How Long Will Christmas Leftovers Stay Good? 12 Recipes To Use Them Up

ACROSS AMERICA — Food safety experts say leftovers last four days, tops, when properly refrigerated. That means you need recipes at the ready to use up the turkey, ham or prime rib that graced your holiday table before they go bad.

It’s not just meats. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that once they’re prepared, cooked potatoes and other vegetables should also be used within four days.

You do want to keep your leftovers out of the landfill. Some 44 million Americans don’t have enough to eat. At the same, Americans throw away 54 million tons of food every year.

You could just repeat the holiday meal until it’s gone. But you can also transform leftovers into something amazing without a lot of work or extra ingredients, many of which are probably in your pantry or cupboard.

Breakfast And Brunch

Leftover Turkey And Stuffing Croquettes: These are simple to make with about equal amounts of turkey and stuffing, an egg to bind the mixture and, if you want to add more flavorings than the stuffing already has, shallots, parsley, sage, thyme, green onions or chives. Serve it with a dollop of leftover cranberry sauce. Get the recipe from Just A Little Bit of Bacon.

Sweet Potato Pancakes: This recipe uses leftover mashed sweet potatoes (if you baked them like a potato, just mix up this mashed sweet potato recipe). You’ll also need sour cream, milk, an egg, maple syrup, butter, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Get the recipe from Serious Eats.

Ham and Cheese Mashed Potato Cakes: These cakes use leftover mashed potatoes, ham (if it’s glazed, all the better), shredded cheese, minced chives, eggs, flour, canola oil and fresh cracked black pepper. The recipe works with leftover turkey or roasted chicken, too. The cakes can be frozen as well. Get the recipe from Will Cook for Smiles.

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Sandwiches And Charcuterie

Turkey Cranberry and Grilled Brie Sandwich: You may be tempted to keep the ingredients on hand so you can enjoy this sandwich at any time. You’ll need cranberry walnut bread, brie, turkey, cranberry sauce, avocado and butter. Get the recipe from Foodie Crush.

Turkey Reuben Sandwich: Besides leftover turkey, you’ll need turkey or chicken stock (or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock), sauerkraut, store-bought or homemade cranberry sauce, unsalted butter, rye bread and Swiss cheese. For the Russian dressing, you’ll need mayonnaise, ketchup, turkey gravy, chopped dill pickles or dill pickle relish, prepared horseradish, lemon juice, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Get the recipe from Serious Eats.

Turkey, Bacon and Cheese Monte Cristo: This recipe calls for white bread, but not one has an open, holey crumb, such as sourdough. Besides leftover turkey, you’ll need eggs, milk, bacon, Emmental or Maasdam cheese, Lingonberry jam, and salt and pepper. Get food writer Nic Miller’s recipe on Substack.

Charcuterie Board Mac-and-Cheese: One of the best things about the recipe is that it tastes different every time, depending on what bits of cheeses — cheddar, Swiss, Gorgonzola, chèvre, you name it — you have left over. Don’t leave out the salami, prosciutto and sausage, or even the pickles and olives. You’ll need macaroni, heavy cream and your charcuterie leftovers. Get the recipe from The Lemon Apron.

Soups And Main Dishes

Old-Fashioned Ham and Bean Soup: This hearty winter soup uses leftover ham bone and diced ham, along with relish tray staples like carrots and celery. You’ll also need a can of cannellini beans, onion, garlic and dried Italian seasoning, cumin, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. Get the recipe from Kitchen Divas.

Beef Wild Rice Soup: This hearty soup freezes well, so it can be enjoyed later. Use leftover roast beef or flank steak; vegetables such as mushrooms, onion, carrots, celery and garlic; tomato paste; beef broth; wild rice; heavy cream; salt and pepper; and parsley (optional for garnish). Get the recipe from Ahead of Thyme.

Leftover Turkey Curry: The spice levels are mild in this recipe to make it more appealing to kids. You’ll need onion, garlic, ginger curry paste, canned tomatoes, coconut milk and chickpeas. Serve it with rice, leftover vegetables and naan. Get the recipe from My Fussy Eater.

Best Pepper Steak: If prime rib makes it to your holiday table, there are bound to be leftovers. This stir-fry recipe served over rice also uses the leftover green and red bell pepper slices from the charcuterie board or relish tray. You’ll also need reduced-sodium soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, light brown sugar, cornstarch, vegetable oil, kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, garlic cloves and fresh ginger. Get the recipe from Delish.

A Sweet Afterthought

Eggnog Gingerbread Tiramisu: This is a showstopper holiday dessert that uses up the leftover eggnog and gingerbread cookies. You’ll also need heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, mascarpone, espresso or some other strong black coffee and light or dark rum. Whipped cream, unsweetened cocoa, chocolate sprinkles and gingerbread cookie crumbs are optional for decoration. Get the recipe from Also The Crumbs, Please.