Unused duck sauce packets can be saved for future meals (Image: Wikipedia Commons)
I’m one waste-hater who can’t bear to throw away those annoying little packets of duck sauce, soy sauce, sugar, ketchup and the like that come with take-out food. But just tossing them into a bag in the pantry thinking I’ll use them one day never really does the trick.
Getting Organized
This past weekend, I organized all the packets I’ve been collecting since time and memorial. So I’d reach for them first, I put the sugar packets next to the sugar bowl, and the salt and pepper packets together next to my S&P shakers. Then I put all the duck sauce and soy sauce packets together in a canister on my counter, since I typically combine them in recipes.
I was so energized by my newly organized packets, I decided to start to work the collection down on the pork chop I had in the fridge. The results were so spectacular, I’m passing along this recipe I created on the fly.
Jacquie Ottman’s Pork Chop “a la Packette” flavored with leftover duck sauce packets.
Recipe for Pork Chop “A La Packette”
I first smothered my little pork chop with salt and pepper — good for two packets each. Then, I snipped open one packet each of duck sauce, soy sauce, and even one stray packet of apple jelly that I had in the pile from Popeye’s (not sure where that came from), carefully squeezing out every last drop by sliding them tightly through my index and middle fingers.
I then put the now smothered pork chop under the broiler of my toaster oven for 4 minutes on each side. (Be careful ‘trying this at home’ since it’s suggested that one not use a toaster oven for broiling meats.)
Jacquelyn Ottman’s book, If Trash Could Talk, inspires a new consumption culture in NYC.
I served it with some new potatoes, complemented by a salad made with the leftover drizzle from a grilled eggplant recipe from last week.
C’est magnifique if I c’est so myself! (Jocelyn would be proud.) Here’s the picture, taken on one of my prettiest porcelain plates, of course.
What do you do with your little packets? Any great recipes to share?
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Great ideas on re-purposing those packets Jacquie! We save all of the surplus packets (and extra straws/napkins too) and put them in a 4-square organizer in the pantry- they are great for kids lunches, camping, picnics, and any other outing that calls for condiments but without the mess or bulk.
Thanks for reminding me about the napkins and the straws, Anne. I put the napkins on the counter in a big ceramic coffee mug, and use them for quick spills — without the guilt since they might have been discarded anyway.
And the straws make smoothies taste like ice cream sodas!
I have one of those colorful “lifetime” reusable lunch bags made from divers’ suit material (I think). I keep sets of the napkins, plastic utensils and straws in this bag. Whenever I want to take food with me, my bag is packed and I am ready to go.
Great tips. Here’s another. When I have cherry or other tomatoes that are becoming a little “wrinkled” and are no longer good for eating raw, I cut them up and make a sauce. I can add mushrooms, olives, onions, garlic and herbs like oregano. It goes with chicken, fish, rice or pasta. Yummy! Low fat and cal, too.
Great tip Bonnie. I’ll be at your place tonight for supper! 🙂 Seriously though, not only a great idea on a no-waste solution to over-ripe-and-on-its-way-to-spoiling produce, but much healthier than a sauce from a jar and made with love no doubt!
Bonnie, I’m with you. I once bought six over ripe tomatoes from the produce guy on the street for $1 one Sunday night. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sell them so he gave me a major discount. I promptly made some of the best Italian spaghetti sauce you could imagine — and felt great about using something that would otherwise have gone to waste and getting a bargain in the process. Molto Bene!
This was great way to reuse condiment packets. I know whenever I run out of ketchup, the many ketchup packets in my drawer are a lifesaver. I use leftover taco sauce/hot sauce packets when making tacos or quesadillas.
Hello everyone,
These packets of ketchup, soy sauce, duck sauce, etc are great, if they are something you will use. Lots of good ideas for using them by the way!
But if they are something you won’t ever use, as I won’t, I ask the person taking the order not to give me any sauces, crackers or even plastic silverware, (I carry metal forks and spoons in the car and in my travel bag.)
I will also ask that my meal not be put in a bag, which fast food places often have rule about food must be sent out in a bag. In that case, I say I’m having it there, rather than to go, and just take the wrapped whatever off the tray at the service counter and go out to the car. How much trouble can I get into carrying something from the counter to my car? If I do have a problem, I have only myself to blame.
I’ve even considered carrying a little plastic bag with me into the place so if they get all insist-ey on must put my food in a bag, I tell them to pop it in mine.
I also carry an old cloth apron, (from my busboy days) in the car, so I can cover myself as I am eating, when I don’t want to sit and eat at the fast food place. (noise, screaming toddlers or worse….) Serves as protection from spilled food and my napkin and launders easily.
Brrrrry on the East Coast! Great weather for take out Chinese food. Delivered!!!!
Peace, Mike
As an empty nester, I find that one or two packets of each condiment is all we need to have on hand, and prevents us from wasting a full container of mustard, mayo or ketchup that we might never finish. But I agree that refusing the ones we don’t need is best. Since we always patronize the same Chinese take-out, the manager knows me and my preferences (“No sauce packets,right?”). I have suggested that she post a sign on the counter (e.g., “Tell us if you need sauce packets, straws, or napkins”), and ask folks who order by phone if they do or don’t need the packets, just as they ask if we want white or brown rice, but so far she has not taken me up on it. I suspect that they pile up in a lot of homes, and eventually get tossed out. An easily preventable addition to food waste.
Beautiful pic, Jacquie! Mouth-watering recipe, too. My little packages of “Special Seasonings” from Papa John’s are a great addition to my vinaigrette salad dressing.
Hello All,
We would phone in our order to our favorite Chinese take-out place, State Gardens in New Haven, and it seemed which ever order taker would hear our order, (always the same items, Mushu Pork, Sweet and sour soup, (no mushrooms) Garlic Chicken, (no mushrooms) and would recite our address and phone number and our list of no no’s before I could. They got to know us so well.
No pancakes, (mushu pork), no packets, no napkins, silverware, no free soda. It was very funny. And really nice!
Peace, Mike
Great Jacquie!! 🙂
MIke,
You’d even pass on the free pop? I guess not your type of thing, to even indulge occasionally?
Although it also moves towards reducing waste for not asking for the packets, the companies probably already factored that into the selling price of what we buy.
And even for things where I go to an event and they use plastic cups (and not compostable ones), occasionally I have people who don’t want me to reuse the cup to refill since maybe it gets filled over the punch bowl or comes into close contact with the ladle or dispenser. I can understand, especially with not wanting to pass viruses or colds around, but it’s conflicting, with either potential germs or the environment.
Hello,
Interesting about the punch bowl and the use of a new cup each refill. Never have come across that. Then again, I guess I don’t get to many punchy type functions. I can see the sanitary argument.
And talking beverages…
The reason I pass on free soda is that I don’t like soda. I’ve never like anything with bubbles. (Not including bubble pipes. LOVE them!!!)
So the cans would just hang around hoping a guest might possibly want a soda, which rarely happened. I ended up emptying the cans and recycling them. If nothing else, passing on the bubbly is a teeny bonus of one less bit of can waste in the world.
Packets….
I have nothing against using and enjoying the packets. They are sanitary, fresh and convenient. Great for picnics, travel, camping, lunch bags, etc.. The key word is using. I’m just not using them now….
For me, even when I could eat just about anything, I found I didn’t use the extra packets. Didn’t like duck sauce. The soy sauce… too salty. Catsup, relish and mustard packets were great but I never could seem to remember I had the the extras or to use them. They became too old to eat anymore, although they probably would have lasted for generations with the tiny packaging and preservatives!
So I asked not to receive them. A right choice for me.
And now, as it turns out, I’m on a very strict diet now for health reasons. Mucho No-no! So I would never use the packets now-a-days even if I could eat the food they are offered with. I so miss my Taco Bell Fresco Tacos with the Salsa Verde packets….Mmmm-Yummmm! Sigh…Oh well…..
Enjoy those packets! And bubbles. And if you like Fresco Crunchy Tacos with Salsa Verde, please eat one for me!
Best wishes,
Mike
I love condiments, but I rarely eat out, especially anything fast food related, as my diet makes it sort of difficult to eat at a lot of places. BUT my parents eat chinese food every week. They love it. The local chinese food restaurant loves them, too, and they have an endless supply of duck sauce, soy, and spicy mustard packets. I literally grab handfuls of them when I am visiting, as I know they won’t use them but also won’t throw them away. I end up eating food from supermarkets when I am traveling and having small portions of condiments is awesome. It means I don’t have to buy some bottle of something I am only going to use two or three times. I can just get some avocado and mixed greens and throw spicy mustard on it, or throw some fresh broccoli in a bag and shake it up with some soy sauce. If you get hot sauce packets from someone, that is a huge bonus! It goes great on literally everything.
Does anybody else here follow the Harvard Homemaker? It’s one of the weirder more specific blogs that I follow, but she just gives such great organization tips! In the last digest, she mentioned using all of the little duck sauce and ketchup packets as miniature ice packs for her kids. She just puts them in the freezer and voila! A fun-size ice pack for kid-size injuries. Unfortunately, I don’t have any kids so I’ll just try making some pork chops. Looks delicious!
Hi All,
Great ideas for freezing those little condiment packets and using them as mini ice pack. Probably great for mosquito bites and similar! I’ll have to think of ways to use them.
But I did have to laugh. The mind visual of a luxurious, swanky spa, an elegant model and the frozen duck sauce and ketchup packets on her eyes. Best wishes for a bit more August! Peace, Mike
I’ll have to check out that Harvard Blog, Brady — looks like she’s got some clever ideas up there. Got me thinking though, about alternative uses for duck sauce and ketchup packets. Hmm….maybe they can be frozen and used instead of cucumbers for dark circles on eyes? Or something tells me they might have some use in first aid for campers (or just anybody…mustard salve anybody? (I’m tempted to put up a note about this on our Facebook page, but for now, if anyone reading this has any alternatives uses for duck sauces, mustard and ketchup packets, by all means, please share them here.
Thanks, Brady for getting this thread going. And welcome to the We Hate To Waste Community!
Years ago i worked with an older lady and she gave me this recipe and i use it still. you can play around with it but equal parts of the “packets” is key. i have served this and people have asked me if i bought the sauce in a supermarket.
Stir Fry Sauce Recipe:
10 packets duck sauce
10 packets soy sauce
10 packets mustard
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon tumeric
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Hi Scilla,
Great idea and recipe! I could see making this for surprise company as a stir fry, adding some fresh grated ginger. I throw some ginger in so many recipes.
Just need to get some of those packets!
Best wishes,
Mike
I am certainly eager to use my future extra duck sauce packets in some of the recipes listed! In addition, as some have said, I always save the packets for my next take-out order, and deliberately keep them visible in the kitchen. It is easy to throw them in a draw or pantry and forget you even have them, so I constantly try to avoid that.
It is important to note, however, that I try my best to prevent this problem from occurring in the first place. If I have no interest in duck sauce (or any sauce for that matter) in my current meal, I immediately ask them to exclude them from my order, and remind them of this when I pick it up.
For when I will be using duck sauce, I always ask for fresh duck sauce, where available. This arrives in usually only one small plastic container, that easily holds the same amount of five little packets. In addition, the containers are recyclable, unlike the small packets which get discarded. I have found this to drastically decrease my waste — both of the duck sauce itself, and of the small plastic packets.
That’s “time immemorial”, not “time in memorial”.
wait- what? so it’s a bigger evil to throw out tiny packets of cheap, nasty, chemical-laden condiments than it is to ingest it? Sorry- mindlessly eating “food” just because it’s there isn’t a good choice. It’s okay to refuse a condiment- really. Especially if it is just artificial disgusting rubbish. This is just hoarding mentality.
I had piles of those packets that I would always forget to use. I try to remember to say I don’t want them but when I get them I now just cut them open and add the contents to my condiment jars. I even use a glass jar for the duck sauce.
This is a great way to repurpose those packets, but for someone like me who probably won’t ever use those soy or duck sauce, or ketchup packets (mainly because I forget I have them and it feels like ages when I left in my kitchen drawer, in turn, making me wary of using them because I believe they are expired ), I now opt out of taking them with my to-go meals. I tell the waiter that I don’t need any extra packets, along with the cutlery.
Duck sauce is basically apple with citric acid and sugar. So you can use the sauce anywhere you would use honey, sugar, or a little bit of vinegar/lemon.
I once mixed duck sauce packets, red pepper flakes packets and a half cup of sherry and drenched pork tenders in it before putting them under a broiler. Fantastic!
Time IMMEMORIAL…not ‘time and memorial’. It means time past beyond memory or history.