Kitchen Hacks: How to Store Thanksgiving Leftovers

Let’s be honest: when the holiday meal is over, the best is yet to come. For many of us, it’s not Thanksgiving dinner we look forward to all year but the leftovers. Maybe you like to sneak a piece of that pumpkin pie for breakfast or perhaps it’s the turkey sandwiches in between shopping on Black Friday you’re waiting for, or if you’re creative in kitchen, it might be that you’re looking forward to turning that stuffing into frittatas.

No matter what leftovers you’re craving though, in order to enjoy them, you need to know the storage rules. TLK spoke with Kelsey Nixon, host of Kelsey’s Essentials on the Cooking Channel and Steve DeShazo, Director of the Food & Hospitality Institute at El Centro College to find out just how long those delicious Thanksgiving treats will stay edible and how you can keep them fresh. Here are the rules. [pagebreak]

Timing

To get the most out of your leftovers make sure to store them within two hours of cooking to maintain the quality of the food and avoid any unwanted bacteria. And store all leftovers in leak proof containers or bags.

“I like to divide my leftovers into small, flat containers or bags so that they cool faster before storing and also reheat faster once I’m ready to dig in again,” Nixon said. [pagebreak]

Temperature

Refrigerate. Refrigerate. Refrigerate.

DeShazo said that in general the shelf life for prepared foods is seven days from the date of preparation assuming that prior to serving, the food is held properly under refrigeration.

“Cold foods held without temperature control must be discarded after a maximum of 6 hours as long as the internal temperature of the food never goes above 70 degrees while it’s being served,” DeShazo advised. “If it does go above 70 degrees, then it must be discarded after 4 hours. Hot food can be held without temperature control for up to 4 hours and then must be discarded.”

Finally watch how those foods are refrigerated. Nixon reminds us to not overstuff our refrigerator. “It’s important that the air is able to circulate to keep stored foods at the correct temperature,” Nixon said.[pagebreak]

The Details

Cooked Turkey: if refrigerated eat within 3 to 4 days, if frozen eat within 2 to 3 months.

Gravy: if refrigerated eat within 1 to 2 days, if frozen eat within 2 to 3 months.

Mashed Potatoes: if refrigerated eat within 3 days, if frozen eat within 10 months.

Stuffing: if refrigerated eat within 1 to 2 days, if frozen eat within 1 month.

Mashed potatoes three to days in the fried, 10 months in the freezer.

Cranberry Sauce: if refrigerated eat within 10 to 14 days, if frozen eat within 1 to 2 months

Baked pumpkin or apple pie: if refrigerated eat within 3 to 4 days, if frozen eat within 1 to 2 months.

And finally always remember the cardinal rule: when in doubt toss it.