Without a doubt, the best part about Thanksgiving are all of the leftovers. Luckily, no matter how hard we try, whether we’re hosting a big family feast, a smaller dinner for two, or a celebration that falls somewhere in between, we’re always left with more food than we can handle.
But first things first—it’s so important to understand how to properly store your leftovers. No one wants to get sick during one of the year’s biggest holidays. Properly storing your Thanksgiving leftovers ensures safety and freshness.
Within two hours of cooking, divide your leftovers into smaller portions to either refrigerate or freeze them. Use smaller and shallow containers instead of one large container; they help food cool faster, which in turn prevents bacteria from growing. Avoid stacking containers until cooled by the refrigerator.
Carve the meat into smaller pieces for better and safer storage. Leftovers can be kept for four days in the refrigerator, and you can reheat them to 165 degrees. Frozen leftovers should be eaten within 2–3 months.
Now that we’ve shared how to safely store your favorite Thanksgiving dishes, here are a few fun ways you can give your leftover mashed potatoes, turkey, and stuffing some new life.
Thanksgiving leftover recipe ideas.
Thanksgiving dinner is one of the most highly anticipated meals of the year. Make the most of all that hard work by transforming your leftover turkey and sides into delicious next-day dishes—that are just as good as the originals.
—Turkey sandwich: A classic. Pieces of turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing (and whatever else you choose) stuffed between two slices of bread.
—Thanksgiving leftover tacos: There’s something about using a tortilla that takes Turkey Day leftovers to a whole new level.
—Thanksgiving leftover casserole: Put all your favorites into one dish. Easy peasy.
—Cranberry brie turkey melts: Another sandwich, but one worth waiting for. Add some brie to your cranberry and turkey sandwich, and you’ve got a melt-in-your-mouth meal.
—Thanksgiving egg rolls: Stuff all your favorite sides into a crispy egg roll wrapper, and serve with your leftover gravy as a dipping sauce.
—Turkey noodle soup: You’ve already got the main star for this dish, and it’s so easy to make. Before you throw out those bones, make yourself some turkey stock for this comforting soup.
—Turkey pot pie: A fun little twist on the chicken classic. Add in your fave leftovers, or any additional veggies.
—Fried mashed potato balls: Who knew you could make mashed potatoes even better? These make a perfect appetizer and can be whipped up in a half hour.
—Turkey enchiladas: At this point, you might be tired of the usual Thanksgiving dinner palate. Spice up your leftovers with this Mexican twist.
—Pumpkin pie s’mores: Who says you can’t put a slice of pie between graham crackers? Add a toasted marshmallow and some chocolate for the perfect after-dinner treat.
We hope this leftover inspiration will help you make the most out of your Thanksgiving meals. At OnSite Wellness LLC, health and wellness is our specialty. Incorporating a wellness program at your workplace can have massive benefits for your employees in managing their health. Contact us to learn more!
