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Last updated on Feb 19, 2025
  1. All
  2. Food and Beverage Management
  3. Culinary Management

You're managing a busy kitchen with high standards. How can you cut waste without losing quality?

Managing a bustling kitchen with high standards means balancing efficiency and quality. To cut waste without losing quality, you can implement these key strategies:

  • Optimize portion control: Use standardized recipes and precise measuring tools to avoid over-preparation.

  • Repurpose ingredients: Turn vegetable trimmings into stocks or use leftover proteins in soups and casseroles.

  • Regular inventory checks: Track inventory levels to prevent over-ordering and ensure ingredients are used before expiration.

What are your best tips for reducing waste in a busy kitchen?

Culinary Management Culinary Management

Culinary Management

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Last updated on Feb 19, 2025
  1. All
  2. Food and Beverage Management
  3. Culinary Management

You're managing a busy kitchen with high standards. How can you cut waste without losing quality?

Managing a bustling kitchen with high standards means balancing efficiency and quality. To cut waste without losing quality, you can implement these key strategies:

  • Optimize portion control: Use standardized recipes and precise measuring tools to avoid over-preparation.

  • Repurpose ingredients: Turn vegetable trimmings into stocks or use leftover proteins in soups and casseroles.

  • Regular inventory checks: Track inventory levels to prevent over-ordering and ensure ingredients are used before expiration.

What are your best tips for reducing waste in a busy kitchen?

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Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
62 answers
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Matthew Thompson, MBA, PCIII, CEC, CCA, GRAE

    Chief Culinary Officer, Restaura Hospitality | Senior Leader: Sustainability | Food Systems | Nutrition | Food Safety | Innovation | Keynote Speaker | Inclusive, Visionary Leadership for Values-Driven Organizations

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    Reducing waste while maintaining quality starts with smart inventory management—track usage, rotate stock (FIFO), and repurpose trim for stocks, sauces, or garnishes. Portion control ensures consistency and reduces overproduction. Leverage root-to-stem cooking, turning scraps into flavorful broths or pickles. Train staff to optimize cuts and batch prep efficiently. Monitor waste logs to identify patterns and adjust ordering. Finally, donate safe leftovers and compost scraps for sustainability.

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    17
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Milos Miladinovic

    Head Chef at Frankie’s Italian Kitchen

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    Waste, what is that? Kitchen doesn't have waste, make staff meal, do new feature item, donate. It is simple, treat food with respect, and you will not waste it.

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    14
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Tasnim Adel

    LinkedIn Scientific Content Creator | Q.A. eng. | Food Science & Technology | Food Safety & Quality | Nutrition | Educating the Food Industry | 7× LinkedIn Top Voice

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    📍𝗧𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲: ☑️ 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗹𝘆 ● Prepare ingredients in batches, only chopping or slicing what's needed to reduce the amount of unused food. ☑️ 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ● Be mindful of portion sizes when plating to avoid over-serving, which often leads to waste. ☑️ 𝗥𝗲𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 ● Repurpose trimmings or scraps into stocks, sauces, or garnishes rather than discarding them. ☑️ 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 ● Keep a close eye on cooking times to avoid overcooking, which can lead to waste. ☑️ 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸 ● Implement the FIFO to use older inventory before newer stock, reducing the risk of spoilage. 🌍 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲!

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    7
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    Contributor profile photo
    Alfonso Navarro Jr

    Alfonso

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    Improper portions + poor training = waste • Proper Portion Sizes - You can have the most advanced inventory systems, the most complex spreadsheets, but if your team is not following the proper portion sizes you will have Waste. • Correct Tools - If your team does not have the proper tools, no amount of training will make up the amount of waste. Using the correct portion spoons, scales, labels, etc. • Training - If you hire a cook don’t just train them to see things like a cook rather train to see through the eyes of the owner. When they see how much even 1/2oz difference in portions can affect food cost it makes it easier for them to understand the magnitude of waste. • Schedule - proper scheduling for the expected number of guests.

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    6
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    Rabih Younes

    Executive Chef at Hospitality special organize

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    To cut waste without losing quality, focus on *portion control*, ensuring accurate servings to avoid excess. Use *FIFO* for inventory to reduce spoilage, and repurpose scraps (e.g., vegetable peels for stock). Avoid over-ordering by forecasting demand and train staff on *storage and handling*. These strategies ensure efficiency and maintain high standards

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    4
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Mrinal Sethi

    Rethinking Economy of Needs + Experiences | Building Paxika

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    1. Sustainability Isn’t a Trend—It’s How Good Kitchens Run Waste is just a lack of creativity. Use every part of the ingredient, respect the craft, and make sustainability second nature. 2. Cook with the Seasons, Let Ingredients Shine Seasonal food tastes better, costs less, and makes your menu feel alive. Work with nature, not against it. 3. Scraps Are Flavor, Not Trash Peels, bones, stems—these aren’t waste; they’re the start of something great. A good stock can turn a decent dish into a masterpiece.

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    4
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    supriyadi tanujaya

    Growth to be better

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    Pengendalin food waste dengan memaksimalkan menu yang saling sinkron dengan ingredients yang digunakan, sehingga waste dr satu produk akan menjadi ingredient pd menu lainnya.

    Translated
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    4
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    Akram Murad

    Executive Sous Chef | Catering Operations Leader | Expert in High-Volume Kitchen Management | Cloud & Virtual Kitchen | Catering

    • Report contribution

    To cut waste without compromising quality, focus on these 4 critical steps: 1- suppliers relations 2-inventory management 3-menu engineering 4-Staff Training: Even the best strategy fails without a well-trained team. Educate your staff on waste-conscious prep, portion control, and accountability. Make them part of the solution.

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    4
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    Andrew Koerper

    Assistant General Manager @ Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants with a passion for creating elevated guest experiences, at the crossroads of food and beverage

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    Running a high-standard kitchen while minimizing waste requires a combination of discipline, strategy, and strong leadership. It starts at the top—great leadership is essential in fostering a culture of respect, accountability, and pride in every ingredient used. By setting clear expectations, training staff to work efficiently, and emphasizing the value of every product, a leader can inspire the entire culinary team to be mindful of waste. When a kitchen operates with respect for its ingredients and a commitment to sustainability, it enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and upholds the highest culinary standards—creating an environment where excellence and responsibility go hand in hand.

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    4
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