Favourite 4 Waste-Tracking Tools Kitchens Use to Log Spoilage and Reduce Monthly Food Loss by Percentages

Running a kitchen is a beautiful chaos. But that chaos gets a lot smoother with smart tools. Especially when it comes to food waste. Spoilage and toss-outs can eat into profits faster than you can say “best-before date.”

TLDR: In busy kitchens, tracking food waste can feel overwhelming. But using clever waste-tracking tools helps reduce food loss and save money. Some tools even cut waste by 30% or more every month! Keep reading to discover the four kitchen-favorite apps making a big difference.

Why Should Kitchens Care About Food Waste?

Because it’s expensive. It also hurts the planet. Every carrot tossed is money lost. Restaurants and kitchens are waking up to this.

Modern tools now make it easy to track, log, and fight waste. Less waste equals higher profits. And a happier planet!

Here are four favorite tools kitchens love using to track their food waste:

1. Winnow – The Smart Bin That Talks Numbers

Imagine a trash can that tells you what you’re wasting. That’s Winnow!

• Uses smart scales and AI
• Cooks just throw unused food in and log what it is on a touchscreen
• Each week, it shows what’s getting thrown out the most

Winnow helps kitchens find patterns. Maybe it’s the soup that no one finishes. Or those extra loaves of bread no one orders. Winnow makes it easy to stop prepping food that doesn’t get eaten.

Bonus: Some kitchens using Winnow say they cut food waste by 50% in less than a year!

2. Leanpath – The OG of Waste Tracking

Leanpath has been around the block—and the back of house. It’s one of the earliest food waste tracking tools out there.

• It uses a smart scale, camera, and tablet
• Staff weigh and describe food they toss
• Managers get reports on what’s wasted the most

Leanpath shines in big kitchens. Schools, hotels, hospitals—you name it. It helps food service teams build better menus based on real data.

Top result: Clients often report a 25–30% reduction in monthly waste!

3. Too Good To Go – Don’t Toss It, Sell It!

This one’s perfect for cafes and bakeries. You don’t need a fancy scale—just a smartphone.

Too Good To Go connects eateries with hungry people. Instead of throwing out leftover pastries or meals, businesses post surprise boxes on the app.

• Users buy leftovers at a discount
• Shops clear out unsold stock
• Everyone wins

Best part? Since it’s a sale, it also adds a new mini revenue stream!

Waste cut? Many spots reduce daily food waste by 20–40% using this creative tool.

4. Kitro – Waste Insight Through a Camera Lens

This tool feels like surveillance—only way cooler and friendlier. Kitro uses a smart camera placed above the bin.

• The camera takes a photo whenever something’s tossed
• Machine learning identifies the food
• Generates daily and weekly waste reports

There’s no need for staff to stop and log anything. Kitro handles everything automatically. That means staff stay focused, and data stays accurate.

Fun fact: Some Kitro kitchens say they cut their monthly food loss by up to 35%!

Where Does the Waste Come From?

Most kitchen waste falls into one of three categories:

• Prep waste – trimmings, peels, spoiled ingredients
• Overproduction – making more food than needed
• Plate waste – leftovers guests leave behind

These tools help tackle all three. Some track production waste. Others focus on final plate leftovers. Together, they paint the full waste picture.

What Do Kitchens Do With the Data?

Lots of things!

• Adjust portion sizes
• Trim down menu items
• Order fewer ingredients
• Train staff in waste-reducing habits

Data leads to action. And action leads to impact.

Real Kitchen Wins

Still not convinced? Here are some real success stories:

• A hotel chain using Leanpath reduced food spending by $150,000 per year
• A bakery using Too Good To Go sold 80% of their daily leftovers
• A university cafeteria with Winnow dropped waste by 30% in 6 months

Small shifts make big changes.

How to Pick the Right Tool

Each kitchen is unique. A fast-paced café might love Too Good To Go. A massive dining hall may need Leanpath or Kitro.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you tracking prep or plate waste?
• Do you want staff to log info or keep it automatic?
• Is selling leftovers part of your plan?

Then match a tool to your needs. Start small, even with tracking just one section of your kitchen. The key is getting started.

Conclusion: Less Waste, More Win

Food waste isn’t just a sad banana at the bottom of the bin. It’s a chance to improve, save money, and do better for the environment.

Whether it’s cameras, scales, or discount dessert boxes, these four tools are making it easier and more fun to tackle waste.

Start tracking today. Your future self—and your bottom line—will thank you.