Freshness or frugality? (ingredients, freezing, bread, meals)

[Woof]

Are you more concerned with eating the freshest food than being frugal, and letting none of it go to waste?

For example, if you only need a half onion for a recipe, would you throw away the other half, or put it in the refrigerator for later?

Or another example, do you throw away unused bread the next day after opening it, or do you keep it around and toast it when you need some?

If a carrot is starting to wilt, would you toss it and buy a new package, or would you save it to be used in cooking?

This question is about your basic instinct, not so much about particulars that may vary - so pick a response that sums it up.

[stan4]

No either or.

Freeze to eat later.

I should say prepared.

[Woof]

Freeze to eat later falls under "frugality". It's gone through a phase change and at least a slight change of taste or quality (for example, try freezing that half onion - it's still edible and nutritious when used later, but couldn't be considered fresh).

[Bulldogdad]

A mixture of both. So I can't gvote in your thread.

[momtothree]

I'm frugally fresh. I'll use the entire onion even if the recipe calls for only half. I'll only buy singles of a rarely used item if a recipes only calls for one even if it's pricier that way. If I absolutely can't get around not having leftovers including feeding dog the extras (loves fresh veggies), I'll freeze.

Or I will look for more recipes to use it up before freezing if isn't a good idea. Like berries etc

[otterprods]

I buy fresh, quality ingredients and don't mind paying more for it. But once it's in my kitchen I waste very little of it. I boil meat scraps and older vegetables to make broths and soups. I repurpose bread in the form of things like croutons, strata, or bread crumbs. And I freeze whatever I can't otherwise eat before it starts going bad. Not counting what my kids don't eat off their plates I probably waste less than 5% of my food. It's not really about being frugal or even eco conscious though. It's just like a hobby and a challenge for me to make quality meals from ingredients that many people would toss. ... but I still answered 'fresh' to the poll because I don't eat rotten food just to save a buck.

[John13]

Originally Posted by Woof

Are you more concerned with eating the freshest food than being frugal, and letting none of it go to waste?

For example, if you only need a half onion for a recipe, would you throw away the other half, or put it in the refrigerator for later?

Or another example, do you throw away unused bread the next day after opening it, or do you keep it around and toast it when you need some?

If a carrot is starting to wilt, would you toss it and buy a new package, or would you save it to be used in cooking?

This question is about your basic instinct, not so much about particulars that may vary - so pick a response that sums it up.

Do some people actually do that?

[otterprods]

Originally Posted by momtothree

I'm
Or I will look for more recipes to use it up before freezing if isn't a good idea. Like berries etc

Berries are very good for freezing as long as you have a blender or a masticating or twin gear juicer. (Smoothies, sorbet, etc...). Also you could make jam or jelly and can it. This is what I'm saying... there's very little you HAVE to throw away if you're creative and able to spend time re purposing ingredients. (I'm not trying to pick on you, but I am often surprised and pleased with how I can re-use items without sacrificing quality)

[momtothree]

Originally Posted by otterprods

Berries are very good for freezing as long as you have a blender or a masticating or twin gear juicer. (Smoothies, sorbet, etc...). Also you could make jam or jelly and can it. This is what I'm saying... there's very little you HAVE to throw away if you're creative and able to spend time re purposing ingredients. (I'm not trying to pick on you, but I am often surprised and pleased with how I can re-use items without sacrificing quality)

Oh I know, but I prefer to use it up without freezing. It's a personal preference. But I won't throw it away. I'll freeze it as a last resort.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Woof

Are you more concerned with eating the freshest food than being frugal, and letting none of it go to waste?

For example, if you only need a half onion for a recipe, would you throw away the other half, or put it in the refrigerator for later?

Or another example, do you throw away unused bread the next day after opening it, or do you keep it around and toast it when you need some?

If a carrot is starting to wilt, would you toss it and buy a new package, or would you save it to be used in cooking?

This question is about your basic instinct, not so much about particulars that may vary - so pick a response that sums it up.

I did vote frugal, but the poll, like so many is very flawed. Why? cause most of us are a combination. How many people do you think would throw out a loaf of bread the day after opening it or even a few days after? How many do you think throw away 1/2 used onion? On the other hand most of us would toss carrots that are getting old. Only the most frugal would keep them.

You say,pick a response, there is no correct response for most of us, if we are honest. I don't like to waste anything, but I am sure not going to worry over tossing something that costs less than a buck or so and has seen its day.