Storage Tips for Thanksgiving Leftovers

One of the great aspect of Thanksgiving are the leftovers, as they provide a hearty meal that can quickly be prepared. In respect to continued good health, improperly stored or heat leftovers can make symptoms ranging from minor indigestion to full blown Food Poisoning. Mistakes when storing leftovers are not that uncommon, even for those with the best of intentions. Here are a few simple rules to abide by this Thanksgiving for storing leftovers:

Refrigerate – Make certain the temperature in you Refrigerator is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, any temperature above this promotes bacterial growth and spoilage.

Freeze – Rather than letting leftovers sit in the Refrigerator too long, freeze some quickly. It will only take a few more minutes in the Microwave when reheating, and you’ll be sure what you are eating is safe.

Store – Store foods separately in air tight containers, or if in plastic storage bags, remove excess air and seal tightly.

Time Lapse – Don’t let food set out for more than 90 minutes after cooking, get it from the stove to the table, and in the Refrigerator ASAP.

Prepare – If you have room in the kitchen, lay out storage containers and wrapping materials while the meal is still cooking. This will shorten the time food sets out after the meal.

Enlist Help – Get a few of your dinner guests to help with the after dinner leftovers, and instruct them as to how you want it done beforehand. This will speed up the process of getting items Refrigerated.

Use Proper Containers – If you store food in margarine tubs, cottage cheese containers, etc., don’t microwave these containers. Microwavable containers are specially made, others are not and may put chemicals into the food you are heating.

Reheat Properly – Food should be reheated to a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, liquids should be reheated to a rolling boil.

Use your sense when it comes to leftovers, look at the food and smell it. There’s an old adage “When in doubt, toss it out” that is the most important rule as applied to leftovers. The $5 you may save on your grocery bill by eating leftovers pales in comparison to the Emergency Room Bill you might receive for ingesting bad food.