Kitchen hacks: How to cook leftovers

Many people hate wasting food but have no idea how to re-cook food that hasn't been consumed. In today's blog post, Ronald Phillips of New York shares some tips on how to cook leftovers.

First, you need to have some leftovers and that they're still in the fridge at this point. If not, it is best to cook something for dinner (or if it's breakfast or lunchtime), as these meals can also be made into leftovers.

Once you have your food, put it into a pan or wok on medium-high heat. Then add 1/4 cup of water for every 1 cup of food. If the food's frozen, skip this step and move to the next one.

After adding water, cook the food for about 3-5 minutes, or until it is heated through.

To add a little flavor to the food, add salt, pepper, cheese, spices, soy sauce, or other common dish additives to suit your taste. You can also use an oven for this step if you have one available.

Once your leftovers are finished cooking, they can be served right away. Or, if you want to save them for later (which is recommended), plate your leftovers and place them in a container that won't be opened until they're needed.

If the food is piping hot when you put it in the container, leave at least an inch of open space at the top part to allow for expansion as the food cools. Lastly, cover the leftover food tightly with a lid or aluminum foil to keep it fresh for as long as possible, New York Ronald Phillips adds.