What To Do With Leftovers After A Dinner Party

There is always going to be a lot of planning involved in hosting a successful dinner party, and one thing that all hosts are going to have in common is not wanting their guests to go hungry. That means you might plan for too much food and discover that no matter how tasty it all was, you have some leftovers to deal with. 

It can be tempting just to throw it all out, but that could be a big mistake as a lot of it will be perfectly fine to use, and you could save yourself some time and money by cooking with these leftovers for a few days after the dinner party – that’s perfect if you spent a lot to host it. With that in mind, here are some of the things you can do with leftovers after a dinner party. 

Keep The Proteins 

Even if you decide to throw out the vegetables and side dishes, keeping the proteins (like chicken, beef, or fish) can be a great idea because they can be transformed into delicious sandwiches, wraps, and salads. All you need to do is make sure you keep the meat in the fridge so it doesn’t go bad, and it should last for a few days. 

When you’re ready, cut the meat into strips or slices, add some fresh vegetables, and perhaps add a flavourful dressing to take things to the next level. Or why not use the meat as a topping for a homemade pizza or a taco? There are so many possibilities, and none of them would have been possible if you’d thrown everything away and not taken the time to put it in the fridge to stay fresh. 

Keep The Veg And Sides

Sometimes there won’t be any meat left over, or it won’t be appetizing enough to keep. However, you might find there are sides like potatoes and cheese or vegetables left over, and they could be worth keeping as, just like with the protein, there are many options to enjoy. 

One idea is to take all the vegetables and whisk them up with some eggs to make an omelette or frittata. This can be a great breakfast or a good lunch – it can even be cooked in advance and taken to work, or wherever else you have to go, so it will save you money and ensure you have something nutritious to eat. You could also use the vegetables to make a stir fry or even some soup. 

Compost Food Scraps

Although there are plenty of options for what can be done with leftovers after a dinner party, some of those leftovers just can’t be saved and will have to be thrown away. However, don’t just put them in the bin – add them to your compost heap instead. If you don’t have one, now’s the ideal time to start, as you’ll have things to add to it. 

Composting is so easy to do, and it’s an eco-friendly way to dispose of organic waste like vegetables and other food. You can use the compost to add to your garden so your plants grow well, or perhaps give it away to anyone who wants it if you’re not a gardener yourself.