Keeping Track of Leftovers

Keeping Track of Leftovers

Since I live alone, when I cook an item of food or open a whole can, I put the leftover amount usually at least a cup in a l/2 pint jelly jar. I use a stick on file folder label or mailing label and I write the date and contents. Then when I prepare a meal for one, I look in the freezer to see what I have that I can combine with a meat, etc. to make a complete meal. It is very convenient and prevents a lot of food waste. The small jars sit on the door shelves of my freezer until needed.

By Draden from TX

Unidentified Leftovers

When it comes to storing leftovers in Cool Whip bowls, butter bowls, and even Tupperware (or Rubbermaid dishes), I am sure others have had the same problem in their household as I do. Family members have excuses like, "I can't see what is in the bowl" or "I didn't want to take the time to open the dish".

I decided after numerous occasions of throwing out what started out to be perfectly good leftovers, to remedy this problem. I bought a roll of masking tape and a marker at the dollar store and now I write on the tape what is in the bowl or dish and the date it was put in the refrigerator and tape it to the lid. Everyone in my house can now identify the previously unidentified leftovers and I have a lot less waste.

By Connie from Towanda, PA

Plan To Have Leftovers and Always Use What You Have!

One of my best food tip is to plan meals at least 2 weeks to a month at a time. Make a menu for each day and a dessert. This works well in using what you have and not wasting food.

One example of this is to make meat loaf for dinner and a plain white sheet cake for dessert. On the following day use the left over meat loaf to make spaghetti and meat sauce. Chop up the meat loaf and add your sauce, there's no need to add extra seasoning. Of course you still need to buy noodles and spaghetti sauce, but it cuts cost by not having to purchase another pack of meat for the spaghetti. Any leftover cake you made the day before can be cut into slices and topped with whip cream and a little fruit (fresh, frozen, or canned you can even use a can fruit cocktail), and you have a totally different dessert. Add to a festive plate and this really looks good. Two entirely different meals just by using leftovers and planning ahead of time.

Another example would be to make chili beans for dinner one night and the following day you can use that same chili to make burritos for lunch. All you need to do is drain some juice from the chili beans, heat them in a skillet and smash the beans with a fork. Add chili mixture to a flour tortilla that has been slightly warmed (to make it easy to roll) and pin closed with a tooth pick. Deep fry until brown, drain on a paper towel (or as I do on extra napkins I've picked up from trips to restaurants/fast food outings.) You can also add any cheese, onions, or other things to the burrito before frying.

I've found that this works well because your family doesn't see the same old leftovers you had the night before, they see a whole new meal.

By VERONICA1 from Lodi, CA

Keeping Track of Leftovers in the Refrigerator

Don't you hate it when you clean out the fridge and have a bunch of leftovers from weeks gone by? One way to help keep track of you leftovers is to put a leftovers list on the door of your fridge. When you put something in there, write down what it is and the date. When you remove it, cross it off the list.

By Susan

Marking Your Leftover Food

When putting foods up after a meal or after preparing, be sure to label what's in the dish, the date prepared, whether you're putting in the refrigerator or the freezer. By doing so, you'll be able to see the labels upon opening the door to look in at what all you have available to eat immediately.

These days everyone's in a hurry. So if the kids or hubby are searching for something to eat, it's right there in plain sight. Also, it'll help about when it's time to clean out the refrigerator. Label your frozen food when you first put it in the freezer, any labels or marking pens will write on the bags or boxes. Usually after a bag or package is frozen, you're not going to get a sticker to stick on a cold bag. If you don't, label the food item, chances are later, after it's frozen, you're not going to know what it is, as it changes shapes and colors sometimes after it's frozen and you'll not know what the food item is until you defrost it.

By Terri from NV

Labeling Your Leftovers

In order to make full use of the dibs and dabs of food you freeze for later use, it is vital that you label the container with what it is. This seems like the simplest advice in the world, but too often we don't do it; thinking we will remember what it is. But unfortunately if any time has lapsed at all, we don't.

Bottom line is that you can't put too much information on a label of a foodstuff you are freezing, particularly if it is a single ingredient. When you make this a habit, your budget and your sanity will appreciate your effort. By Ronsan from Southwest Missouri

Labeling Food

When labeling your food items in your fridge or freezer, you can use several different things to label. Here are some that I have used:

• I've used transparent "magic" tape (kind you can write on), either with an ink pen or a permanent marker.

• I've used the little freezer labels you can sometimes find at your supermarket, but these are expensive, so to maximize my savings, I don't use a full piece, I'll cut one in half or into thirds to make them last longer. As long as I have the space to write the name of the dish and the date of preparation, that's all that counts.

• I've also used filing stickers that I've found in the office supplies department.

• My Mom used to use first aid tape, as she said it would last longer (back in those days it did.)

All these suggestions are also good if you're taking a dish of food to a potluck, someone might have a question about the dish, or it's ingredients. For one of these events, just put your name on the sticker as well as the other info.

By Terri from NV

Designate an Area In Your Fridge for Leftovers

Leftovers usually need to be used first so create a space on the top shelf of your fridge just for leftovers. It will help you use them before they go bad and prevent moldy surprises when you clean out your fridge. Also, try to use clear tupperware or glass jars for leftovers so you can see what is in them at a glance.