National BBQ Week (26 May – 1 June): New Data Reveals What Food We Waste When We Fire Up the Grill

This week is officially BBQ Week (26th May – 1st June), and while the sausages are sizzling, so too is the amount of food ending up in Irish bins. New research from Too Good To Go, the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food, reveals that a huge portion of barbequed food goes uneaten and discarded, costing households money and harming the environment.

Across the Irish adult household, items such as salad (31%), coleslaw (30%), bread rolls (26%), sausages (20%) and burgers (17%) are among the top items going straight in the bin. 50% of Irish adults say we overestimate how much food we will need at a BBQ, while others blame spoiled food, lack of freezer space, or guests not showing up.

Machaela O'Leary is the Sales Manager with 'Too Good to Go, says: “BBQ’s are a summer favourite — but they can also be one of the biggest food waste culprits! From overestimating portions to forgetting what’s in the fridge, so much good food ends up in the bin. BBQ Week is a great reminder that with a little planning, we can all waste less and enjoy more. From bread rolls to sausages, we’re still throwing away too much. Irish households waste up to €374 worth of food each year — and National BBQ week is a great time to be more conscious of this. A few small tweaks in your BBQ routine can help us save food, save money and still enjoy the best of summer.”

It’s not just a financial issue — Ireland generates approximately 750,000 tonnes of food waste every year, contributing to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Top Tips to Save Your Leftover BBQ Food:

1. Cool it quickly: Refrigerate cooked meat and sides within two hours to avoid spoilage.

2. Freeze it smartly: Freeze unused portions in labelled bags — ready for next weekend’s grill.

3. Vacuum seal for freshness: Keeps meat, veg and even bread fresher for longer.

4. Repurpose creatively: Turn grilled chicken into sandwiches or fajitas; burgers into pasta bakes.

5. Make a mixed tray bake: Combine leftover meat and veg with rice or potatoes for a midweek dinner.

6. Use your oven or air fryer: Reheat with a splash of oil to bring life back to BBQ leftovers.

7. Don’t forget the buns: Toast old burger buns into garlic bread or croutons.

Too Good To Go is a simple way to save food and money. The app, that is free to download, connects users with local supermarkets, butchers cafés and more, offering surplus food at a reduced price. In Ireland alone, over 1.5 million Surprise Bags have already been rescued — cutting carbon, saving water and supporting local business.

Planning a BBQ? You can grab everything from premium meats to sauces and salads at a fraction of the cost from partners like SuperValu, Aldi, FX Buckley and James Whelan Butchers.

Download the Too Good To Go app today and help fight food waste — one Surprise Bag, one BBQ at a time.

More info at www.toogoodtogo.com/en-ie

Slán go fóill.