY

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Using Extra Squash

Extra cooked squash can be frozen in ice cube trays, then added to soups and stews for additional nutrition.

By Ness

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Leftover Garden Veggie Cakes

When you have small amounts of soft veggies left over (squash, potatoes, etc.), add them to an egg and cornmeal, make into patties, and fry in a skillet. Use as a side dish or as bread for the meal. Double duty veggie cake with no waste. My granddaughter puts catsup on them.

Source: My Mom always did this.

By Wanda from Climax, NC

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Using Your Leftover Vegetables

I found a great way to use leftover cooked vegetables. I liquefy them in the blender and then add them to my tomato sauce. It adds vitamins, but does not change the flavor. Also, if you have a very young one who is now on table food, and you are left with several jars of pureed vegetables, these too can be added to tomato sauce. These are two ways to use all the food you've paid for.

By Marie from West Dundee, IL

Using Your Leftover Vegetables

Make use of your leftover vegetables! I keep a container in the freezer for saving leftover vegetables for soup. Each time we have green beans, peas, carrots, corn (you get the idea) leftover from a meal, I combine them together and put them in the freezer container. When the container gets full, I make a large roast for one meal and then use the leftover meat and my freezer container of vegetables for a pot of soup. (10/11/2006)

By Sherri

RE: Using Your Leftover Vegetables

Sherri, awesome way to make good use of veggie leftovers. Thanks for sharing! (10/11/2006)

By ~Wendola~

RE: Using Your Leftover Vegetables

I do the same thing, Sherri. You just keep a freezer container in the freezer labeled "soup veggies" and then pile on layer after layer of leftover veggies on top. This is a great way to use up all those last little tidbits of leftover veggies from the dinner table to enhance homemade soup. Once you fill up the container, just dump the frozen lump into your next soup pot! Works fantastic. (10/11/2006)

By mef1957

RE: Using Your Leftover Vegetables

You can also add mash potato to greens, carrots, etc. then mash together and put in pan with little oil and fry both sides till brown then serve with any meat you like. (04/09/2009)

By consShrly

Using Your Leftover Vegetables

When I have a tablespoon of vegetables left at the end of a meal. I freeze in a whipped topping bowl in the freezer part of the refrigerator. I add daily whatever is leftover. (i.e. rice, pasta, or broth from other recipes). When the bowl is full, I add a can or bag of mixed vegetables, and serve with hot corn bread or rolls.

My children love "Mom's Red Soup" as mine usually had a tomato base. They can also be added to casseroles. Thanks.

By Becky from Addison, AL

Using Your Leftover Vegetables

I receive a lot of praise over my varied and really good "homemade" vegetable soup. The way I get the ingredients for my soup is after each meal, instead of putting my left over vegetables (even if it is only a tablespoon) in the refrigerator, I do this.

I pour most of the liquid out (only reserving a small amount) and then pour all into a plastic container that I keep in my freezer for this purpose. I use a large see through container so that I can see through at a glance what vegetable are stacking up but any would serve the purpose. This also helps me make sure that I'm not stuck in a rut of serving the same old vegetables too often.

When my container is full, I will thaw and put all into a crock pot to simmer on low. I normally don't have to add anything but maybe some tomatoes.

Source: Too cheap to throw out and not enough to serve another meal.

By Notwrong

RE: Using Your Leftover Vegetables

I do this, too. I add any leftover mashed potatoes which tends to thicken the soup a little. Also if I want some meat in there I will often just make meat balls, for the flavor. A pan of cornbread and we're all set for a meal that is almost free! (10/01/2009)

By grammy237

Frugal Uses for Leftover Veggies

Hate throwing away those leftover veggies? Don't! Start a container in the freezer and freeze any leftovers. I buy a package of stew meat and once the container in the freezer gets full, I put the meat and all the frozen leftover veggies in the crock pot and we have a great supper! - Marsha

What do you do with leftover veggies? Post your ideas below:

RE: Leftover Veggies

I also save my leftover vegetables in a bag in the freezer. When full, I add cubed meat (chicken, beef or whatever) and make a piecrust(top and bottom works best). Voila! Homemade potpie! Sometimes with the beef/vegetable filling I put them in individual oven-proof crocks and top with mashed potatoes,that makes them shepherd's pies.My husband loves my frugal cooking! (01/15/2001)

By Kathy, Northfield, VT