National Leftovers Day

In the US, more than $132 billion was spent on food in November of 2020.[1]

For many Americans, the Thanksgiving feast is only half of the celebration, because the Friday after evokes deeper feelings of comfort and joy!

Cracking open the container of leftover mashed potatoes and sitting down on the couch to enjoy some rest and relaxation, is how many will celebrate National Leftovers Day, on Friday, November 26, 2021.

You, too, can join in the celebration by safely storing the leftover food from your Thanksgiving meal.

Time

Leftovers should be stored within two hours of cooking and consumed within 4 days if refrigerated or 6 months if frozen.

Temperature

Store your food, especially meat and dairy, in small, shallow containers. Put them in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible. The goal is to cool food to a safe temperature, quickly.

Control

Learn more about food storage by visiting the USDA FoodKeeper. https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep-food-safe/foodkeeper-app

Visit

To learn about local resources, or to check out a quick reference food storage guide, visit: https://www.WastedFoodStopsWithUs.org/

[1] (US Department of Agriculture, 2021)