Thanksgiving leftover tips

Whitney Bond, food blogger, cookbook author and creator of delicious recipes that go viral, shared not only her favorite ways to revamp Thanksgiving, but she also gave us some important instructions and helpful Thanksgiving leftover tips to get the most out of turkey day. 

5 Tips for Making the Most out of Leftovers

Whitney’s recipes–along with the old standbys–really standout with even just the smallest extra care taken to spruce up the leftover ingredients. Here are her tips for adding new life to yesterday’s main event:

1. Thanksgiving leftovers are safe in the refrigerator for 4 days. After that, they should be moved to the freezer.

2. Leftover roasted turkey, removed from the bone, can be frozen for 3-4 months.

3. Sprinkle a few fresh herbs on top of reheated leftovers to awaken the flavors in the dish.

4. Add a little turkey broth to leftover stuffing when reheating to keep it moist.

5. To prevent mashed potatoes from drying out, add cream and butter when reheating.

How to Store Food Properly

Whitney Bond walks us through the best ways to pack up the Thanksgiving table and store everything safely (until we made that first turkey sandwich, or preferably, that first turkey tostada).

1. Use airtight, leakproof clear containers. Whitney picked up her “I heart leftovers” Pyrex at Target. Divide the leftovers into several small, flat containers instead of one big one so the contents cool faster. 

2. Refrigerate within two hours of cooking. Some bacteria spores survive the cooking process and may germinate if the food is left at room temperature for long periods of time. So before you sit and chat, clear and store.

3. Don’t save cranberry sauce—or any other foods from a can. Whatever isn’t eaten should be thrown away since residual metal on the can’s rim could leach into food and leave a metallic taste behind.

Read more about Whitney Bond’s innovative approach to Thanksgiving leftovers, and check out her recipes here.