Pantry & Use-It-Up
Add what is in your fridge and pantry, see what is expiring soon, and get low-calorie recipe ideas that use what you already have. Stop throwing food away - cook it up first.
Food waste is one of the biggest silent costs in most kitchens, and the reason is almost always the same: you forget what is in the fridge until it has gone off. This pantry tool fixes that by giving every item an expiry date and sorting them so the most urgent ones stare back at you first. Anything expiring within two days turns red, and anything within five turns amber, so "what should I cook tonight" becomes "cook the red things before they spoil".
At the same time, the tool matches your ingredients against our low-calorie recipe database and ranks the best-fitting recipes first - meaning the meals it suggests actually use up what you have rather than sending you to the shops. That combination of expiry tracking plus recipe matching is what makes this a genuine use-it-up tool, not just a list. Add items once, cook from the top of the list, and watch your waste (and your grocery bill) shrink.
🧊
Your fridge is empty here. Add items above to track what you have and get recipe matches. We'll suggest recipes that use your ingredients and flag items expiring soon.
Recipe suggestions
Ranked by how many of your pantry items they use.
💡 We match your pantry items to recipe ingredient lists. The more items you add, the better the matches.
Add a few matched pantry items to see recipes you can cook right now.
Try ingredients like chicken, broccoli, rice, lentils, or tomatoes.
How it works
1
Add your items with expiry
Type each fridge or pantry item, then add an expiry date and optional quantity. We match names to our ingredient database automatically so recipes can find them.
2
Get recipe matches before expiry
We score every recipe by how many of your pantry ingredients it uses and rank the best matches first - so the meals suggested actually use up what you have.
3
Use it up before it expires
Items sort by soonest expiry: red means cook within 2 days, amber within 5. Cook the urgent stuff first and clear your fridge with zero waste.
Getting the most out of this tool
Add expiry dates for reminders
Always set the use-by date when you add an item. The red and amber highlights are what turn this from a list into an actual reminder system.
Log groceries as you unpack
Adding items the day you shop means expiry dates are accurate from the start. It takes two minutes and saves food every week.
Cook red items first
Before planning any meal, glance at the top of the list. If something is red, build tonight's dinner around it - that is the whole point of the tool.
Keep versatile staples stocked
Onions, garlic, eggs, rice, and tinned tomatoes match the most recipes. Keeping these on hand means expiring proteins and vegetables almost always have a home.
Use quantities to plan ahead
Note how much you have left. When a recipe needs two chicken breasts and you only have one, you will know to defrost more or scale the recipe down.
Remove items as you use them
Delete or update quantities after cooking so the recipe matches stay accurate. A tidy pantry list gives you better suggestions all week.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the pantry tool match recipes to my ingredients?
When you add an item, we fuzzy-match its name to our ingredient database (for example, typing "chick" matches Chicken Breast). Each recipe lists the ingredient IDs it uses, so we count how many of your pantry ingredients appear in each recipe and rank the best matches first.
How does expiry tracking work?
When you add an item you can optionally set an expiry date. Items are then sorted by soonest expiry, anything expiring within 2 days is highlighted in red, and items expiring within 5 days are shown in amber. That visual cue tells you what to cook first so food does not get thrown away. Leave the date blank for shelf-stable items you do not need reminders for.
How are expiring items highlighted?
Items are sorted by expiry date, soonest first. Anything expiring within 2 days is shown in red, and items expiring within 5 days are shown in amber, so you know what to cook before it goes bad.
Can I add custom ingredients?
Yes. Type any item name you like - common ones auto-match to our ingredient database, but you can also add fully custom entries (for example a specific brand or leftover dish). Custom items still get an expiry date and quantity, and any that match a recipe ingredient contribute to that recipe score.
Is my pantry data saved?
Yes - your pantry is saved in your browser only (localStorage). Nothing is sent to a server, no sign-up is required, and you can wipe everything with the Reset button at any time.
Does the pantry tool help reduce food waste?
That is its main job. By sorting items by expiry and surfacing recipes that use the most of what you already have, it nudges you to cook expiring items first instead of forgetting about them. Most households can cut a meaningful chunk of their food waste just by cooking to expiry dates.
Can I track quantities or portions?
Yes. Each item has an optional quantity field so you can note how much you have left - for example 2 chicken breasts or 500g of rice. Quantities are handy when a recipe calls for a specific amount and you want to check you have enough before you start.
What if none of the recipe matches look good?
Recipe matches are ranked by ingredient overlap, so the top results use the most of what you have. If none appeal, try adding one or two versatile staples (onions, garlic, eggs, or a grain) - these unlock a wider range of recipes without much extra shopping.
Related tools & guides
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Meal Prep Planner
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Recipe Calorie Calculator
Work out the calories in any homemade recipe before you cook it.
Easy Low-Calorie Dinners
Simple dinner recipes that use everyday pantry staples.
Volume Eating Guide
Eat more food for fewer calories - perfect for clearing out the fridge.
Cheap Low-Calorie Meals
Budget-friendly recipes that lean on pantry basics.