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Ben Murphy, Food Waste Prevention Chef

Recent Posts

Ideas for repurposing broccoli trim and overproduction

Posted by Ben Murphy, Food Waste Prevention Chef on November 6, 2023

This post is part of a Leanpath culinary blog series looking at ideas for repurposing commonly overproduced menu items.

We encounter quite a lot of broccoli in foodservice operations’ waste data. Whether it be trim waste–i.e throwing away edible stalks–or overproduced cooked broccoli that is discarded, there are various innovative things kitchen teams can do to keep broccoli out of the bin and ensure its purchase value is retained. 

Broccoli has several qualities that make it the ideal ingredient to repurpose. Its sustenance and good value relative to its weight make it the perfect yield increasing ingredient to add to dishes. Broccoli’s low calorie and high nutrition and vibrant color also make it a repurposing super food which is also quick to cook, further enhancing its repurposing potential.

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Topics: Tips & Tricks, Overproduction Tips, Food Waste Strategies

Ideas for repurposing leafy greens

Posted by Ben Murphy, Food Waste Prevention Chef on September 28, 2023

This post is part of a Leanpath culinary blog series looking at ideas for repurposing commonly overproduced menu items.

Leafy greens are a commonly wasted food item in many foodservice operations due to their delicate composition and short shelf life. Spoilage of leafy greens can often occur earlier than expected due to poor storage and so having a well-considered storage protocol along with a range of back up plans for repurposing can help keep your food waste of leafy greens to a minimum. Here are some creative ways to use leftover leafy greens:

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Topics: Tips & Tricks, Overproduction Tips, Food Waste Strategies

Ideas for repurposing overproduced and leftover carrots

Posted by Ben Murphy, Food Waste Prevention Chef on September 5, 2023

This post is part of a new series looking at ideas for repurposing commonly overproduced menu items.

We see carrots going to waste often across the wide range of foodservice operators we work with at Leanpath, whether it be raw unprepared carrot that was not used for its primary purpose or raw or cooked carrot that was overproduced and then wasted. In both of the above circumstances, there are many actions teams can take to prevent waste of carrots by either preserving or repurposing.

With a bit of foresight, whole surplus carrots that are not going to be used can easily be saved from spoiling by being preserved and stored for a later date, becoming a texture and flavor boosting accompaniment for many dishes.

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Topics: Food Waste Strategies

Ideas for repurposing overproduced mashed potatoes

Posted by Ben Murphy, Food Waste Prevention Chef on August 7, 2023

This post is part of a new series looking at ideas for repurposing commonly overproduced menu items.

At Leanpath, we see a lot of potato waste across many of the foodservice organizations we work with. One of our largest customers recently recorded over 21,000kg of potato waste in one year. In many cases, food waste from low cost ingredients like potatoes and other starches or vegetables is considered low priority, but when labor and disposal fees are considered, there is a huge opportunity to cut costs and reduce environmental impact by giving more consideration to these ingredients. 

Repurposing leftover mashed potatoes is a great way to reduce food waste and get creative with your kitchen creations. So long as the mashed potato has been held to a safe temperature and environment, this humble food item can be the catalyst for a broad range of delicious, low waste menu creations. Here are some top ways a  professional kitchen can repurpose leftover mashed potatoes.

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Topics: Food Waste Strategies

The industry is buying more frozen product. Here’s how to make sure it doesn’t lead to more waste.

Posted by Ben Murphy, Food Waste Prevention Chef on February 21, 2023

With food and labor costs still at record highs and supply chain disruptions continuing, an obvious point of leverage for the foodservice industry is buying more pre-prepped frozen foods. And a new survey shows that increasingly the industry is doing just that.

Despite the benefits to reducing the potential for food waste, there are still best practices to follow to make sure those increased purchases of frozen product don't lead to increased food waste.

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Topics: Food Waste News