The best cookbooks to help you waste less food and save money

If you want to waste less food and save more money, but aren’t confident in the kitchen or need inspiration, it can be hard to know where to start.

Thankfully, there are many great cookbooks which can guide you – from learning the basics of making a stock to how to turn your leftovers into appetising meals.

Borrowing a cookbook from your local library is a great way to learn without having to spend a fortune. With the summer holidays just around the corner, now is a great time to borrow these books.

If your library doesn’t have a particular book, you can always ask them to consider purchasing it.

Here’s Love Food Hate Waste’s favourite cookbooks:

Books about cooking with leftovers:

• I quit sugar: Simplicious Flow: Sarah Wilson (2018)
• Love Your Leftovers: Recipes for the resourceful cook, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (2015)
• Waste-free Kitchen Handbook: A guide to eating well and saving money by wasting less food, Dana Gunders (2015)
• The Leftovers Handbook: An A-Z of every conceivable ingredient in your kitchen with inspirational ideas and recipes for using them, Suzy Bowler (2013)
• Leftover Gourmet: Richard Till (2011) (New Zealand)
• Root-to-stalk Cooking: The art of using the whole vegetable, Tara Duggan (2013)
• The Waste Not, Want Not Cookbook: Save food, save money, and save the planet, Cinda Chavich (2015)
• The No-Waste Meal Planner: How to create your own delicious meal chains that don’t waste a single ingredient, Becky Thorn (2013)

Books about cooking on a budget:

• Cheap Thrills: Save Money, Save time, Eat Well!: Annabel Langbein (2017)
• Feed A Family Of Six For Under $20: Budget-friendly meals from Facebook sensation Jas McPhee (2014) (New Zealand)
• Destitute Gourmet: Everyday smart food for the family, Sophie Gray (New Zealand)
• Save with Jamie: Jamie Oliver (2013)
• Cook On A Shoestring: Easy, inspiring recipes on a budget, Sophie Wright (2012)
• A Girl Called Jack: 100 budget-busting, easy and delicious recipes from an internet sensation Jack Monroe (2014)

We challenged libraries around New Zealand to create displays of their best cookbooks for using up leftovers. With entries from around the country, Pakuranga Library took out first place with their fabulous window display shown above.

Napier Library came a close runner up for creativity by installing a kitchen in their library…

…and we thought Waipa Library also showed creative flair,

and we loved Whangarei Library’s use of Oscar the Grouch! 

Happy Holiday Cooking from the Love Food Hate Waste Team