Thanksgiving is such a festive event. It’s about celebrating with your families and friends and stuffing ourselves with the best home-cooked meals.
Speaking of food, you can expect tons of leftovers after Thanksgiving. So the question now is, how are you going to freeze it? How can you ensure that the food will be safe in the days to come?
Don’t worry. We’ve got some tips for you.
On another note, your home might get dirty after the Thanksgiving party, which could be a bad sight. Let our team from Helping Hands help you clean your house.
General Tips When Storing Food After Thanksgiving
You should store your leftovers within two hours of cooking. We recommend dividing the leftovers into smaller portions so you can refrigerate and freeze them in smaller containers.
As a rule of thumb, don’t stack the containers because they can trap the heat. When you do this, it might take longer to cool the food, and it gives bacteria a faster chance to multiply.
Here’s a revelation. Do you wait for your food to reach room temperature before placing it in the freezer? You shouldn’t. According to experts, you must freeze the food as soon as possible, even if it’s hot.
How Long Should Your Turkey Stay in the Refrigerator or Freezer?
Of course, we have to talk about the turkey. It’s the main attraction.
Let’s just say you have this huge turkey that you can’t finish. After slicing it into smaller portions, you can either keep it in the refrigerator or freezer.
If you plan to place it in the refrigerator, you still have three to four days to consume it. On the other hand, placing it in a freezer means you can still enjoy your turkey within two to six months. That’s a huge difference!
How Should You Reheat Foods After Thanksgiving?
You don’t have to thaw your leftovers before you reheat your food. You can do it either in a microwave or a saucepan. Ensure to cover the leftovers when reheating so they can retain moisture, and the food will be hot all the way through.
More Tips When Freezing Leftovers from Thanksgiving
Here are more techniques to keep your Thanksgiving food safe in the coming days.
Make room in your refrigerator and freezer ahead of time.
Instead of doing it after dinner, prepare your freezer a few days before Thanksgiving. By making room in advance, you can finish packing your leftovers faster.
If you have condiments or cheese, consume it a week before. There are plenty of recipes you can look at online, and it’s about time to practice your kitchen skills using what you have in the refrigerator.
Get freezer-safe containers and freezer bags
Since you’re probably going to do your grocery shopping for Thanksgiving, don’t forget the freezer containers or bags. Put these out before your dinner so you can easily put the leftovers. Have the lids ready so others can help you out right away.
Don’t Forget Plastic Pie Storage Containers
If you have leftover pies, save them in plastic pie storage containers. You can stack them, and at least you won’t have to worry about your pies getting crushed. You can still enjoy it in its best shape—literally.
Best Foods to Freeze After a Thanksgiving
If you don’t have a menu yet for the upcoming celebration, here’s a list of foods that will still do well even after Thanksgiving.
Turkey Meat and Bones
Just make sure to remove the meat from the bones. You can even pour the gravy before freezing to add moisture. Turkey is quite versatile and you can make tacos and sandwiches. As for the bones, you can make turkey stock.
Mashed Potatoes
Another great food to freeze is mashed potato, which you can keep for a year. If you plan to reheat it in the microwave, toss milk and butter after to get that amazing taste and texture.
Pumpkin and Pecan Pie
When you freeze the pie, you will notice that the texture will change a bit. Defrost it first in the refrigerator, and a quick time in the microwave should give out the same flavors. You can freeze pumpkin and pecan pie for two months.
Soup
Did you know that soup is the original freezer food? The good news is most soups will freeze well and can last for three to six months.
If your soap has starchy fillings, we don’t recommend freezing it.
Helping Hands to Make Your Kitchen Clean Once Again
Helping Hands Cleaning Services can do the tough job for you. Our experts are highly trained to clean your kitchen even after a busy Thanksgiving celebration. Just reach out to us, and we’ll provide our best housekeepers for your cleaning needs.
Give us a ring at (630) 530-1324 or email us at info@helpinghandsmaidservices.com