Leftovers may seem harmless, but if stored and reheated in the wrong way, they can become a recipe for an upset stomach. USDA food safety expert, Meredith Carothers, spoke with CBS about safely eating leftovers after the recent Thanksgiving holiday.
Food safety begins upon the meal’s conclusion. Carothers suggested that prepared food be sealed in containers or airtight packaging and refrigerated within two hours.
Reheating is also an important component. All reheated leftovers should reach an internal temperature of 165 Fahrenheit. It is best to check the temperature in multiple places to ensure the food is reheated evenly.
While leftovers keep in the fridge for only about three to four days, you can extend their life by freezing them. In the freezer, food can last up to three to four months. Within this period, you can take the food out, thaw it in the fridge, and reheat it.
You can also transform your leftovers into a different dish altogether if reheating the same dinner starts to bore you.
For those who have Thanksgiving leftovers in the freezer, Delish recommends their Thanksgiving sandwich recipe, turkey enchiladas, soup, salad, or even a Thanksgiving Crunchwrap, consisting of a tortilla base layered with leftover mashed potatoes, green beans, turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and white cheddar heated up in a pan.
Delish’s Thanksgiving sandwich recipe involves no extra cooking and includes your leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and gravy, with the addition of sourdough, dijon, mayo, and baby spinach.
You can try their turkey enchiladas recipe if it is mainly turkey that you are looking to use up. In addition to shredding your turkey meat, add beans, cheese, enchilada sauce, jalapeños, onion, and several herbs and spices to make this yummy dish.
Their turkey salad sandwich consists of chopped turkey, celery, shallots, dill, mayo, apple cider vinegar, celery salt, and pepper.
After all that Thanksgiving Day starch and meat, you may want something a little lighter. Delish’s Thanksgiving leftover salad recipe is just the dish. Spinach sprinkled with leftover turkey, croutons made from the leftover stuffing, and a vinaigrette made from leftover cranberry sauce join together to make a splendidly crisp and light salad.
Delish’s complete list of 44 inventive Thanksgiving leftover meals — many of which may come in handy for the similar cuisine often served at Christmas — can be found here.
