We’re committed to NET ZERO carbon emissions by 2030 NET ZERO image Read how!

Log into your account

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Our Food
  • How It Works
  • Food Waste
Get started for free
  • Tips & Guides
  • Recipes
  • Featured Food
  • Food Waste Movement
  • About Imperfect
Not a member yet?
Get started for free
Log into your account
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Our Food
  • How It Works
  • Food Waste
  • Blog
  • Tips & Guides
  • Recipes
  • Featured Food
  • About Imperfect
  • Food Waste Movement
  • Sign Up
  • FAQs
  • Impact
  • Our Packaging
  • Refer a Friend
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Tips & Guides

What To Do With Leftovers

We all struggle to figure out what to do with leftovers sometimes. Whether you’ve made way too much of something, or just forgot that it was at the back of the fridge, we’ve got some tips to help you see yesterday’s meals in a new light. Here are some of your biggest questions about leftovers, answered!

How long do leftovers last in the fridge?

Leftover cooked food is usually good to eat for 3-4 days in the fridge. If you have more than you can eat in that time, we recommend portioning it out and then freezing it to buy yourself more time. Just be sure to periodically clean out your freezer the same way you’d clean out your fridge so frozen leftovers are not forgotten!

How do you make leftovers more interesting?

Keep a variety of different sauces and dressings on hand to give your leftovers a new identity or brighten them up. Tangy and/or herbaceous sauces like ginger scallion or chimichurri are particularly good for this!

When in doubt, get creative. Leftover roasted veggies can get a second life nestled in tacos, on a rice bowl, or as a pizza topping.

Want more tips? Check out our guide to making your leftovers into the “bestovers!”

What can I do with wilted veggies like celery or carrots?

These are perfect candidates for a batch of homemade vegetable stock! If you can’t make some now, freeze your carrots along with other veggie scraps, like fennel tops, mushroom stems, or leek greens, and make some later.

Can you really not store leftover open cans in the fridge?

You can, but should try to avoid it. The answer has more to do with keeping your food from tasting old and “canned” than it being an issue of food safety. Curious why? The full answer is honestly quite interesting.

How do I generate fewer leftovers?

Way to attack the problem at the source! If you’re looking to create fewer leftovers in the first place, start by planning meals and tracking what you already have at home. One of the best meal planning tools we know for calculating how much you’ll need for the week or that upcoming dinner party is the “guestimator” from Save the Food.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

guest

2 Comments
Oldest
Newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Annie Howland
Annie Howland
3 years ago

I adore scrambled eggs with leftover veggies like zucchini, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli. And fruit that had gotten a little overdue is perfect for smoothies.

Reply
Imperfect
Imperfect
3 years ago
Reply to  Annie Howland

This is a great idea! That way you start the day by using up leftovers. Brilliant! We’re big fans of the smoothie approach, too.

Reply
Tagged Leftover hacksStorage tips

You might find these a-peel-ing

Composting
Imperfect’s Food Waste R...
Zero Waste Tips  Our Grocery Storage Guide tells you how to store all ...
Read more
Storage tips
The Imperfect Foods Grocery St...
Storing your groceries properly is one of the best ways to make them last and st...
Read more
Waste-less tips
But did you smell it first? Ho...
When we look at food waste in our homes, the two main causes of waste are buying...
Read more
Ingredient guides
When are avocados in season?
Learn when avocados are in season so you can know where your current batch is li...
Read more
DIY
DIY Rosemary Orange Cleaning S...
When you make your own all-purpose cleaner, you never again have to wonder, “Wha...
Read more
Back to Tips & Guides

Want olive the latest?

Sign up for emails to stay up to date.

ImperfectFoods Logo
B Certificate Logo
  • Sign Up
  • FAQs
  • Impact
  • Our Packaging
  • Refer a Friend
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Download on the App Store Badge Download on the Google App Badge
Imperfect Foods © 2023. All Rights Reserved
Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Personal Information