Apart from a memorable re-union, cherished moments, precious memories and a satisfyingly full stomach there is something else the Christmas leaves behind - The glorious leftovers from the dinner table! Well it is a fact; where you have to clean up and gather all the decorations and wrappers around the house, the Christmas leftovers can prominently be seen on "To Do List" after feasting.
We must all admit that every year we have to deal with piles of leftovers from the Christmas lunch or dinner. As confusing as it may sound but the question is: How to use the leftovers practically? -Throw it away? While that might be the easiest way for a few people but a few imaginative steps can turn your leftovers into some wonderful snacks for the coming days.
Storing The Leftovers
There are several ways of transforming the leftovers into something creative and tasty, but before turning to that we must keep in mind how to store the leftovers in order to use them safely.
Refrigerate quickly:
Do not leave the food on the table for long after the lunch or dinner. It is always good to refrigerate the leftovers within 2 hours after the dinner.
Store separately:
Categorize the food and store in small clean containers, for instance, place the turkey in one container and the leftover stuffing in another container. Similarly store the different vegetables separately.
Cover properly:
Sauces, gravies and dips especially need to be covered and stored in airtight containers. Make sure you have plenty of containers and foil at hand.
One week limit:
It is advisable to use the leftovers that have been lying in the fridge within one week. Preferably within 3 to 4 days after Christmas. However, the frozen food can be utilized safely even after a week.
Pre-heat the leftovers:
It is always safer to pre heat the refrigerated or frozen leftovers before use. It not only serves the purposes of safety but also gives the leftovers a fresh taste.
