{"id":279,"date":"2019-11-29T09:48:12","date_gmt":"2019-11-29T09:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fftcaters.com\/blog\/?p=279"},"modified":"2019-11-26T18:53:10","modified_gmt":"2019-11-26T18:53:10","slug":"tips-for-storing-thanksgiving-day-leftovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fftcaters.com\/blog\/tips-for-storing-thanksgiving-day-leftovers\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Storing Thanksgiving Day Leftovers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
There is nothing quite like the comfort of enjoying a big\nplate of Thanksgiving Day leftovers. In fact, many people look forward not only\nto Thanksgiving Day, but also the day after, simply for the pleasures of\nleftover turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and of course, pie! So even though\nThanksgiving is over, the holiday will keep on giving, so long as you store all\nyour leftovers properly that is. Improper storage practices can reduce the\nquality of food, as well as pose several health risks since contamination can happen\nquite quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to get the most of your holiday leftovers, and to protect your loved ones, be sure, you know how to store food the right way. You can give your fridge a \u00a0\u00a0quick check right now to see if your storage practices are keeping your foods tasty and fresh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Continue reading to learn all the tips you need to know for storing Thanksgiving leftovers, safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\nGeorgia Catering Services 678-340-0510 <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cooling and Packing<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Leftover foods should be stored in a separate container than\nthe one they were served in. So, if you simply put your sweet potato casserole\ndish in the fridge and covered it with some plastic wrap, it is not the best\npractice for maintaining quality and freshness. Instead, pack all leftover\nfoods separately in shallow containers with airtight lids, or plastic storage\nbags. Use the smallest container possible for each type of food you are storing\nto reduce oxygen exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Length of Time<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
in order to maintain top quality and freshness, it is best\nto consume your Thanksgiving leftovers within 5 to 7 days. It is recommended to\nsimply reheat the portion of food that you want to eat rather than heating up\nthe entire container. Although it is safety reheat the entire container, and\nthen store it again, reheating one portion at a time as needed will keep the\nfood fresher for longer. If you wish to freeze your leftovers, be sure to use freezer-safe\ncontainers or plastic bags. In the freezer, leftovers should remain good for 2\nto 6 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defrosting Frozen Foods<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
There are three primary ways to thaw out leftover frozen\nfoods. The best way to defrost frozen foods is to simply place them in the\nrefrigerator and let them thaw out overnight. Just be sure to transfer them to\na plate and keep them in the container. You can also choose to use cold running\nwater to defrost frozen foods. To do this, run lukewarm water at your kitchen\nfaucet directly on top of the frozen container. Depending on the mass and\nvolume of the item, this can take anywhere from an hour to several hours. If\nyou don\u2019t waste water, you can fill a large bowl with lukewarm water, and place\nthe frozen item inside. This can also take a few hours; however, you will feel\nlike you\u2019re wasting water or money. The least recommended way to de-thaw frozen\nfoods is to use the microwave. If you choose to use this method, just be sure\nto follow your manufacturer\u2019s instructions for your particular make and model\nmicrowave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reheating Leftovers <\/h1>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned, leftover foods can remain in the refrigerator\nsafely for up to seven days. In order to reheat them safely, be sure the internal\ntemperatures reach 165\u00b0 Fahrenheit. If you are reheating sauces, be sure to\nbring them to a full boil before consuming to ensure any bacterial growth has\nbeen killed. When reheating foods in the microwave, use microwave-safe plate or\ncontainers, and rotate them during the heating process to ensure even cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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