Did you know that leftover food actually has a definition? Coming from a Rutgers Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet leftover foods are defined as, “Cooked foods that you or your family do not eat within 2 hours after they are cooked.” I guess after the 2-hour mark, the term changes to waste or trash, as the chance of food poisoning increases greatly and the food should be discarded.
Do you ever purposely push that 2 hour time limit because you dread having leftovers? Well, maybe you don’t push the limit, but you really don’t want to eat that dinner again for lunch the next day, nor do you want to waste it. Rather than forcing yourself to eat leftovers, the trick is finding a way to spice it up a bit, change it around a little and enjoy the second go at it. The overall key is to experiment, so read on for some suggestions to incorporate into your kitchen!
This one is simple: Leftovers for breakfast. You either love it or you hate it. There is something about having your dinner for breakfast that makes it taste different already! It makes breakfast simple. The food should already contain what you are looking for to start your day with a whole grain, lean protein, healthy fat and fruit or vegetable. It may already be stored in a to-go container or easy to reheat quickly and make a great breakfast. This could be a great solution for people who don’t like “breakfast” foods.
Change it up with fruits, veggies, herbs or spices. Add brown rice or grilled chicken to the next day’s salad, sandwich or wrap. Make a stir-fry the next day- just get the veggies and add the leftovers! Add pineapple, mango, salsa, fresh basil, and cilantro to create a new taste.
If you have left over vegetables, turkey, chicken or pasta- try making a pot-pie, stew or soup.
For leftover tortillas or pita: cut into wedges, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with basil, oregano, cilantro or cinnamon for homemade chips.
Use leftover rice for soups, stuffing, casseroles or rice pudding. Use cut-up vegetables (a lot of them!), some cubed cheese, and light Balsamic or Italian dressing with last night’s pasta for pasta salad.
If you have overripe or too much fruit: Freeze them and make them into a smoothie.
With leftover deli turkey from a party, try a variation the next day like fresh basil, sliced mozzarella, rolled in a turkey slice. It adds a new twist and taste.
And a simple party solution: All your guest must leave with a plate of food!
To wrap this up, while writing this article I had flashbacks of my old roommates and their food handling tactics. YIKES! All too often dinner would be left on the stove or on their plates, to be eaten the next day! How they didn’t get severely sick is beyond me. With that being said, below are some reminders on how to safely keep your leftovers:
- All cooked foods should be reheated to 165º F, refrigerated, or frozen within 2 hours after cooking. The time may be cut in half with hot weather.
- Keep your refrigerator set to 30-40 º F and your freezer below 0 ºF.
- For a safe bet, never keep refrigerated leftovers more than 4 days. Date the container you are using to store the leftover food. Eat frozen leftovers within a reasonable amount of time.
- Don’t taste questionable leftovers! Just toss them out.
- Use containers less than 3 inches in height. The shallow storage will help to ensure even cooling. In bigger containers the food in the middle cools slower, creating an increased risk for bacteria growth.
- Always wash your hands and use clean utensils when handling food. Store leftovers in clean containers, and be sure it does not go into the same container that was used before cooked.
- Be sure to reheat the food thoroughly to a temperature of 165 °F or until hot and steaming. Soups and gravies should be brought to a rolling boil.
Maximize your food and money – enjoy several different meals out of your one!
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