Doggy bag

Leftovers are surplus foods remaining unconsumed at the end of a meal, which may be put in containers with the intention of eating later. Inedible remains like bones are considered waste, not leftovers. Depending on the situation, the amount of food, and the type of food, leftovers may be saved or thrown away.

The use of leftovers depends on where the meal was eaten, the preferences of the diner, and the local culture.
Leftovers from meals at home are often eaten later.
This is facilitated by the private environment and convenience of airtight containers and refrigeration.

Back to Reducing Waste →

Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

LUNCHSCRAPS

Waste less, eat well — composting, food-waste and meal-prep guides, plus the kitchen tools to make it happen.

Get new guides by emailOccasional emails. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

InformationAbout Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Affiliate Disclosure Cookie Policy

Every entry, image, fact, and figure is drawn from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, used under public-domain and Creative Commons licenses. No content is AI-generated.