Depending on what time zone you live in, you’re either taking a quick break before serving your Thanksgiving feast or you just feasted and are taking a break! Regardless, of the reason you are reading this Blog–chances are leftovers will be some part of your life for the next 24 hours or longer. Even, if you didn’t make the meal, chances are someone who cares about you–will send you home with those nice little packages of Thanksgiving dinner treats.
Face it–leftover Thanksgiving is one of the number one best things about starting the holiday season! The important thing is to make sure yours are packed up properly. And, if you are taking something packed for your–or packing it up to send with a loved one you don’t want to ruin the great memories by becoming sick–especially, not with all the big sales starting at dawn tomorrow morning.
So, here are some basic rules about what happens after everyone is finished feasting”
- Within two hours of cooking, leftover food should be cleared from the table and placed in containers no more than three inches deep to ensure quick and even cooling.
- Stuffing should be removed from the Turkey and placed in a separate container.
- All meat should be removed from the Turkey bones–I like to take time to separate the light and dark meat, and the pieces to use in the Turkey Noodle Soup for Friday.
Once everything is sorted and placed in their storage, containers everything should be refrigerated including all the little goody packs going home with guests and family. We usually pack each families in a grocery bag and writing a name one it, this way we can stack the bags on top of the other containers in the refrigerator while we watch the football games.
When everything is over these guidelines for Thanksgiving dinner leftovers should be followed:
- Cooked meat including turkey as well as the other dishes such as stuffing, casseroles, cooked vegetables and potatoes can be kept in a refrigerator set below 40°F for as long as four days. By Monday it’s time to eat them or thrown them away.
- Foods may be kept longer by storing them in a freezer set at or below 0°F. For the best quality, eat stuffing, casseroles and other sides you’ve stored in the freezer within one month; eat turkey and other meat dishes within two months.
And, finally be sure to return the Tupperware to the host of your Thanksgiving dinner if you are sent home with some tasty leftovers and if you are the host–don’t send anyone home with a container you want returned!
Related Blogs:
- 3-Tips To Keep Your Kitchen Bacteria Claim Free While Cooking.
- How To Have a Claim Free Holiday Season
- Good Will for All–Guest Medical
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