An official website of the State of Washington

Government building

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Lock

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Menu

Plan your meals to reduce waste

Reducing food waste means careful planning. Stretch your grocery budget and get inspired with these smart shopping and creative cooking tips.

Get tips for shopping lists

Tips for smart shopping

Simple meal prep strategies

Meal prep guides

Creative recipes for your extra ingredients

Want variety? It’s easy to get creative with ingredients already in your kitchen. 

Illustration of red, yellow, and green tomatoes dropping into blue bowl Illustration of a blue bowl awaiting tomatoes

Too-good-to-waste tomato recipes

Estimated prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • ½ -1 cup chopped tomatoes
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable, peanut, avocado or grapeseed)
  • 1 scallion (sliced)
  • ½ tsp sugar (optional)
  • Cooked rice for serving

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, beat together the eggs and ¼ tsp of the salt.
  2. Warm a pan over medium heat. Add 1 tbsp of oil, then the eggs, and lightly scramble until just set. Pour onto a plate.
  3. Heat the pan again, add the remaining oil (1 tbsp), then add the scallion, tomatoes, sugar if using, and remaining ¼ tsp salt and stir-fry until the tomatoes have begun to break down and release juice (1-2 min).
  4. Return eggs to the pan and briefly mix.
  5. Serve with rice.

Estimated prep time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • Fresh tomatoes
  • Onion
  • Garlic cloves
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
  2. Slice tomatoes into quarters. Peel garlic cloves. Chop onion.
  3. Place garlic, onion, and tomatoes on parchment-lined baking sheet.
  4. Roast for 20 minutes or until tomatoes begin to brown on top.
  5. Remove and let cool.
  6. Once cooled to room temperature, transfer all ingredients to freezer bags.
  7. Store in freezer for up to 6 months.

Estimated prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • Onion
  • Garlic clove
  • Fresh tomatoes
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Instructions:

  1. Mince garlic, chop onion, peel, seed, and chop tomatoes.
  2. Melt butter over medium heat.
  3. Sprinkle flour over butter. Stir and cook for 2 minutes.
  4. Sitr in tomato. Cook for 5 minutes.
  5. Add milk. Bring to a simmer. Season for taste.
  6. Serve over biscuits, rice, or toast.
Illustration of golden potatoes in a blue sack Illustration of a pile of golden potatoes

Don't toss those potatoes

Estimated prep time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 4 potatoes
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1.5 cups milk

Instructions

  1. Peel potatoes and slice. Dice onion. Mince garlic. Cut butter into small pieces.
  2. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
  3. Heat pan on medium-low. Add oil.
  4. Sauté onion and garlic until nearly browned.
  5. In a greased dish, arrange onion mix, potatoes, butter, and milk.
  6. Season to taste
  7. Bake uncovered for 60 minutes.
  8. Let the dish cool at room temperature for 15 minutes.
  9. Serve.

Estimated prep time: 2 hours

Ingredients:

  • Garlic heads
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 6-8 potatoes
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 8 tbsp butter

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Slice the heads of garlic in half. Drizzle with the oil.
  3. Wrap the garlic in foil, place in oven for 1 hour.
  4. Squeeze and mash cooled garlic with a fork.
  5. Place potatoes in pot, cover with cold water, season with salt and simmer for 45 minutes.
  6. Drain.
  7. Peel potatoes, return to pot, and mash with a fork.
  8.  Incorporate milk and butter.
  9. Season to taste, serve.

Estimated prep time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 4 potatoes
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1 onion

Instructions:

  1. Dice onion. Peel and cut potatoes into 2-inch chunks.
  2. Place potatoes in pot, cover with cold water.
  3. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.
  4. Drain.
  5. Add milk and butter. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
  6. Season to taste, serve.
Illustration of four green apples Illustration of four red apples

Take a bite out of your apple supply

Estimated prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 3 apples
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Cut apples into 1-inch cubes.
  2. Place apples in pan with 2 tbsp of water. Cover and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes.
  3. Add butter. Stir to melt and coat.
  4. Add syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla. Season with salt to taste.
  5. Cook for 5 minutes.
  6. Serve.

Estimated prep time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

  • 3 apples
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup butter

Instructions:

  1. Soften butter at room temperature. Sift flour. Peel, core, and slice apples.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  3. Place apples in a greased baking dish.
  4. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and butter.
  5. Sprinkle mixture over apples. Season with salt to taste.
  6. Bake for 45 minutes. Serve.

Estimated prep time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 6-10 apples
  • 1 cup apple juice or cider
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions:

  1. Peel, core, and cut apples into slices.
  2. Combine all ingredients in large pot.
  3. Cook over medium heat for 25 minutes.
  4. Cool to room temperature. Purée in blender.
  5. Store in fridge or freeze for up to six months.
Illustration of green bananas Illustration of yellow banana with numerous red spots on it

Saving money is bananas

Estimated prep time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 3 bananas
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions:

  1. Mash bananas in bowl with a fork. Melt butter.
  2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease loaf pan.
  3. Stir ingredients together in bowl.
  4. Pour into loaf pan.
  5. Bake for 1 hour.
  6. Slice and serve.

Estimated prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • Approx. 14 small bananas
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 package vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 container whipped topping
  • 1 package vanilla wafers

Instructions:

  1. Slice bananas.
  2. Wisk together milk, condensed milk and pudding mix.
  3. Stir in vanilla and whipped topping.
  4. Layer bananas, mixture, and wafers in a glass bowl.
  5. Chill and serve.

Chef Joel recipe

Shriveled grapes? Make them shine!

Watch Chef Joel turn overripe grapes into the star of the a chicken salad.

  • Overripe fruit can add bold flavor
  • Bold flavors can match with strong flavors, like sweet grapes and sour vinegar.
  • Get curious and creative by swapping ingredients with what you have.
See more videos

Want even more info?

Sign up to hear from us!

Now that you're a food prep and use enthusiast, explore other ways to reduce your food waste.

Keep it fresh
Extra food? Donate!
Learn to compost