The Food You Should Never Throw Away After Roasting Vegetables

Roasting a big tray of vegetables always seems like a good idea until dinner is over and half the pan is still sitting there. Most people either force themselves through the leftovers or scrape them straight into the trash.

Those extra vegetables are actually worth a lot more than most people realize. Keep reading to see exactly what you should be doing with them instead.

Leftover Vegetables Deserve A Second Life

Tossing leftover roasted vegetables is one of the easiest ways to waste food that is already perfectly cooked. Instead of pitching them, they can be reused in a variety of dishes, which stretches your grocery budget a little further.

Vegetables like carrots and potatoes hold up especially well, since they can be mashed, blended or roasted again without losing much texture. A little planning turns what feels like scraps into an actual second meal.

They Make A Surprisingly Good Breakfast

Leftover roasted vegetables work especially well piled onto toast the next morning. A layer of ricotta cheese on crispy sourdough, topped with reheated veggies, turns into a filling breakfast in just a few minutes.

A drizzle of honey or a pinch of chili flakes on top balances out the savory vegetables nicely. It feels like a completely different meal from the one you had the night before.

They Can Turn Into An Entirely New Dinner

Roasted vegetables also blend easily into soups, since soft vegetables like squash or potatoes practically melt into a pureed base with a little broth. Others hold up well chopped into pasta sauce or piled into a grain bowl.

Leftover vegetables also make an easy filling for tacos or quesadillas, especially with a little cheese and salsa added on top. None of these options require much more effort than reheating what you already have.

A Few Small Tricks Keep Them From Getting Soggy

The biggest mistake people make with leftovers is microwaving them straight from the fridge. Reheating on a parchment lined sheet pan in the oven brings back that crispy edge instead of leaving everything limp and soft.

A quick drizzle of oil before reheating also helps vegetables crisp back up rather than turning mushy. That small extra step is often the difference between forgettable leftovers and a meal worth looking forward to.

So next time there is a half empty sheet pan sitting in your fridge, skip the trash can entirely. A few extra minutes can turn yesterday’s side dish into an entirely new meal.

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