30+ Recipes to Help Reduce Kitchen Waste

James Ransom/ Food52

Reducing kitchen waste is something everyone strives for. But now with these recipes from Food52, you actually have the tools to do so!

Even if you're doing your best to cook root-to-leaf and nose-to-tail, there are probably still some edible bits you're missing.

If you cook, you're going to end up with kitchen scraps. And whether your goal is to reduce the staggering amount of edible food thrown away in the US every year, eke as much as you can out of your food budget, or try to be Dan Barber when you grow up (or all three), it isn't always clear what to do with them beyond composting. Sometimes what you may consider waste is actually perfectly good to eat — not merely edible, but downright tasty.

Start putting all kinds of scraps to good use: We've got ideas for using everything from pickle brine to cherry pits and corn cobs to whey.

Turnip Greens:
James Ransom/Food52

Turnip Greens:

Swiss Chard Stalks:
Angela Brown/Food52

Swiss Chard Stalks:

Alpha Smoot/Food52

Chicken Giblets:
James Ransom/Food52

Chicken Giblets:

Broccoli Stalks:
James Ransom/Food52

Broccoli Stalks:

Watermelon Rinds:
James Ransom/Food52

Watermelon Rinds:

Strawberry Tops:
James Ransom/Food52

Strawberry Tops:

Beef Bones:
Mark Weinberg/Food52

Beef Bones:

Stale Bread:
James Ransom/Food52

Stale Bread:

James Ransom/Food52

Cherry Pits:
James Ransom/Food52

Cherry Pits:

Beet Greens:
James Ransom/Food52

Beet Greens:

James Ransom/Food52

Mushroom Stems:
James Ransom/Food52

Mushroom Stems:

Whey:
Mark Weinberg/Food52

Whey:

Parmesan Heels:
James Ransom/Food52

Parmesan Heels:

Potato Peels:
James Ransom/Food52

Potato Peels:

Vegetable Scraps:
James Ransom/Food52

Vegetable Scraps: