Nadiya Hussain's Thrifty Cooking Tips: Stretch Your Groceries, Cut Waste

Nadiya Hussain, the renowned chef and television personality, is advocating for a more mindful approach to grocery shopping and cooking. The former Great British Bake Off winner suggests moving away from the traditional weekly supermarket trip, instead focusing on utilizing existing ingredients and leftovers before purchasing more food.

In her BBC Two show "Cook Once, Eat Twice," Hussain demonstrates innovative ways to make groceries last longer. She encourages viewers to embrace creative cooking with food scraps, such as making potato peel gratin, and to freeze fresh vegetables to reduce waste and minimize shopping frequency.

Speaking to Radio Times, Hussain shared her personal challenge of stretching ingredients: "For me, I find the biggest thrill is if I can stretch all my ingredients to not just one week, but maybe even 10 days or, dare I say it, 14. I love that challenge."

Hussain's approach to food economy is deeply rooted in her upbringing. Born to Bangladeshi parents who immigrated to the UK in the 1970s, she learned the value of resourcefulness from an early age. "It's something that's been ingrained in me. I will find some way of using everything; I will never, ever throw anything away," she explained.

The 39-year-old chef, who won the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off in 2015, has since become a prominent figure in British culinary media. Her achievements include publishing several cookbooks, hosting various cooking shows, and even baking Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday cake in 2016.

Hussain offers practical tips for budget-conscious shoppers:

• Buy discounted items close to their sell-by date
• Prep and freeze fresh vegetables
• Freeze bread for later use or blitz for breadcrumbs

She emphasizes the satisfaction of reducing food waste: "It seems ridiculous to get excited about not wasting food, but it really is quite addictive. In a good way, of course. Using up everything in the fridge really can give you a dopamine hit."

"Today we have a culture of instant gratification where you click a button and food gets delivered to your door."

Through her show and public advocacy, Hussain aims to demonstrate that using leftovers can be both economical and enjoyable. Her creative recipes, such as meringues made with chickpea water, showcase the potential of ingredients often overlooked or discarded.

As an MBE recipient recognized for her contributions to broadcasting and the culinary arts, Hussain continues to inspire home cooks with her innovative approach to food. Her message of mindful consumption and creative cooking resonates in a time when sustainability and budget-consciousness are increasingly important to many households.