Got leftovers? Aren’t you lucky! How are you going to heat them up? Get these simple tips to reheat leftovers safely and keep them moist and delicious.
How to Reheat Leftovers
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Leftovers are a dream come true for busy people! How awesome is it when you can cook once, and then make more than one meal out of that food? No extra cooking, cleaning, or dishes! Hooray!
But… what’s the best way to reheat those leftovers? And what’s the safest way to keep everyone from getting sick? Let’s find out!
The Basics for Reheating Leftovers
Yes, it is safe to reheat leftovers. As long as you follow a few simple tips. First and foremost, make sure that leftovers are wrapped up and put away as soon as possible after the meal is over. Leftovers should not stay out longer than 2 hours. They should be tightly wrapped and stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them again.
When you are reheating leftovers, any food should be heated to at least 165 degrees F (73.8 degrees C). Use a meat thermometer to make sure you are getting your leftovers hot enough to kill any bacteria that might be present. An instant-read thermometer like this is great for microwave or stove-top use; a probe-style thermometer like this works well for the oven or a slow cooker.
And remember, all leftovers should be used, frozen, or thrown away after 3 days.
Reheat Leftovers in the Oven
The oven is great, if you have a larger portion of leftovers to reheat. The oven works well to reheat things like casseroles. Just be aware that leftovers dry out easily when they are reheated, especially in the oven. Keep the leftovers covered well with aluminum foil while they are in the oven.
Reheat Leftovers on the Stove
Soups, sauces, gravies, or anything else that is a liquid can be reheated on the stove. Put your leftovers in a saucepan, cover, and heat to a rolling boil. Of course, let it cool a bit before eating – you don’t need a burned mouth!
Reheat Leftovers in the Microwave
The microwave is so handy, especially if you’re heating up a plate of mixed leftovers after the holidays. Use a microwave-safe plate or bowl, and cover the food with plastic wrap or another microwave-safe covering (no aluminum foil in the microwave!). Leftovers can easily dry out in the microwave, so add a little liquid if needed, and make sure that cover is on tightly.
Reheat Leftovers in the Slow Cooker
You can also reheat leftovers in your slow cooker. This method works best for soup, chili, or other foods like that. Place the leftovers in the slow cooker, put the cover on, and heat on high (stirring occasionally), until the temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
What About Leftover Leftovers?
Do you have leftovers, even after you ate the leftovers? That’s great! (One less meal to cook!) Just wrap those up well, refrigerate within 2 hours of heating, and you can heat them up again later.
Enjoy!
Free Printable Refrigerator Inventory
This simple inventory sheet is so handy for keeping track of what leftovers you have hiding in the back of your refrigerator!
Ideas for Leftovers
Are you looking for something interesting to make with your leftovers? Try these ideas:
3 Ways to Take the Fear Out of Your Kitchen
- How Long Can You Keep Leftovers in the Refrigerator?
- What is Freezer Burn?
- How to Keep Hot Foods Hot
4 Recipes to Try
- Easy Turkey & Dumplings (featured in the photos!)
- Crockpot Chili
- Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
Kelly says
We just love your blog! Thanks for the tips and recipes, and thank you so much for sharing with us over at the Homestead Blog Hop last Wednesday. We hope to see more tomorrow.
Marybeth Feutz says
Thank you so much! I love seeing everything that is shared on Homestead Blog Hop!