Your vacation dinner’s achieved, company have gone house…and also you’re left with a fridge stuffed with meals. It may be handy and comforting to take pleasure in a repeat meal the next day. However over the weekend, you may surprise: what are you able to do with Thanksgiving leftovers–apart from having the identical outdated plate of turkey and stuffing once more?
We’ve collected a number of the greatest vacation leftover concepts that can assist you flip what’s left of your feast into new and thrilling meals the entire household will love. However first, let’s cowl just a few key factors that’ll show you how to take pleasure in them safely.
Meals security for Thanksgiving leftovers
To make sure your leftovers keep recent and scrumptious, it’s essential to retailer them correctly.
For starters, it is best to refrigerate or freeze sure meals inside two hours of cooking or serving–or inside one hour in the event that they’ve been uncovered to temperatures above 90°F. These meals embody:
Meat
Poultry
Seafood
Eggs
Reduce fruit
Cooked rice
Different perishable gadgets
For optimum freshness, ensure your fridge temperature is ready to 40°F or beneath. And preserve your freezer at or beneath 0°F.
When to toss Thanksgiving leftovers
In line with USDA tips, cooked turkey is greatest consumed inside three or 4 days when saved at or beneath 40°F. Bear in mind, refrigeration solely slows down bacterial development; it doesn’t halt it utterly. So consuming or freezing leftovers shortly is essential for each security and style.
In the event you’ve frozen additional parts, there are two primary strategies to thaw them: within the fridge, utilizing chilly water, or within the microwave oven. Thawing within the fridge is the most secure strategy, although it could take longer.
As soon as thawed, if you happen to’re not going to complete the leftovers inside 3 to 4 days, they are often safely refrozen.
The best way to reheat your leftovers correctly
When reheating your Thanksgiving leftovers, use a meals thermometer to ensure they attain an inner temperature of 165° F.
For sauces, soups, and gravies, convey them to a rolling boil. And all the time cowl leftovers throughout reheating to forestall moisture loss and guarantee even heating.
Now, with the following tips in thoughts, let’s dive into some scrumptious recipes.
Greatest Thanksgiving leftover concepts
Cranberry salsa turkey wraps
Remodel your leftover turkey into these tantalizing and wholesome wraps. Utilizing a mix of candy and spicy cranberry salsa, tender turkey, and cream cheese, this recipe will redefine your loved ones’s expectation of post-Thanksgiving meals. see recipe
Southwestern turkey bake
This turkey bake is an ideal resolution for these questioning what to do with leftover poultry. Infused with spicy jalapeños, spinach, and bitter cream, this flavorful dish is bound to fulfill each adults and youngsters alike. see recipe
Glazed cranberry candy potato bread
This moist bread makes use of two Thanksgiving staples: mashed candy potatoes and cranberries. Topped with a scrumptious orange glaze, it’s a candy deal with that completely captures the essence of the vacation season.
Spicy turkey quesadillas
This twist on a Mexican traditional makes use of inexperienced chiles so as to add a vigorous kick to cranberries and turkey. The daring flavors are fantastically balanced with easy cream cheese, making a meal that’s distinctive, flavorful, and straightforward to make. see recipe
Thanksgiving leftover casserole
This casserole delightfully fuses all of Thanksgiving’s quintessential flavors: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. You may make it your personal, including cheese and your alternative of greens, if desired, to rework vacation classics into one mouthwatering dish. see recipe
One other scrumptious Thanksgiving leftover casserole
This casserole provides a barely completely different, nonetheless inventive approach to make use of up leftover turkey, stuffing, inexperienced beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy in a casserole. The addition of cheese brings all of the wealthy flavors collectively, creating a tasty dish you gained’t have the ability to withstand. see recipe
Turkey Hash This recipe will develop into a brand new favourite for coveted vacation leftovers. Utilizing turkey, dressing/stuffing, and gravy mixed with some recent new elements and a few crunch, this hash is solely irresistible. see recipe
Leftover turkey soup
This nutritious, veggie-packed soup is a superb approach to make use of up each the meat and bones of leftover roast turkey. It’s additionally grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free, so anybody on a particular food plan can take pleasure in it, too. see recipe
Thanksgiving leftovers stuffed acorn squash
This dish masterfully combines all of your favourite Thanksgiving parts in a novel and delicious approach. Full of cranberries, stuffing, turkey, and a medley of greens, these stuffed squashes are one of many healthiest and most scrumptious methods to make use of up your leftovers. see recipe
Turkey pot pie
Give your Thanksgiving leftovers a makeover with this pot pie recipe. Utilizing turkey, veggies, recent herbs, and a flaky, buttery crust, this dish is so inviting you’ll need to eat it on daily basis. see recipe
Wild rice soup
Craving a comforting but gentle meal after your vacation feast? Look no additional than this wholesome soup. It combines whole-grain wild rice, turkey, and quite a lot of antioxidant-rich greens in a scrumptious, creamy base. see recipe
With these recipes in hand, you’ll by no means be at a loss for what to make with Thanksgiving leftovers once more. Have enjoyable cooking up these scrumptious meals and savoring them along with your family members. Right here’s to extending the vacation cheer!
References:
Meals Security for the Holidays | CDC.
How lengthy will cooked meals keep protected within the fridge?.
Pure antioxidants from some fruits, seeds, meals, pure merchandise, and related well being advantages: An replace – PMC
The entire antioxidant content material of greater than 3100 meals, drinks, spices, herbs and dietary supplements used worldwide | Diet Journal
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