As food prices continue to climb across the UK, a clever cooking tip shared by a savvy Reddit user is helping households create more delicious meals without spending an extra penny.
The 'Soup Cube' Revolution
The ingenious method involves saving vegetable scraps and starchy cooking water that would normally be thrown away. One Reddit user explained that they collect items like onion ends, celery leaves, carrot peels, and herb stems in a freezer bag over the course of a week.
They also save the nutrient-rich water from boiling pasta and beans, which is often poured down the drain. Once the bag is full, the contents are transformed into a rich, homemade stock.
How To Create Your Own Flavour Pucks
The process is remarkably simple. The frozen scraps are emptied into a pot, covered with water, and seasoned with a little salt and a few peppercorns. After simmering for about an hour, the liquid is strained and poured into a muffin tin to freeze overnight.
The resulting frozen pucks are then stored in a bag for future use. The user confirmed that adding one of these flavour cubes to dishes like soup, rice, lentils, or even instant noodles creates a depth of flavour that makes it taste like you've put significant effort into the meal.
They particularly highlighted the surprising success of using a leftover corn cob and some sad parsley stems, which created a 'shockingly good' result.
Community Embraces The Zero-Cost Tip
The Reddit community responded with enthusiasm to the budget-friendly cooking hack. One user shared their advanced technique: 'I have a freezer bag for protein and one for veggie scraps. When they're full, I thaw and then roast everything before making stock.'
Another commenter was inspired to start immediately: 'You've convinced me to bother. I'm starting a freezer scraps bag tonight.'
Several users noted that this method allows them to extract maximum value from their food before eventually composting the scraps, creating a truly sustainable cycle in the kitchen.
This simple approach demonstrates that with a little creativity, reducing food waste and saving money can go hand-in-hand with enhancing everyday cooking, providing a practical solution for cost-conscious households.
