How long do Christmas Day leftovers last? When to throw food out
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Heavy tables laden with food tend to be the norm for this time of year. From gut-busting three courses to selection boxes and cheeses galore – t’is the season for enjoying all of your favourite foods with none of the guilt. But what happens when all of that lovely food becomes just a bit too much for the table – and our appetites?.
Too full to eat, but too good to throw away, if you store your Christmas dinner leftovers carefully in the fridge you can still enjoy the flavours of Christmas Day over the following days of the festive period. Here is the lowdown on how to safely store your leftovers so no-one is left poorly over Christmas:.
Leftovers should be covered and stored in the fridge or freezer within two hours of cooking, but no food should be eaten if it has been left standing at room temperature for more than two hours. You can help leftover turkey, ham and other meat cool down by removing legs and cutting meat into smaller pieces, meaning it will cool quicker and you can get it in the fridge before it spoils.
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When the meat has cooled, it should be stored in an airtight container and put in the fridge to be eaten within three days. If you are reheating, meat and stuffing can only be reheated once. If you are wanting to freeze, put them in a container suitable for your freezer. Cooked meat will keep in the freezer for up to six months.
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