7 leftover transformation ideas shared by NPR audience
4 reported
NPR published a story on July 6, 2026, featuring seven creative ways to turn leftovers into new meals, based on audience responses to a previous question about reducing food waste. The ideas include layering leftovers into a biryani casserole, smashing them into a crunchy panini, and using a rotisserie chicken carcass for stock. Other suggestions involve stuffing ancho peppers with leftover vegetables and rice, scrambling leftovers with tofu for breakfast, and making a Polish beet soup called Barszcz Ukraiński to use up fridge odds and ends. The article also recommends pressing leftovers into a cheesy quesadilla. The tips were edited for length and clarity, and the story was edited by Meghan Keane with visual editing by CJ Riculan.
What’s reported
The article presents seven audience-shared methods for transforming leftovers into new dishes.
Methods include: biryani casserole, panini, chicken stock, stuffed ancho peppers, tofu scramble, Polish beet soup, and quesadilla.
The story was edited by Meghan Keane; visual editing by CJ Riculan.
The article was published by NPR on July 6, 2026.
Key figures
Pradosh Mohapatra (audience contributor)
Jennifer Webster (audience contributor)
Jennifer Sabie (audience contributor)
Courtney Zola (audience contributor)
Paula Stellefson (audience contributor)
Emily Siner (journalist who wrote the original story on food waste)
Meghan Keane (editor)
CJ Riculan (visual editor)
Sources: NPR
