Taking care of those leftovers

After Thanksgiving is over you’ll be faced with the task of what to do with all those leftovers. While most people enjoy “Encore Presentations” for a day or two after the big meal, it is recommended that food be eaten, frozen, or thrown away on day four. Food is expensive. Here are the steps to assure food will be safe to eat after your holiday meal.

Refrigerate Promptly. Perishable foods must be refrigerated within two hours of the total time they have been at room temperature to reduce the growth of possible foodborne illnesses. Perishable foods include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, dairy products, pasta, rice, cooked vegetables, fresh, peeled and/or cut fruits and vegetables. Basically, all Thanksgiving foods.

Cool foods “slightly” before putting in the refrigerator. To help foods cool quickly and to slow bacteria growth, place leftovers in a shallow dish no more than 2 inches deep. This will allow cold air to circulate around the dish. Allow to cool at room temperature for about 20 minutes before refrigeration. While most foods placed in serving dishes will be cool after the meal, those left in crock pots or on heating pads may not. It is especially important to divide those foods into the shallow dishes before storing in the refrigerator.

Store properly in the refrigerator. Holidays typically have a lot of leftover foods. Avoid “stuffing” your refrigerator! Stacking food containers may not allow enough air circulation to cool the foods properly. If needed, consider placing some leftovers in the freezer to enjoy later.

Use the right tools for freezing foods. Use “freezer” bags not “storage” bags for storing food in the freezer. Freezer bags are thicker than storage bags and will keep food fresh longer. Speed freezing and hasten thawing by freezing foods in a thin, flattened shape in the freezer bags. A rounded shape takes longer to thaw through the middle. Flatter packages will stack better. If you are concerned about potential leakage from not having a proper seal, place the bag on a cookie sheet. Once frozen, you can remove the cookie sheet. Do not stack freezer bags until they are frozen.

Label foods. How many times have you pulled something from the freezer and asked, “What is this?” To avoid mystery meats and foods of unknown age and possible origin, label foods using freezer tape, freezer labels or permanent marking pens to identify the food before putting it in the freezer. Be sure to put the name of the food, packaging date, number of servings or amount, and any additional information, such as sliced, chopped, etc., and any special ingredients.

Thaw and cook frozen foods. DO NOT thaw perishable foods at room temperature. If perishable foods are left at room temperature too long, bacteria may grow and cause a food-borne illness. Cooking may not destroy these toxins. It is best to plan ahead and thaw in the refrigerator. Most foods will take 24 hours to thaw in the refrigerator depending on the amount. If you think the packaging may leak, be sure to place a plate or pan underneath.

Use the microwave to thaw. The microwave can be a great tool for quick thawing of frozen foods. However, these foods must be reheated properly. Microwave-thawed foods reach temperatures that encourage bacterial growth. Cook immediately to kill any bacteria that may have developed and to prevent further bacterial growth. You may remove the food from the freezer bag and transfer to a microwave safe container before thawing. Check the freezer storage bag container to see if they are microwave safe.

Visiting with relatives and friends, watching the parade or games, and eating the Thanksgiving meal all create fond memories. Take steps to avoid an unwanted guest – foodborne illness.

If you would like a fact sheet on how long food will last in the freezer, contact the Saline County Cooperative Extension Service at 501-303-5672 or visit our office located in Benton at 1605 Edison Avenue, St. 15. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.