No-Waste Vegetable Cooking
What to Do with Carrot Tops, Herb Stems & More
At Area 2 Farms, your food doesn’t travel thousands of food miles or sit on a shelf. It’s harvested and delivered immediately, which means it arrives fresh, flavorful, and with all its edible parts still intact.
And yes, we mean all of them.
Carrot tops, herb stems, onion greens, turnip leaves—these parts are often seen as scraps, but they’re packed with flavor and nutrients. Here are some of the most common “extras” in your share and how to make the most of them:
Carrot Tops
Carrot greens are tender, earthy, and slightly bitter, like a stronger parsley.
Use them to:
Make pesto with garlic, olive oil, lemon, and nuts or seeds
Stir into chimichurri with other soft herbs
Chop and use as a garnish on soups or roasted vegetables
Storage tip: Remove tops from carrots and store separately—either in a jar of water or wrapped in a damp towel in the fridge.
Herb Stems
Dill, parsley, and cilantro stems are packed with flavor and hold up well to heat.
Use them to:
Sauté with onions and garlic at the start of a dish
Add to broth or stock (remove before serving)
Finely mince into marinades or salads
Blend into dips like hummus or tzatziki
Looking for more ways to make the most out of your herbs? Find them here.
Onion Tops
The green tops of spring onions are just as useful as the white bulbs.
Use them to:
Slice thin and add raw to eggs, tacos, or stir-fries
Grill whole for a smoky flavor
Mix into compound butter with herbs and lemon
Turnip Greens
These tender greens from our Hakurei turnips cook quickly and taste mild, like young spinach or beet greens.
Use them to:
Sauté with garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes
Add to soups, stir-fries, or noodles just before serving
Use raw in salads when young and fresh
Why No-Waste Cooking Matters
Cooking with the whole vegetable means less waste, more flavor, and better use of your ingredients. When food is grown locally and harvested right before delivery, the stems, tops, and greens are just as usable as the roots, bulbs, or leaves. Don’t toss them, use them.
Area 2 Farms for Locals
Your food should be equally accessible and nutritious. Which is where we come in. We’re Area 2 Farms, we grow organic produce, deliver it to your door weekly, and operate all within 10 miles of you.
