How do I freeze unopened food or leftovers?
Freezing unopened food must take place before the use-by date. Always be sure to thaw your meat well before cooking – you can do this either by letting it sit in a bowl in the fridge overnight, or in the microwave, if you need to cook it right away.
When it comes to freezing Christmas leftovers, it can ensure the food lasts more than 48 hours in a safe-to-eat state. Almost any type of food can be frozen – including your leftover Christmas turkey, ham, goose, or any other meat you ate during Christmas dinner.
You should divide leftovers into individual servings before freezing them – you should not refreeze them after thawing, or you risk getting food poisoning. This way, you won’t waste the food you don’t eat.
To freeze leftovers safely, wrap your meat in a freezer bag, date it, and label it so you know how long you need to eat it. Even frozen meat should be eaten within three to six months – although this is more about quality than safety, according to NHS guidelines. After thawing, eat your selected meat within 24 hours.
What should I do with leftover Christmas tarts and puddings?
Steve James is a Certified Environmental Health Services Consultant and advises that Christmas puddings keep well and the flavors even improve. James says there’s no concrete answer as to how long you can safely store them, as it depends on the contents of the pudding.
“Any pudding using fresh fruit for moisture will go out quicker, while Christmas pudding soaked in alcohol with high sugar content and dried fruit will last much longer – some can be eaten two years after being prepared.”
What about canapes, starters and bites?
James says, again, it depends. He advises that lunch meats don’t last as long, while smoked salmon can be refrigerated for two to three weeks, or a week after opening. “It’s best to keep it in the original packaging or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.” Cooked ham will keep for three to four days in the refrigerator.
He goes on to say that once opened, a hard cheese like Parmesan or Cheddar is safe to eat for up to six weeks. A semi-hard cheese, such as Gruyere or Gouda, can last up to three weeks.
To store your cheese safely, wrap it loosely in parchment paper inside a food storage bag, so air can circulate and prevent it from drying out. “Soft cheeses hold more moisture so don’t last as long, but up to two weeks should be enough.”
The NHS says the cheese is safe to freeze and eat – although flavor and texture may change, especially with soft cheeses.
This article was updated for Christmas 2021.
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Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-12-24 15:53:06
