Celebrating without waste is possible: tips from Grundig and Chef Massimo Bottura

Recipes for the party: Chef Bottura teaches

Who hasn't had leftover cotechino and lentils? Boiled meat? Or panettone?

Here are three special recipes from Chef Massimo Bottura that will transform leftovers from traditional Christmas dishes into delicious new dishes:

• Ravioli with Cotechino and Lambrusco: Steam the leftover cotechino in a pot with water and half a glass of Lambrusco, then chop it and mix it with the lentils and a spoonful of bean sauce. Sauté the beans with a sauté of chopped onion, celery, carrot, a little lard, and rosemary, then blend everything together (removing the rosemary first). Use this filling to fill classic ravioli, boil them, and season with extra virgin olive oil and the remaining bean sauce.
• Boiled meat tortellini: chop up any leftover boiled meat trimmings and brown them in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Then blend or mince them with some good prosciutto and grated parmesan cheese to create a firm filling. Use it to fill the tortellini and cook them in the meat broth.
• Panettone Soufflé with White Chocolate: Remove the raisins and candied fruit from 200g of leftover panettone and cut it into cubes. Toast it in a pan for a few minutes, then blend it with 4 egg yolks, 50g of granulated sugar, and 60g of melted white chocolate until light and fluffy. Separately, beat the egg whites until stiff and gently fold them in. Fill the floured and buttered molds 3/4 full and bake at 180°C in a Grundig oven for 7 minutes. Serve the soufflés warm, with a creamy texture. Garnish with hazelnuts and orange zest.

It all starts at home: wasting food is wasting life!

"It starts at home" is the slogan of Grundig, which firmly believes that the true fulcrum of every virtuous action, the hotbed of good deeds, is the home. From the individual contribution of each citizen, a collective journey can emerge that benefits the planet.

One-third of the food produced is wasted before it even reaches the table, along the supply chain. In practice, 1.3 billion tons of food is "thrown away," the same food that could feed 868 million hungry people around the world.

Every year, an average of 208 kg of food is wasted, the equivalent of over €400. Food and money that could be saved with a few small changes.

Not only that, wasted food not only causes economic loss but also has a significant ecological impact, causing greenhouse gas emissions, the main cause of climate change.

Respect Food & Food for Soul: respect for food

The Respect Food cultural movement was born in 2016 from Grundig's desire to raise awareness and educate on the global problem of food waste through technological innovation in its products and specifically created communication campaigns on the topic.

From the philosophy shared with Food for Soul, the non-profit cultural association founded by Brand Ambassador Chef Massimo Bottura, a perfect synergy has materialized, aiming to combat food waste by suggesting small daily gestures and attentions to waste less and nourish more.

Since its founding in 2016, Grundig has actively supported Food for Soul, including the opening of Refettorios around the world—13 to date—places of hospitality, social inclusion, and cultural regeneration, where salvaged and transformed food nourishes the body and the spirit. Collaborating with local organizations, producers, artists, and architects, the Refettorios reclaim underserved spaces and transform them into inspiring spaces, open to the community Monday through Friday, where people in socially vulnerable situations are welcomed with hearty meals prepared from food surpluses that would otherwise be wasted.

Grundig technology at the service of the planet

Grundig has been dedicated to technological innovation since 1945 and today offers a full range of high-quality, distinctively designed appliances designed to fit into every corner of the home. Certified and tested at every stage to last and guarantee excellent performance, the Arçelik Group brand has always been committed to improving people's quality of life, without compromising on sustainability, respect for the planet, and social responsibility.

A historic brand with a German background, Gruding places respect for the planet's resources at the heart of every product and process development strategy. It implements circular economy and upcycling practices that transform and reuse all production waste: an ongoing commitment that benefits corporate efficiency and reduces the environmental impact of its operations.

A corporate philosophy that applies not only to production processes, but also to product life, so that each appliance can not only optimize consumption but also ensure better food management and a longer shelf life.

And what can we do?

Let's start at the end. From the end of the year to formulate our good resolutions for the coming year. And along with the joy and desire to celebrate with loved ones, let's remember to begin those small daily practices, simple but virtuous, that will benefit the environment and help us save money, both in food and money.

One of the fundamental rules for reducing waste is to extend the shelf life of food. With Grundig refrigeration systems, fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish last longer and retain their nutrients and vitamins.

Thanks to VitaminCare technology—a blue light source that promotes photosynthesis—and Full Fresh+ technology—which minimizes temperature fluctuations and maintains the right humidity—fruit and vegetables last up to 30 days. Meat, fish, and dairy products maintain flavor, freshness, and nutrients in the special Super Fresh compartment. Technology is our ally, but we must do our part with small measures:

• Fresher bananas: Wrap a little cling film around the stem to slow down the ripening process, then separate them from the bunch.
• Salad, what a passion: transfer the lettuce leaves to a bowl and cover them well with sheets of kitchen paper, it will remain dry and crunchy.
• Keep onions separate: Always keep onions separate from potatoes, as the gases produced by onions make them sprout faster.
• Precious fruit: Store fruit and vegetables in the designated area of ​​the refrigerator to maximize their shelf life, such as Grundig's VitaminCare drawer. Avoid stacking lemons, apples, and kiwis on top of each other or with other foods. Their acidic content will cause anything they touch to ripen faster. Use overripe fruit to make sweet or savory compotes, adding spices and flavorings, such as chili pepper, ginger, or cinnamon.
• Jars of all shapes: Recycle glass jars from jams and compotes and use them to store leftovers instead of plastic containers, which absorb odors and colors.
• Freeze to save: Even if you feel like you have enough, keep cooked leftovers in the freezer and use them to create other recipes. You can also freeze brewer's yeast, butter, and cured meats that are about to expire.
• Bread, so many virtues: never waste bread. Once it's hardened, blend it to make breadcrumbs, cut it into pieces and use it to make crostini or panzanella, or soak it in milk and add it to omelettes, meatballs, or fillings.
• Pay attention to expiration dates: always pay attention to food labels. If it says "Use by" it means that after that date the product should be discarded. If it says "Best before" it means that after that date the product may have lost some of its organoleptic characteristics, but will still be good to eat for a few days.
• Vegetables mean nourishment: use peels, trimmings, and leftover vegetables to make a simple, wholesome broth, strain it, and use it to cook a risotto—it'll be rich in vitamins;
• Soaking vegetables: wash them by soaking them in a tub of water, then rinse them quickly to avoid wasting water.
• Reduce oven waste: Grundig ovens' Chef Assist program offers up to 50 international recipes, automatically adjusting the temperature, duration, and cooking method based on the selected recipe. This will reduce energy consumption.
• Open door warning: This happens often and causes a huge energy waste. Grundig refrigerators will alert you with an alarm that will activate after 1 minute.
• Vacation refrigerator: You can put the upper part of the refrigerator on standby to reduce energy consumption while you're on vacation. The temperature will be maintained at around 15°C while the freezer continues to operate.
• Dishwashing is better: avoid over-washing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, remove any leftovers with a sheet of kitchen paper, and rinse them quickly. This will save water.
• Smart shopping: buy only what you eat, avoiding excessive portions that could end up in the trash. Bring a reusable cloth bag to reduce plastic consumption.
• Km 0: buying from local producers helps the planet by significantly reducing transportation and pollution, and also guarantees freshness and seasonality.