Thanksgiving Leftovers: How To Store Them And When To Toss Them

Thanksgiving is quite a feast, but for many people, it's the days that follow that are the best: delicious leftovers for days. But be careful, because sometimes you can let those leftovers stick around for a little bit too long. And the time you can keep them varies based on what kind of leftover you're talking about.

Here's a breakdown of how best to keep your leftovers for maximum freshness, and when it's time to toss them, courtesy of Patient First Medical Centers.

Basic storage tips:

• Leftovers should be refrigerated within two hours of being served.
• Divide large portions of food into smaller portions so they cool quickly.
• Refrigerate in airtight containers.
• If you don't plan to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them.
• Toss foods that have been sitting out for more than two hours.

Leftover shelf life:

• Cooked turkey: 3 to 4 days
• Stuffing and gravy: 2 days
• Casseroles, cooked veggies: 3 to 4 days
• Fruit and cream pies: 2 to 3 days
• Frozen leftovers: Up to 3 months

Four steps to keep from getting sick:

1. Cook to the right temperature, and use a food thermometer.
   2. Wash hands and cooking surfaces often.
   3. Keep raw meats separate from other foods to prevent contamination. Watch out for dripping juices.
   4. Refrigerate and freeze leftovers right away.

TheFood Network suggests you reheat only what you'll serve at one time instead of reheating the entire portion of a leftover. The food will lose flavor and moisture the more times it's reheated.

And for safety's sake, use a thermometer to make sure leftovers are reheated to 165 degrees F. Sauces, soups and gravies should come to a full boil. If you're using the microwave, cover the food and rotate it frequently to make sure it heats evenly.

Follow this one simple rule when it comes to leftovers: when in doubt, throw it out.

Image via Patient First Medical Centers; Main image via Pixabay