New research announced today by Deliveroo reveals 9 in 10 (93%) Brits plan on batch cooking their way through 2023 – cooking larger amounts of food so that there are leftovers to eat the following days.
This research comes as Deliveroo price-matches hundreds of groceries on the app with in-store prices from supermarket partners including Co-op, ASDA, Morrisons and One Stop. This means customers will now be able to find their favourite groceries on the Deliveroo app at the exact same price as they will find when shopping in-store.
Aside from saving time spent cooking and preparing food and the money-saving benefits, batch cooking can also have a number of nutritional and scientific benefits, with leftovers often actually more delicious and better for you and – as explained to Deliveroo by Harley Street Nutritionist Lily Soutter. It’s great news for the more than 6 in 10 (64%) Brits who are more conscious about using up their leftovers due to the cost of living crisis.
Deliveroo’s research also reveals that 6 in 10 (61%) of the UK population think that leftovers taste better the next day and Soutter explains why this can result in better tasting and more flavourful food:
“There are many meals that can actually taste better the next day. For example, spices found in curries can marinate meat, vegetables or beans overnight which allows these foods to really soak up the flavours. What’s more, curries are often moist which means they make a perfect leftover dish as they don’t have the issue of it drying out or going soggy when reheated.
Not only can the flavours disperse throughout the curry, but the oils and spices can help the meat to continue to tenderise. This is certainly the case for stews and casseroles where the ingredients still marinate after cooking. Gelatin which is released from some meat dishes when cooked will set as a firm jelly when cooled and stored in the fridge. When the dish is reheated, this gelatin melts enhancing the velvety mouthfeel and savoury flavour of the dish.
When leftovers are reheated a degree of browning takes place, think of that golden colour of oven-baked lasagne. This browning is called the Maillard reaction and is a result of amino acids and sugars reacting providing a savoury flavour and aroma. Reheating also reduces the water content of the dish, which can concentrate flavours. However, care should always be taken when storing and reheating leftovers to reduce the risk of food poisoning.”
Soutter also explains why preparing enough food to have leftovers can keep you on track with your healthy new year’s resolutions for 2023:
“When enjoying a tasty meal, it can be all too easy to overdo things when it comes to portion size. Having the option to set aside some food as leftovers can help to reduce the risk of overheating, whilst saving time and money. Leftovers also mean we are less likely to grab that sugary muffin or ready meal when we’re short on time to cook.
What’s more, starchy foods such as potatoes, rice and pasta may have enhanced nutrition benefits when enjoyed as leftovers. These foods have higher concentrations of resistant starch when cooked, cooled and reheated. Resistant starch is a type of fibre which may reduce blood sugar spikes and is more satiating. Research suggests that because this starch may aid with feelings of fullness, it could ultimately help with weight loss (2).
Resistant starch cannot be digested in the small intestine, instead, it passes to the large intestine where it is fermented by our beneficial gut bacteria. As a result of this fermentation, a short-chain fatty acid called butyrate is produced which supports the health of colon cells. However, it’s important to be careful when reheating foods, particularly rice. Rice may carry spores of a bacteria called Bacillus cereus which can cause food poisoning (3). Therefore, cooked rice should be cooled and refrigerated within an hour, and always reheated thoroughly.
Other nutritional aspects of particular foods can be enhanced when consumed as leftovers. For example, reheating tomato-based dishes can increase the bioavailability of heart-friendly lycopene (4,5). Lycopene is responsible for the bright red hue of tomatoes, and research suggests it may support cardiovascular health (6).”
The Deliveroo research carried out by 3Gem of 2,000 Brits (nat rep), also revealed that 6 in 10 (62%) of us in the UK are now being more creative in the kitchen when it comes to using up food leftovers, turning them into new dishes and recipes to cut down on food waste and spending.
So which food ingredients are Brits most likely to have leftovers of? The new survey from Deliveroo reveals a diverse mix of items with pasta coming out on top:
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Pasta (54%)
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Pizza (46%),
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Rice (43%),
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Salad (36%),
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Baked beans (24%),
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Chips (19%),
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Peas (17%)
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Sweetcorn (17%)
Regionally, Deliveroo has found that some areas of the UK are more enthusiastic about batch cooking and eating leftovers than others:
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The population of Scotland, Yorkshire, West Midlands plan on doing the most batch cooking in 2023, with 95% of Scots planning to batch cook, 94% of locals in Yorkshire and 95% in the West Midlands
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The regions of the UK who are being most creative with using up their leftovers live in the UK’s capital, with 75% of Londoners getting experimental in the kitchen followed by West Midlands (71%) and North East (70%)
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When it comes to being conscious of the cost of living crisis, locals in Northern Ireland (74%), West Midlands (73%) and North East (73%) are most in agreement that batch cooking is helpful
Soutter explains why reducing food waste is more important than ever right now and her top five tips for how to cut down on it:
“A third of food is wasted globally! This doesn’t just waste money, the discarded foods are sent to landfills where it contributes to harmful greenhouse gases. We can all do our part in reducing this harmful practice by engaging in simple ‘no-waste’ strategies. Here are my top tips:
1. Preparation is the key to success! If you regularly find yourself throwing away ‘’out of date food’ or find mouldy veg at the back of the fridge, then a little preparation can be the key to shopping success. Plan your meals weekly and shop for what you ‘need’ to avoid bulk buying.
2. Get savvy with leftovers. If you cook more than you need, enjoy leftovers the next day! Not only do you get a satisfying delicious lunch, but you also save on time and money. Try storing leftovers in clear glass jars or Tupperware rather than an opaque container to ensure you don’t forget the food.
3. Pick imperfect foods. Fruit and vegetables which aren’t visually 100% perfect doesn’t mean that they are less healthy or lower in quality. Non-perfect fruit and veg can be just as nutrient-dense and delicious and is a smart strategy for reducing waste.
4. Save the scraps! Veggie scraps like end stalks and peels may seem like a waste, yet they can be used to make delicious soups, stews and curries. They can also be used alongside leftover meat bones to make homemade stock, just add a dash of herbs and seasoning for a nourishing broth.
5. Befriend your freezer. It’s a common misconception that frozen food is less nourishing than fresh, yet the freezing process retains nutrients. Use your freezer to store leftovers as ‘ready meals’ for when you don’t have time to cook – label them by ‘date cooked’ so there’s no confusion on what to eat first.
Deliveroo is also proud to continue its work providing surplus meals to families facing hunger, with over 1.5 million meals already donated through the Trussell Trust’s network of food banks across the UK.
