It doesn’t matter how well you plan your Christmas Day meal, there’s always going to be leftovers to enjoy in the days to come.
While no one is ever going to upset by tasty turkey leftovers, its important to make sure the excess food is stored properly and that it’s not left for too long before you tuck in – because you definitely don’t want food poisoning!
Here’s a helpful guide on how long you can freeze leftovers safely and some smart ways to make use of the food, instead of storing it too long and letting it go to waste.
How long cooked turkey lasts and how to store leftovers safely
As much as you'd like to store your leftovers for days, the NHS has warned that you actually haven't gotten as you might think to indulge in them. Cooked turkey, once refrigerated, should be eaten within two days.
Of course, sometimes you may not be able to finish it all in two days. In which case, you can freeze these festive leftovers to avoid wasting them, but be careful to ensure that you do this no later than the second day of them being in the fridge.
If it's frozen, your turkey can be safe to eat for between two to six months, as long as you fully defrost it before eating it
According to the NHS, here are the rules to follow when it comes to leftovers :
Cool leftovers as quickly as possible, ideally within two hours
Divide leftovers into individual portions and refrigerate or freeze
Anything refrigerated should be used within two days
When reheating food, make sure it is heated until it reaches a temperature of 70C for two minutes, so it is steaming hot throughout
Always defrost leftovers completely, either in the fridge or microwave
The defrosted food should be reheated only once, because the more times you cool and reheat food, the higher the risk of food poisoning
Any cooked food that has been frozen and removed from the freezer should be reheated and eaten within 24 hours of fully defrosting
Foods stored in the freezer, such as ice cream and frozen desserts, should not be returned to the freezer once they have thawed
What can I do with leftover turkey?
From making curries to Christmas sandwiches, there's so much you can do with leftover turkey to finish it off quicker.
You can use your leftover turkey to make a pie. Mix it with ham, add it to some ready-made puff pastry and bake.
Another option is to serve it with leftover mash, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, gravy for a warm, homely dish. You can also never go wrong with a flavourful turkey curry.
If you prefer something lighter, add your turkey leftovers into a salad or use it in pitta or flatbread with some feta or hummus.
