How to give fruit and veg a new lease of life
10 September 2026
A banana with brown spots, tomatoes that are starting to go a bit soft, or vegetables that have been sitting in the veg drawer for a few days. They might not look their best anymore, but that doesn’t mean they’ve lost their flavour. In fact, you can make a surprising number of dishes from ripe fruit and vegetables and leftovers.
During Waste-Free Week, we’re therefore offering you some inspiration on how to give fruit and veg a new lease of life. From soup and smoothies to compote: check what you’ve got at home first before buying anything new.
Ripe fruit? Perfect for a smoothie
An overripe banana is ideal for a smoothie. Slice the banana, freeze it and use it later. In this ‘Gruitige’ smoothie, for example, (over)ripe bananas are combined with spinach, avocado and orange.
You can also use other ripe fruit. Soft apples, pears, strawberries or other fruit can easily be turned into compote. Take inspiration from this rhubarb and strawberry compote, which goes perfectly with a tasty stew.
Got some vegetables left over? Make soup, a sauce or pop them in the oven
Soft tomatoes might not be as tasty in a salad, but they’re actually perfect for soup or sauce. Why not try a soup made with roasted tomatoes and fennel, or a hearty tomato soup?
Do you have a few bits and pieces of different vegetables left over? Combine them in a soup or roast them together in the oven. Lentil soup with, amongst other things, soup vegetables, peppers, potatoes and apples shows just how delicious such a combination can be.
Freeze anything you won’t use in time
Do you know you won’t be able to finish your fruit or veg in time? Then see if you can freeze them. You can, for example, chop up fruit to use in smoothies. You can also freeze homemade soup or sauce in portions to use later.
First, check what you’ve got
Waste-free cooking starts with checking what’s left in your fridge and fruit bowl. A food item doesn’t have to look perfect to still be tasty. With a bit of creativity, that leftover vegetable or ripe fruit can simply become the basis for your next dish.