What Can IKEA's Zero Waste Cookbook Do?

More than just a book

"We believe that the kitchen is the heart of the home. We gather, share, and celebrate there on a daily basis. So it's no surprise that, since we live there, the kitchen generates the most waste – especially food waste. That's why IKEA collaborated with 10 North American chefs to create what's called the ScrapsBook. Scrap cooking, or what you might also call zero waste cooking, is all about finding possibilities in the smallest leftovers and trying to get the best out of them. We believe that real change comes from small changes. And that's what this book is about – the little things. So little that you could even call them 'scraps'." – you can read in the book's introduction.

The book actually contains recipes that use things like pineapple tops, dried bread crusts, and wilted vegetables. Since we've brought you zero waste recipes like this many times before, we're now showing you kitchen tips that are easy to apply in your everyday life.

If You Can't Eat It, Use It!

There are food leftovers that really can't be eaten anymore, yet we shouldn't simply give up on them either. By using things like dried bread, cucumber peels, or fruit scraps, we not only do good for the environment, but also for our wallets, just like munching does.

• Don't you eat the cucumber peel? Place them at your front door and windows to keep ants away.
• Forgot a small piece of bread in the bread bin? Use the dry bread crust as a bio-sponge. Wipe up old cooking oil with it or scrub your cast iron pans. (By the way, bread is less damaging to pans than traditional sponges)
• Leftover lemon peel? Dry it out and add it to your homemade vinegar cleaning solution. Citrus oils help dissolve grease while also having disinfecting properties.

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Check out the munchoks!

Think Beyond the Kitchen!

You can get the most out of leftovers in many ways, and it doesn't all have to happen in the kitchen. Here are some ideas for how to use your leftovers in your garden, balcony, or even around your home.

• Left with coffee grounds? Spread them around your garden to speed up the composting process.
• Would you throw away the banana peel? Instead, put it in a bucket of water and let it sit for a few days. The potassium and phosphorus in the peel "transforms" into compost that you can safely pour on your garden or houseplants. Another tip for banana peels: if you rub the soft side against your houseplant leaves, you not only supply them with vitamins but also make them shine.
• All that's left from the Easter eggs is the shell? Just clean the eggshells, crush them, grind them into powder and you've got a natural limescale remover.

Don't Throw It Out, Bring It Back to Life!

This is the ultimate zero waste idea that can be done anywhere, since you don't necessarily need a big garden to regrow leftover vegetables – a single mason jar, water, and sunlight will do. Here are 10 vegetables that you can easily regrow. Simply place them in a glass filled with a little water (with only the vegetable's root in the water) and put it in a sunny spot.

The top 10 list:

1. Cabbage
2. Carrot tops
3. Celery stalk
4. Fennel
5. Garlic
6. Chives
7. Green onions
8. Leek
9. Lemongrass
10. Lettuce

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