Trimming waste, or 'off-cuts', is often regarded in kitchens as unavoidable. Winnow's data, however, shows that over 40% can actually be repurposed in your recipes, saving up to 2.5% on food costs.
In collaboration with Chef Vojtech Végh, our Zero Waste Culinary Advisor, we’ve created a series of videos designed to help chefs unlock the full potential of their ingredients. From bread offcuts to leafy greens and watermelon rinds, these simple, creative recipes demonstrate how reducing waste can boost both flavor and profitability in your kitchen.
Chef Vojtech's Bread Cracker with Fried Bread Purée
Bread is one of the most commonly wasted items in commercial kitchens. With much of this baked in-house, every uneaten slice represents wasted effort and cost.
In this video, Vojtech shares simple recipes for repurposing bread trimmings into delicious crackers or fried bread purée for canapés.
Chef Vojtech's Stuffed Smoked Lettuce with Carrot Top Salsa
Lettuce and other leafy greens result in some of the highest levels of trimming waste, yet these offcuts hold surprising potential - both in terms of flavor and costs.
Here Chef Vojtech Végh demonstrates how to make a sauce from lettuce offcuts and even how to smoke them for added depth.
Chef Vojtech's "4 Ways of Watermelon" Curry Spread
Watermelon rind—the white part between the pink flesh and green skin—is frequently thrown away, yet it shares a similar flavor profile with vegetables like cucumber, zucchini, and squash.
Fruit contributes to almost half of the trimmings waste in kitchens, but rethinking how you use rinds, skins, and peels can reduce waste significantly. In many cultures, such as in India, repurposing watermelon rind in curries and chutneys is common practice.
Unlock the Creative and Financial Potential of Your Kitchen
Reducing trimmings waste isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for your bottom line. By rethinking how you use overlooked ingredients, you can improve yield, enhance flavor, and reinvest savings into higher quality produce.
Interested in learning more? Check out Vojtech's free Trimmings to Treasure Guide for more recipes, insights, and practical tips to help your kitchen thrive.
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