If ever there was a time to maximize food, it's Christmas, but what do we do with all the leftovers? Do you know how to handle and store food in the best possible way to make it last as long as possible? Here are some great tips on how to reduce food waste after this year's sumptuous Christmas feast.
It's getting close, Christmas is almost here! The queues in the supermarkets are long and the shopping carts are overflowing. A lot of food often means a lot of leftovers. What do you do with all the leftovers from your wonderful Christmas feast? Here's a whole bunch of tips on what to do with all the leftovers and how to store them in the best way to get the longest possible shelf life.
- Refrigerate food as soon as possible
If you prepare food some time before Christmas, it is important to cool down the cooked food quickly and store it in the fridge or freezer. The same goes for any leftovers, refrigerate as soon as possible. Rapid cooling keeps food fresh for longer.
Keep in mind that putting hot food in the fridge raises the temperature in the fridge. This shortens the shelf life of all your refrigerated goods. Let your food cool down before putting it in the fridge. Use a cold water bath, put the food outside for a while or divide the food into smaller containers to speed up the cooling process at room temperature.
Cooked food often lasts for several days in the fridge. It is mainly the temperature in the fridge that determines the shelf life. The appropriate temperature in the fridge is 4°C, -18°C or lower in the freezer.
- Storing food properly
Do you know the best way to store your food? The Swedish National Food Agency has a great guide you can check out.
- Meat and fish should be refrigerated as soon as possible. They can also be frozen in an airtight container. Lean meat has a longer shelf life.
- Dairy products are stored in the refrigerator. Smell and taste before you throw away! Milk, cream and cooking fats can also be frozen, frozen cream cannot be whipped but can still be used in cooking.
- Raw eggs in the fridge can last several weeks beyond their expiry date. If the egg looks and smells as it should, it is safe to eat.
- Most vegetables and fruits do best in the cold. Some fruits can get frostbite and do better in a cool one, such as banana, pineapple, cucumber and eggplant. In the freezer, berries, fruits and vegetables last a year or more. Cut the fruit into pieces before freezing it.
- Bread is best kept at room temperature. Soft bread can also be frozen. Hard bread should be kept dry, as it can last almost indefinitely.
- Unopened jars and bottles of jam, stock, ketchup and the like can usually be stored at room temperature. Once opened, they may need to be stored in the refrigerator. Read the packaging for advice.
- Leftover food becomes new dishes
There are lots of great dishes to use leftovers for. How about a tasty risotto, a hot wok, or the home-made classic pyttipanna? Here are some suggested recipes for Christmas leftovers. Let your imagination run wild, leftovers are often really tasty!
Tips!
- Bits and pieces of goodies are easily transformed into a delicious pick-your-own meal.
- Use leftovers for an omelette, perfect for throwing in all sorts of things.
- Tired vegetables are great in a meat sauce, stew, gratin, pie or soup.
- The potatoes are very good to fry up in the following days.
- Most things can be frozen for a longer shelf life. Bacteria do not grow in the freezer, so it is not dangerous to eat food that has been in the freezer for a long time. However, fatty foods have a shorter shelf life as the fat can go rancid and taste bad after a long time.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a bunch of tasty meals and of course a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Source: National Food Agency
