Leftovers are either loved or hated. But leftovers can save you meal prep time when you need a meal in a hurry. So what are the options for saving leftovers?
- If perishable foods have been left at room temperature (above 40°F) for more than two hours, they should not be saved. Best practice is to refrigerate leftovers within two hours and use or freeze the leftovers within four days time.
- Many foods can be frozen for later use. Divide into small portions and package in freezer safe packaging such as freezer bags or plastic containers designated for the freezer. Remove as much air as possible for best results. Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or reheat in the microwave for a quick meal.
- There are no recommendations to home can leftovers. No safe tested process has ever been developed for this type of canned food. The heat processing can greatly decrease the quality also. As a reminder, there are no safe canning methods for re-canning larger containers of canned food. Learn more at https://nchfp.uga.edu/faqs/miscellaneous-questions/category/faq-canning.
