Bottom Line: Safely store your holiday leftovers

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - For many, November and December are packed with fabulous family meals and the leftovers from those meals, but this time of year can also be peak season for food poisoning.

Te experts at Consumer Reports have tips to store your favorite leftovers safely this holiday season!

What’s the “second-best” holiday meal? Those leftovers obviously!

Consumer Reports says you can keep your favorite holiday foods safe and tasty beyond that one joyous meal by following some tips from CR’s food and health experts.

“Food-borne illness-causing bacteria can grow on our favorite leftovers in just a few minutes so you really need to get everything refrigerated within two hours, said Paul Hope, Consumer Reports.

When it’s time to clear the table and pack up leftovers ―instead of putting the whole dish in the fridge it’s better to separate food into smaller portions to help speed up cooling.

Also, make sure to use storage containers that are tight enough to keep air out.

CR looked at silicone bags that you can wash and reuse. These W&P Porter Bags are dishwasher safe and take up very little storage space.

CR says to take a look around your home and reuse those Mason jars and other food-safe containers before you buy more stuff.

“If you want to freeze some of your favorite foods, the best thing you can do is get all of the air out. For me, there’s nothing better at that than a vacuum sealer. You can actually fit more food into the freezer but you can also extend the life of frozen food up to a year or two instead of just a few months,” said Hope

And if you’re not going to eat it within three to four days, freeze it.\

Hamilton Beach NutriFresh is easy to use.

It was also one of the fastest vacuum sealers CR tested ―which you’ll appreciate if you’re sealing multiple bags of food.

One thing you don’t have to worry about - fruit pies. These can be stored loosely covered on the counter if you’re planning to eat them in one or two days.

But put that pumpkin pie or any other egg-based or custard pie in the fridge.

That is― if there’s any left.

Consumer Reports TV News” is published by Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports is a not-for-profit organization that does not accept advertising and does not have any commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site.

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