More than half of shoppers want to reduce food waste this Christmas, according to a survey by Waitrose.
However, more than a third confessed to being unsure of how to use up certain leftovers, with sprouts, cheese and cranberry sauce topping the list of tricky foods.
Shoppers were also unclear on what could and couldn’t be frozen. Some 36% of those surveyed were unsure whether Christmas cake could be frozen, 34% didn’t think cheese could be frozen and 39% didn’t think leftover meat could be frozen.
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The supermarket has a page on its website dedicated to festive leftovers, including recipes for leftover meat, vegetables, cheese, nuts and desserts.
Zoe Simons, senior brand and innovation development chef at Waitrose, said: “Christmas is a time of indulgence, with shoppers stocking up on all the festive must-haves, which inevitably leads to some unfinished dishes in the fridge.
“The good news is that it’s possible to freeze cake, grated hard cheeses and cooked meat, so any leftovers can be preserved for a bit longer. Whether it be making bubble and squeak packed full of sprouts and parsnips for Boxing Day brunch or freezing the remains of a cheeseboard to make a cheese sauce for another day, there are plenty of ways to use up leftovers.”
Last Christmas, Waitrose shops across the country donated more than 18 tonnes of surplus food to local charities and community groups through donation app Fareshare Go – the equivalent of 43,000 meals.
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