You're storing Christmas leftovers wrong – simple mistakes make food go off

Many people think one of the best parts about Christmas eating is the leftovers.

From the cold meats to the vegetables to the puddings that keep our sweet teeth satisfied for days, there's just so much joy to be had when it comes to festive feasting.

But you actually need to be careful when it comes to your leftovers, as some food stays fresh for longer than others. If you don't pay attention, you could risk eating food that's actually gone off.

Last year, @disastersurvival_coach urged people to be cautious on TikTok by sharing some handy rules for people to follow. When it comes to meat, you need to be particularly careful.

But, how much truth is there behind what people say are the golden sell-by date rules? To help people out, we've broken down exactly how long you should be keeping your Christmas goodies for.

Lauren Allen, the founder of Tastes Better from Scratch, previously told Daily Star where people often go wrong when it comes to enjoying leftover holiday feasts. With there being many myths, it's time to set the record straight.

Turkey and other meats

Store any excess cooked turkey, ham, roast beef or other meats within two hours of serving. They need to be sliced from the bone and locked away in shallow, airtight containers.

According to the expert, they should stay fresh for three to four days, but you can also freeze them if you want to keep them for longer.

When it comes to turkey, ensure the thickest part of the meat reaches 165°F internally before refrigerating. Also, it's essential to separate stuffing from meat.

Vegetables

A lot of cooked vegetables like green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casseroles etc, will stay fresh in airtight containers. You can store them for three to four days in the fridge.

Meanwhile, leafy greens dwindle more quickly, so these should be used up within days. As long as they're not packed with ingredients like cream or butter, most veggie-based leftovers will also freeze well for one to three months.

Desserts

Anything rich like cakes, pies, custards or puddings should be eaten within a few days. Not to mention, they don’t freeze well either.

Classic holiday cookies, however, often freeze without any problems for up to six months. As well as this, you can freeze cookie dough to use later down the line.

The crucial step is allowing any hot food to fully cool before popping a cover over it, and putting it in the fridge. This helps to avoid moisture accumulation that can lead to bacteria growth.

Also, trust your nose. If anything smells bad during the reheating process then it’s best to discard it.