Now that the turkey has been served along with all the fixings, it’s time for the leftovers to go in the fridge. From turkey to cranberry sauce, every part of a holiday meal has its own time period before it goes bad. Families spend entire days preparing a single meal and then watch the rest of it rot away in the fridge after a week. So, grab your knife and cutting board because we’re about to teach you how long your holiday leftovers will last and how to use them before they go bad.
Turkey
Any meat left unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours can begin to cause several illnesses. Bacteria usually starts growing after 4 days in refrigerator, so it’s smart to toss out that turkey before the fourth day.
Stuffing
While stuffing is often referred to as the best part of the holiday leftovers, it surprisingly shouldn’t be consumed after 2 days in the fridge. Make sure to keep that in mind when you’re tempted on the third day!
Gravy
A lot like stuffing, gravy shouldn’t be consumed after 2 days in the refrigerator and should always be brought to a boil before serving again.
Potatoes
Properly cooked and stored potatoes can last up to 5 days in the fridge. Like turkey, cooked potatoes should be discarded if they have been left unrefrigerated for over 2 hours.
Corn
If there is even any left, cooked corn can last up to 5 days when refrigerated and up to 10 months if placed in a freezer.
Cranberry Sauce
Fresh cranberry sauce lasts up to 4 days in the cupboards and up to a month in the fridge. Canned cranberry sauce, on the other hand, can last up to a year in both environments.
Super easy to make and delicious to eat! All you have to do is mix the leftover vegetables and stuffing together, this will be the bottom layer, and layer your leftover turkey on top. If possible, grated cheese would be an excellent way to top it off. Leave it in the oven at 400oF for around 15 minutes or until cheese begins to bubble.
This one is always known as the favorite, simply wrap a strip of bacon around a medium sized ball of stuffing. Pop them in the oven 375oF for about 10 minutes.
Mashed potato and turkey pot pie
By adding your leftover cooked gravy, mixed vegetables and turkey into ramekins, you have the perfect ingredients for a pot pie filling. The only part that’s missing is the crust. Instead, line the tops with the rest of your mashed potatoes and bake it in the oven at 400oF for about 30 minutes.
Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter or Thanksgiving, you can always count on having to make room in the fridge for leftovers. Remember that just because something doesn’t look bad, it doesn’t mean it’s still good. Don’t forget you’ll need a sturdy cutting board, so visit our online store and choose your favorite model and design today!
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