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Thanksgiving may be over, but many Americans have plenty of turkey leftovers, casseroles of green beans, stuffings and pies.
What to do with them?
Americans throw billions of dollars worth of uneaten food every year – including $ 293 million just for the Thanksgiving turkey, according to government data. People should throw about 200 million pounds of turkey during the holidays, the Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit organization based in New York, said.
Look also: 5 delicious ways to reuse your Thanksgiving remnants without spending a lot of dough
However, all the remnants of Thanksgiving should not end up in the trash. Here's how long the Thanksgiving remnants last:
Turkey
Leftover turkey should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking to prevent bacteria from growing, according to Foodsafety.gov. The leftovers should be left in shallow containers in the refrigerator so that they cool more quickly, or in coolers with ice or frozen gel packets if they travel more than two hours. Remove the meat from the bones before refrigeration and do not leave stuffing inside the turkey.
The Thanksgiving turkey should not be eaten more than three or four days after the holidays, according to Foodsafety.gov. To prolong the time, put the leftovers in the freezer, where they can last from two to six months.
According to Allrecipes.com, freezing the turkey with sauce will keep it moist, although foods tend to lose their flavor and texture after long periods in the freezer.
The sides
• According to Stilltasty.com, an online guide to shelf life, homemade sauce can be left in the fridge for one to two days, or two to three months in the freezer.
• Cranberry sauce is good for 10 to 14 days in the fridge and one to two months in the freezer.
• Cooked stuffing may stay in the refrigerator for three to four days, or one month in the freezer.
• Potato mash, yams and green bean pans can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days, or in the freezer for 10 to 12 months.
• Soft crust bread can stay in the pantry for four to five days, or two to three months in the freezer. Hard bread is only suitable for one to two days in the larder, but also for two to three months in the freezer.
• Leftovers can be reheated and cooled several times four days after initial cooking, according to Allrecipes. They will lose moisture, but this can be corrected by mixing occasionally in broth or water during the reheating process.
Look also: Take-out food that you should not keep – and the ones that last the longest
The desserts
According to Stilltasty.com, a baked pumpkin pie can be left in the fridge for three to four days, or one to two months in the freezer. Baked apple pies can remain in the pantry for up to two days and then two to three days after the pantry. They are also good for one to two months in the freezer.
How to pack leftovers
Freeze sides in airtight freezer containers and plastic bags. The turkey can be wrapped in paper or freezer paper and then sealed in plastic bags for freezing, suggests Food Network. Soups and gravies expand when frozen, so leave space above the freezer. Foods should not reach room temperature before storing – and can even go directly to the freezer, according to the Food Network.
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