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How to Regrow Kitchen Scraps for Less Food Waste

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Regrowing Lettuce Scraps in small glasses.

We all want to do our part to create less waste, and a great place to start is in the kitchen. Every year, the United States throws away approximately 40 million tons, or 80 million pounds, of food – far more than any other country in the world. While shopping consciously and using a compost bin (we love this one) are good ways to combat waste, regrowing veggies and herbs from scraps is another great way to give them a second chance while doing your part to promote food sustainability.

Before You Get Started

There are a few things to be aware of before starting your regrowth experiments. First, be aware that this regrown produce won’t replace your weekly trip to the supermarket or farmer’s market. While it is possible to regrow some veggies entirely from scraps, many (such as root vegetables, but we’ll get to that later) simply regrow their leafy tops. But don’t worry, you can use those, too!

You should also be aware that not everything you try to regrow is guaranteed to sprout. If something is sitting without a sign of life after two or three weeks or so, it might be time to give up the ghost. However, most of these items are worth trying at least once, if only for the amazing feeling you get when you see them begin to sprout and take on new life.

Veggie scraps in a large pot

Some things, like potatoes, can also be regrown from scraps. However, it will be necessary to then plant them in soil to ensure they continue growing. We’ve only included herbs and veggies here that can be regrown entirely indoors, as many apartment dwellers don’t have the space for outdoor gardens. Most of these items require at least some sun to regrow, but not too much! In fact, some of them are quite delicate and will just burn to a crisp if exposed to full sun or direct heat.

Finally, remember that patience is a virtue here. If you aren’t ready to wait and, at the very least, make sure the plants have fresh water every day, then this isn’t for you. But you can still so something great with those scraps. Just pop them in a freezer-safe bag to make homemade veggie stock for soups and stews. That way, you’re still utilizing every inch of your produce. Just be careful not to use anything bitter for stock, as it’ll most likely ruin the flavor.

Now it’s time for the fun stuff! Below are some of the best veggies and herbs to regrow from kitchen scraps:

Love Those Leafy Greens

Lettuces are some of the easiest veggies to regrow from scraps. Yup, romaine lettuce, bok choy, butter lettuce, and iceberg lettuce are just some of the good green stuffs you can try regrowing inside. Again, keep in mind that you will not magically regrow a huge amount of lettuce here, but it’s definitely worth a try to see what pops up (over time, you may actually get a decent amount of greens). Simply cut off the bottom, head forming section of the green and place it in water (do not completely submerge). Keep the container in a spot that gets at least a little sun and make sure you change the water regularly, as it can sometimes get slimy. Misting the sprouting leaves is also a good idea.

Celebrate That Celery

Talk about fun to watch! Regrowing celery is easy and immensely satisfying. As with greens, you’ll want to start by cutting off the bottom part of the celery and placing it in a container with some water on the bottom. Believe it or not, that’s all it takes! If you’re lucky, you should begin to see little leaves start to sprout up within a few days. While you may not get full, sturdy stalks from this method, you should at least get enough celery leaves for some great flavor additions to your pasta salads, tuna/chicken salads, and soups.

Outstanding Onions

Regrowing Onion Scraps

Members of the allium family such as scallions, leeks, and shallots can all be regrown from scraps. Scallions are by far the easiest of the three, and the best thing about it is that you can just keep clipping and regrowing them over and over again (as long as you don’t mind waiting a little). Just take the rooting base of the stem and place it in a shallow dish of water. Then wait for the magic to happen.

Rockin’ Those Roots

Root vegetables can be regrown via similar methods, but you shouldn’t expect to get the whole veg unless you properly transplant them into the ground. More likely, you’ll get some nice, flavorful leafy greens to sprout from your root veggies, which you can then add to salads or your favorite sautéed vegetable dish or stir fry.

This applies to everything from carrots to turnips, beets to daikon — just cut off about an inch from the top of the vegetable and place it in shallow water (do not submerge). Within a few days you should begin to see little green tops starting to sprout.

I Heart Herbs

Small indoor basil plant

Yes, you can even regrow some herbs from scraps. Basil, mint. parsley, and cilantro are just some of the cool varieties you can try. Simply take a stem (at least four to five inches long) and place it in water, being careful to keep the upper leaves above the surface (at least one lower leaf node should be submerged entirely). Be sure to change the water regularly to prevent algae or mold from forming, and after a few weeks you should start to see roots forming. Once the roots are around an inch or so long, fill a cute little planter with potting soil and transfer the whole thing over to start your very own windowsill herb garden.

Now that you know how to regrow kitchen scraps, you may be more mindful of what you’re using, how you’re using it, and what you’re throwing away. This is an important step for anyone who wants to become a little more sustainable in the kitchen, as even the smallest steps can have an impact on each of our own little corners of the planet.


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