Posted on 04/08/2021 9:19:37 AM PDT by mylife
s putting leftovers into the fridge a useless endeavor? New research shows the majority of leftovers Americans cook winds up in the trash uneaten.
It’s not for lack of trying however, according to the new study. In fact, 61 percent say they always refrigerate their leftovers, but never get around to eating them.
The poll of 2,000 Americans asked respondents about their cooking habits and being a solo chef. Researchers find 66 percent say when they cook for themselves, they always accidentally end up making enough food to feed a family. It’s no wonder then that three in five respondents constantly feel like they’re wasting food when they fly solo in the kitchen.
Cooking solo has pros and cons cooking for oneConducted by OnePoll on behalf of Gilbert’s Craft Sausages, the survey reveals the hardest part of cooking for one is having the self control to even do it. Nearly half the poll (48%) say they constantly struggle with the urge to order delivery or takeout instead of cook.
Respondents also admit they feel like their food never stays hot enough by the time they sit down to eat (43%) or they feel too stressed after cooking the meal to truly enjoy it (38%). Forty-six percent say finding healthy options for single serve, ready-to-eat meals is another struggle they often face.
Cooking for one isn’t all bad though, as 66 percent of respondents say this is the perfect opportunity for them to have creative freedom in the kitchen. Nearly three in four Americans (73%) agree that a top perk of cooking for just themselves is being able to make their food exactly how they like it.
Conversely, when they cook for others, 64 percent feel like they always have to adapt
They're not talking a Thanksgiving spread, just a daily meal for one...wow.
Now just sad .
I am solo and love to cook. Here are some options:
1. Freeze leftovers in single serving sizes for evenings when I'm too tired to cook
2. Eat yummy leftovers for a few meals - if you're a good cook, this shouldn't be an issue. If it is, quit eating like you're a cranky four year old and grow up.
3. Set aside leftovers as a base for the next meal - creative cooking
As a kid, the family's favorite meal was "smorgasboard" when mom pulled out all the leftovers from the week. She was a great cook and this was kind of a "best of..." the week's delights.
People in this country are not only spoiled, they have poor planning skills.
We eat ours over the next week. Done that for years. So far nobody has gotten sick.
When I was younger and single, once in a blue moon, I would buy a dozen donuts in the morning, have four for breakfast, four for lunch, and four for supper. The first donut in the morning always tasted better than the last one at night.
Bro #1: "OMG, what a waste! Think of all the starving immigrant kids that could be fed with this leftover food."
Bro #2: "No problems Bro. They couldn't afford cab fare here."
Your folks were the same age as mine. Depression Era; nothing got thrown away, especially not food. Good luck.
Exactly. I don’t have any hang-ups about eating left overs. When I was single I would cook a big batch of something special and look forward to eating it over the next several days.
Right now we don’t have much problem now with leftovers. We have 8 people in the house, 5 of them boys between the ages of 5 and 16. My wife is always trying to make things that can last more than one meal, but if the kids like it, it will be gone. If there are leftovers, she will bring it out again and it is quickly gone. The only way things go to waste is if the container gets to the back of the fridge and forgotten- then the dog or the chickens get it.
Why in God’s name do people not eat leftovers?
They are so easy to reheat and it’s one less meal to cook.
I have been living and cooking for one for the last 10 years, right now I am eating leftover ham from Easter cut off the bone and some ham went in freezer rest I make grilled ham and cheese, otherwise I put meat in freezer bags and cook as single servings
Same here. When I was single and cooked ‘leftovers’ were frequent and almost always intentional. It wasn’t efficient cooking just for one meal. I almost always cooked not just for the current meal but subsequent or future meals.
Home Economics is a lost art.
Look through old writing from the 30’s and 40’s. It was expected that the housewife was thrifty and economical. Now, they just wear pants and expect to eat out a lot.
It’s funny that a dual-income household of today has both people working like dogs, but in a living standard doing no better or worse than the single income of the past. The government has certainly benefited most from the so-called women’s movement.
What did these people do re eating before the Covid Pandemic?
Hubs comes from a huge blended family and is used to cooking for an army. He sees a recipe that serves 8-10 and doesn’t do the math to cut it down to 25%. It has been a work in progress.
We do have a large freezer and a vacuum sealer that *I* use but hubs LOVES grocery shopping. Arrghh!
We need a government study and billions of funding to end the excess food available to Americans. Oh wait. We have democrats in control. Leftovers will be a thi g of the past soon.
Joking aside. As a business owning bachelor it is cheaper for me to eat take out. I love cooking but the time it takes to prep cook and clean I lose money.
Hubs, being self-employed does not do this. I am still working 40 plus hours a week so that does not give me the opportunity to take back the kitchen. I am WAAAY more frugal than hubs. Can’t wait to retire!
I used to call this “mixed grill” when I was a single parent with two growing children.
When we dine out, we usually split a meal. Not because we are cheap, it’s because they put too much on a plate for one. We would end up taking half each home and then throwing it out a few days later.
I hate eating leftovers.
they ate out at every meal. Especially the under 40 set. Now they grubhub
+1
I recently ate an 11-year-old can of corned beef with no problems.
I have the stomach of a Komodo dragon! 3-4 weeks old? Check for fuzz. No fuzz? Process it!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.