Even though your Thanksgiving dinner may be smaller this year due to COVID-19, it’s still important to keep your leftovers safely stored in the fridge or freezer afterwards.
Remember that leftovers should be stored within two hours of cooking. Divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze them in covered shallow containers so they cool quickly. A large container or whole turkey will take too long to cool down to a safe temperature, which gives bacteria a chance to multiply. So divide your turkey into smaller portions to ensure quick cooling in the refrigerator.
Also leftovers should be placed in the refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible, even if they still have steam or heat coming off of them. Do not cool to room temperature first.
Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. After four days, spoilage bacteria can cause food to develop a bad smell or taste. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later. And it is best to freeze leftovers sooner than four days for best quality; and use within 2-6 months.
Reheat sauces, soups and gravies by bringing them to a rolling boil. When reheating in the microwave, cover and rotate the food for even heating. Arrange food items evenly in a covered microwave-safe glass or ceramic dish and add some liquid if needed. Be sure the covering is microwave safe, and vent the lid or wrap to let the steam escape. The moist heat that is created will help destroy harmful bacteria and will ensure uniform cooking. Also, because microwaves have cold spots, check the temperature of the food in several places with a food thermometer and allow a resting time before checking the internal temperature of the food with a food thermometer.
It is safe to reheat frozen leftovers without thawing, either in a saucepan or microwave (in the case of a soup or stew) or in the oven or microwave (for example, casseroles and one-pot meals). Reheating will take longer than if the food is thawed first, but it is safe to do when time is short. When reheating leftovers, be sure they reach 165°F, as measured with a food thermometer. Cover leftovers to reheat. This retains moisture and ensures that food will heat all the way through.
If you have additional questions about using your leftovers safely, you can call the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or chat live with a food safety specialist at AskKaren.gov available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, in English or Spanish.
The USDA also has a handy app, which triggers reminders to your smartphone or tablet called the FoodKeeper app. The app also includes storage guidelines for more than 600 food and drink items, tips for safe food preparation, and food product recalls, which were recently integrated into the app.
Article released November 23, 2020
