How to Store Easter Leftovers
Baked ham and scalloped potatoes. Cookies and fresh rhubarb pie. The only thing better than the Easter meal itself is feasting on the ham sandwiches the next day!
To make the most of your leftovers, you’ve first got to ensure that they’re being kept in a safe storage environment. Most Easter leftovers will stay fresh and tasty for at least a few days in the refrigerator and a month or more in the freezer.
Some general tips:
• Refrigerate ham, lamb, potatoes and other cooked dishes within 2 hours of serving.
• Carve meat off the bones before refrigerating.
• Divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze in covered shallow containers for quicker cooling.
Follow the guidelines below to enjoy the maximum taste from your Easter leftovers:
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STORAGE TIME
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Item
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Pantry
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Fridge
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Freezer*
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Tips
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• Ham — baked at home, leftovers
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3-4 days
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3-4 months
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Slice whole ham into smaller pieces before refrigerating.
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• Rack of lamb — cooked, leftovers
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3-4 days
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2-3 months
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Freeze in airtight containers or freezer bags, or wrap tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or freezer wrap.
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• Deviled eggs — homemade
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3-5 days
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Keep refrigerated in covered container. Doesn’t freeze well.
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• Cooked potatoes (including mashed and scalloped)
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3-5 days
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10-12 months
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Mashed potatoes freeze well; whole baked potatoes do not.
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• Cookies — homemade or bakery-purchased
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2-3 weeks
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5-7 days if frosting or filling contains eggs or dairy products
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8-12 months
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Refrigerate immediately any cookies that contain frosting or filling made with dairy products or eggs.
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• Rhubarb pie — baked
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2 days
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2-3 days after pantry storage
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1-2 months
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To freeze, wrap pie tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place in heavy-duty freezer bag.
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• Wine, red or white — opened bottle
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3-5 days
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1-2 months
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Freeze leftover wine for use in cooked dishes such as sauces and stews.
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• Bread — soft-crusted
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4 -5 days
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2-3 months
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Refrigerator storage is not recommended, as bread will quickly dry out and become stale — for longer-term storage, freeze bread instead.
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hard-crusted
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1 -2 days
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2-3 months
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*Freezer time shown is for best quality only — foods kept constantly frozen at 0° F will keep safe indefinitely.
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