Turkey and stuffing sandwiches, ham and mustard rolls, roast potato hashbrowns - Christmas dinner leftovers can be the ingredients for yummy lunches and dinners for the next three days.
As well as reducing food waste and costs, leftovers are all about holding onto the glow of Christmas Day.
Storing leftovers
Leftovers should be covered and stored in the fridge or freezer within two hours of cooking. Don’t eat food that has been standing at room temperature for more than two hours.
You can help leftover turkey, ham and other meat/poultry cool down by removing legs and cutting meat into smaller pieces. It’s important not to put food in the fridge or freezer when it is still warm, because it could raise the temperature and allow other foods to get too warm.
When all the meat is removed, you can boil the carcass with some carrots, onions and herbs to make delicious stock for soup.
When the meat has cooled, transfer it to an airtight container and put it in in the fridge. Use clean dishes and utensils to prevent cross-contamination. Leftovers stored in the fridge should be eaten within three days.
When freezing Christmas meats or stuffing, wrap them in heavy freezer wrap and put them in a container suitable for your freezer. Cooked meat will keep in the freezer for up to six months.
Reheating Christmas leftovers
Christmas leftovers, turkey and stuffing should only be reheated once. So only heat as much leftovers as you will eat straight away as you should not heat it again.
Leftovers should be reheated until they are piping hot all the way through. And Leftover gravy should be brought to a rolling boil
For more about planning to reduce food waste this Christmas go to StopFoodWaste.ie
