Storing Leftovers - Howards Storage World

®
Guide for
Storing Leftovers
There’s nothing quite like Christmas Day leftovers, but how long should we be storing foods like our fresh leg
ham? Our helpful hints will have you enjoying your leftovers from Boxing Day and beyond, including a handy
guide at the end of the article.
Extend the life of your leftovers
Refrigerate or freeze leftovers as soon as possible after a mealtime. If heated food is not placed in the
fridge within two hours of mealtime, it’s no longer fresh and needs to be discarded.
Invest in quality airtight containers
Ensure your leftovers are stored within the coldest part of your fridge in an airtight container. For
convenience, consider a container system that’s microwave safe and includes a self-venting lid which is
ideal for reheating.
Suggested storers include*:*
Vacseal from $7.95
PLK0001
Flavia Vacuumsaver
Containers from $3.95
STE215011
Tellfresh 1.25L Meat
Storer $7.95
DCR140900
Tellfresh Vegetable
Storer Long $12.95
DCR001400
Rosti Cold Cuts 3 x .55L
Triple Storer $27.95
ALB106938
Rosti 2L Cheese Storer
$21.95
ALB106934
Snapware Airtight
Containers from $4.95
WKI1109976
© Copyright Howards Storage World, 2014.
®
The Leg Ham
Typically it’s the centerpiece of
any Christmas feast yet how long
it will last will, depends upon
how your ham is initially stored.
After glazing or serving your
ham, return it to the coldest part
of the fridge as soon as possible.
To extend the life of your Bone
in Leg Ham, keep the ham in
a Ham Bag or a damp tea towel in the fridge. Ideally soak the bag in a mix of 1 litre water to 2
tablespoons of white vinegar then squeeze out the excess liquid, leaving the bag damp. Repeat the
process every few days. With proper handling, a whole Christmas ham will keep for several weeks(1).
Leftover sliced ham can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days if wrapped in plastic or foil(2).
Poultry and Meat
Poultry, when not handled correctly, can be
deadly so make sure you store it quickly and
carefully; scoop the stuffing out of your turkey
chicken and store it in separate containers before
refrigerating. Roast beef or lamb is a little more
forgiving but, again, make sure you refrigerate it
as soon as possible to keep everyone’s stomach
happy and healthy. It should keep for 3-4 days.
or
Vegetables and Salad
If you’ve cooked a mountain of veggies or served
cold salads, both should be refrigerated and
ideally consumed within 4 days, although some
veggies, such as lettuce, will deteriorate quicker
than others. Cooked potatoes cope well in the
fridge but will only last 5-7 days. A great way
to use up all your cooked veggies is to create a
simple but impressive dish (such as bubble and
squeak!) for those guests who are having too
much fun to go home!
© Copyright Howards Storage World, 2014.
®
Recommended Refrigeration
Storage Temperature(3)
Food
Leftovers
Seafoods
Crustaceans and mollusks
Meat
Minced meat and offal
Cured Meat
Poultry
Fruit Juices
Milk
Cream
Cheese
Butter
Oil & Fat
Margarine
Chilled meats and meal components
Temperature ˚C
Time
0-3
0-3
0-3
0-3
0-3
0-3
0-3
0-7
1-7
1-7
0-7
0-7
2-7
2-7
0-3
3-5 days
3 days
2 days
3-5 days
2-3 days
2-3 weeks
3 days
7-14 days
5-7 days
5 days
Variable (1-3 months)
8 weeks
Variable (6 months)
Variable (6 months)
No longer than ‘use by’ date
Ref (1)(2) NSW Food Authority
Ref (3) CSIRO Handling Food in the Home – Refrigerator Guide
*Prices may change over time. Downloadable guide accurate as at October 2014.
© Copyright Howards Storage World, 2014.