Food Hacks
Kitchen hacks to help you reduce food waste at home
What if the food you’re about to throw away could become tomorrow’s lunch, next week’s smoothie or the base for a delicious soup?
What the Hack? is all about finding simple ways to use more of the food you already have.
From freezing extra ingredients to giving your leftovers a second life, these easy food-saving hacks can help you waste less, save money and get more value from your groceries.
And when something truly can’t be saved, that’s where your Green Cart comes in.
Beyond the Green Cart
Saskatoon’s Green Cart makes it easier to divert food waste from the landfill. But there’s another step we can take: prevent food from becoming waste in the first place.
Reducing food waste is an easy step you can take to fight climate change. And as a bonus, its also one of the most effective ways to lower your overall grocery spending.
74% of the food thrown in Saskatoon’s black and green carts could have been eaten. The best way to reduce food waste is to stop it at the source. Plan your meals, store food properly, use your leftovers and freeze food before it goes bad. Save your food before it becomes waste!
Think of it this way:
1. Plan it.
Plan meals before you shop and buy only what you'll use. A little planning can help you save money, avoid overbuying and prevent food from going to waste.
2. See it.
Keep food that needs to be used soon where you can see it. Move items to the front of your fridge and pantry so they're not forgotten.
3. Save it.
Store food properly and give it a second life before it becomes waste. Keep produce fresher for longer with simple storage tricks, pack leftovers for lunch, freeze overripe fruit, make stock from veggie scraps and chicken bones, or bake with brown bananas. Small changes can help you get more out of the food you buy.
4. Green Cart it.
If food can't be eaten, saved or reused, put it in your Green Cart. Composting food waste is better than sending it to the landfill but preventing food waste in the first place is even better.
Food Hacks from residents just like you!
Small changes in the kitchen can add up to a big difference. We asked the residents of Saskatoon to submit their best food hacks, and some are listed below. Check them out and learn how to make the most of your food at home.
Planning HacksOne of the easiest ways to waste less food is to buy less food you won’t use. A little planning before you shop can save food, time and money. 📝 Meal plan before you shop Take a look in your fridge, freezer and pantry before making your grocery list. Plan meals around what you already have, then buy only what you need to fill the gaps. 🍽️ Meal prep for the week Cook once and use it several ways. Prepare ingredients or meals ahead of time and portion them into containers for the week. It makes busy days easier—and helps make sure the food you bought actually gets eaten. 🛒 Buy smaller amounts Buying a larger package isn’t always a better deal if half of it ends up in the garbage. If you’re shopping for one or two people, or trying something new, consider buying a smaller amount. Buy what you’ll eat, not what you wish you had time to eat. |
Leftover HacksLeftovers don’t have to mean eating the same meal three nights in a row. Get creative and turn what you already have into something new. 🍗 Rotisserie chicken → stock Don’t toss the carcass after the meat is gone. Use it to make a flavourful stock for soups, sauces, gravy or cooking grains. 🥣 Leftover vegetables → soup A few carrots, some cooked potatoes and yesterday’s vegetables can become today’s soup. Combine what you have, add broth and seasonings, and see what happens. The best soup might already be in your fridge. 🍱 Leftovers → tomorrow’s lunch Pack leftovers into individual portions while you’re putting dinner away. You’ll have an easy lunch ready to go—and you’ll be less likely to forget about that food in the back of the fridge. 🍌 Brown bananas → banana bread Brown bananas are sweet, soft and perfect for baking. Freeze them if you’re not ready to bake today, then thaw them when you’re ready to make banana bread, muffins or pancakes. |
Storage HacksFood lasts longer when it’s stored the right way. A few simple changes can help keep your groceries fresher for longer. 🍓 Berries → glass jar Try storing fresh berries in a clean, dry glass jar in the fridge. Keeping them dry can help extend their freshness. 🌿 Herbs → herb keeper or oven-dried Fresh herbs can wilt quickly. Store them properly to help them last longer or chop and freeze extras for future meals. Or dry them in the oven then put in sealed container! This is great for things right out of your garden like dill, basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano and sage. 🥬 Lettuce → towel Wrap or layer lettuce with a clean towel or paper towel to help absorb excess moisture and keep it crisp. 🥕Carrots, radishes & celery → water Keep celery fresh and crisp by storing it in water in the fridge. Change the water regularly. 🧀 Cheese → parchment Wrap cheese in parchment or cheese paper rather than sealing it tightly in plastic. Proper storage can help maintain its texture and freshness. 🫙 Dry goods → containers Transfer dry goods such as flour, rice, pasta and cereal into airtight containers. You’ll keep food fresher, make your pantry easier to organize and be able to see what you have. 🔄 Face your pantry and fridge Give the food at the back of your fridge and pantry a chance to be seen. Move items that need to be used soon to the front. First in, first out: use the oldest food first. Try creating an “Eat Me First” spot in your fridge for food that needs to be used up soon. |
Freezer HacksYour freezer can be your best friend when it comes to reducing food waste. Instead of letting food go bad in the fridge, freeze it while it’s still good and give yourself more time to use it. 🍎 Fruit scraps → applesauce Have leftover apple pieces or fruit that’s past its snacking prime? Save them in the freezer and use them later for applesauce, baking or other recipes. 🧊 Ice cube trays → sauces Got extra pesto, tomato sauce, gravy, broth or another sauce? Freeze it in an ice cube tray for convenient, ready-to-use portions. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a labelled freezer bag or container. 🥕 Flash-freeze chopped vegetables Chopped too many vegetables? Spread them out on a baking sheet and freeze them individually before transferring them to a container or freezer bag. That way, you can grab just what you need for your next stir-fry, soup or casserole. 🍌 Overripe fruit → smoothies Bananas and other fruit don’t have to go in the bin just because they’re getting soft. Peel, chop and freeze overripe fruit for smoothies, baking or other recipes. 🥬 Vegetable scraps → stock Save clean vegetable ends, peels and stems in a freezer container. When you have enough, use them to make a homemade vegetable stock. One bag of scraps = one future pot of flavour. |