Freeze: Turkey Meat
Good news: turkey meat is definitely freeze-able. You’ll need to remove the meat from the bones first. Slicing the meat will also help it to defrost evenly. You can eat the turkey with gravy as usual, but leftover turkey is quite versatile: it makes a great filling for casseroles, tacos and sandwiches. Get more ideas for turkey leftovers,
How long to freeze: up to two months
Pro tip: Pour a bit of gravy over the meat before freezing; it’ll add moisture.
Freeze: Turkey Carcass
Don’t just toss the picked-over bones and carcass: they’ll make a delicious, savory stock. If you can’t make stock within a couple days after cooking the turkey, freeze the carcass. Seal in a heavy duty freezer bag.
How long to freeze: Up to two months
Pro tip: You can use the same method as you would for chicken stock.
Freeze: Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes freeze well thanks to the heavy dose of cream and butter; potatoes made with broth won’t freeze as well. (There are a surprising number of ways to use them up.)
How long to freeze: up to one year
Pro tip: Freeze mashers in portions: dollop potatoes onto a baking sheet, freeze until solid and then seal in a bag. Alternatively, freeze potatoes in bulk in a quart container or freezer bag.
Freeze: Sweet Potatoes
Cooked sweet potatoes freeze very well, whether you’re freezing roasted potatoes or a casserole.
How long to freeze: Up to one year
Pro tip: Casserole toppings, like marshmallows or crumble, won’t freeze well. Simply add fresh toppings when reheating the sweet potatoes.
Freeze: Gravy
Made a delicious from-scratch gravy from pan drippings? Stash it in the freezer alongside your leftover turkey. Seal in the smallest possible airtight container.
How long to freeze: Up to four months
Pro tip: Flour-based gravies can freeze; milk-based gravies will separate when defrosted.
Freeze: Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is a breeze to freeze. Both homemade cranberry sauces and store-bought sauces—even canned—can be frozen. Get our best freezer-friendly cranberry sauce recipes.
How long to freeze: Up to two months
Pro tip: Leave some headspace in the jar, since cranberry sauce will expand during freezing.
Freeze: Some Types of Pie
Most types of pies freeze fairly well, especially those commonly enjoyed on Thanksgiving: apple, pecan and pumpkin. Defrost slowly in the refrigerator. Try one of our favorite pie recipes.
How long to freeze: Up to two months
Pro tip: The texture of the pie may change slightly. Light and fluffy pies, like chiffon or mousse, won’t freeze well.
Freeze: Stuffing
Stuffing is resilient! Go ahead and freeze leftovers in a tightly sealed bag. Get our best-kept secrets for homemade stuffing.
How long to freeze: Up to one month
Pro tip: After defrosting, toast the stuffing on a baking sheet to refresh the texture.
Don’t Freeze: Baked and Twice-Baked Potatoes
Nope, you can’t freeze baked potatoes, whether plain roasted or twice-baked and stuffed. Simply put, the texture won’t hold up in the freezer.
Don’t Freeze: Green Bean Casserole
Unfortunately, you can’t freeze this beloved dish. Cooked green beans don’t hold up to freezing, and the topping will lose crunch. Best to eat up the casserole within a few days. Here’s how long Thanksgiving leftovers keep in the fridge.
Don’t Freeze: Salad
Whether you made a simple mixed greens salad or an elaborate platter salad, those fresh veggies and fruits aren’t going to freeze well. Go ahead and eat them up before they go soggy!
The post 8 Thanksgiving Leftovers You Can Store in the Freezer and 3 You Can’t appeared first on Taste of Home.
Kelsey Rae Dimberg