The best part of Thanksgiving is arguably the leftovers that are left after everyone goes home after dinner. With proper planning, Thanksgiving dinner can provide meals for you and your family for days after the holiday. After all, some of these meals only get made one day a year; Thanksgiving. However, as delicious as these dishes can be, there is a shelf life that you need to adhere to so that you don't get sick from that leftover stuffing.
Turkey - Hopefully, you have a ton leftover for sandwiches and other dinners through the week You're only supposed to buy a pound per person but, most of us go overboard. And that's okay - cooked turkey can last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. If that isn't enough time, or you have a ton left, you can always freeze it.
Mashed Potatoes - Cooked potatoes can stay in the fridge for 3 to 5 days and it doesn't matter if they are mashed, steamed or boiled. While baked potatoes don't freeze well, mashed potatoes can be frozen for up to a year.
Gravy - Bad gravy can congeal, grow bacteria and make you very sick. Gravy doesn't last that long; only two days in the refrigerator. When you're reheating gravy, make sure that it comes to a boil to preserve it's quality. You can freeze gravy for up to four months.
Cranberry Sauce - Probably the biggest staple to Thanksgiving beside the turkey, cranberry sauce, whether homemade or canned, can last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. It can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Green Bean Casserole - This delicious dish can stay good in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Pie - Make sure to put the pie away! Apple, pecan, pumpkin or any other type of pie need to be put in the refrigerator to avoid bacteria from growing. Pie can last 3 to 4 days covered and refrigerated.
Roasted Carrots - Root vegetables like carrots and parsnips can survive up to three days in the refrigerator.
Stuffing - What's Thanksgiving without stuffing? Stuffing can last in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days. Make sure to remove the stuffing from the turkey before storing though.
Dinner Rolls - Don't store rolls, or any type of bread for that matter, in the fridge. The refrigerator can make bread go stale faster. Instead, store your bread on the counter. Bread is okay to eat until it grows mold, even if it's stale. If you don't plan on eating bread soon, it can be put in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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