The cost of a Christmas dinner is set to hit record-breaking highs this year, so experts are sharing ways to make the most of festive budgets and stretch leftovers.
The frugal team at MuscleFood.com have revealed six money-saving hacks to make the most of Christmas leftovers and cut down on food waste.
Every year UK households waste 4.5 million tonnes of food that could have been eaten, costing the average family £60 per month.
Many will be surprised to hear that festive favourites like mince pies, gravy, and even nuts can be frozen for later, and don’t need to be binned.
Other tips to make the most of leftovers include storing them in the dark and not leaving Christmas dinner out for longer than two hours.
Ashleigh Tosh, the frugal expert from MuscleFood.com, said: “For most people, food is the main event of Christmas day and it is easy to buy in excess with so many tempting treats lining the shopping isles.
“Leftovers don’t need to go to waste, especially while budgets are tight and the cost-of-living crisis is making dinners more expensive than ever, but it is important to know how to do it safely.
“We have revealed how to make the most of leftovers, including how to safely store them and the surprising ingredients that can be frozen.”
Six top tips for making Christmas leftovers stretch from MuscleFood.com :
- Stay safe
Most leftovers can be kept for three to four days in the refrigerator but should be frozen straight away if they won’t be eaten immediately. Store food either in the fridge or freezer promptly because leaving it out at unsafe temperatures can increase the risks of food poisoning, and it shouldn’t sit out for more than two hours as a general rule.
- Freeze
Many Christmas favourites are freezable, so if you are full, don’t just throw leftovers in the bin. Surprising foods you can freeze include mince pies, potatoes, Christmas pudding, nuts and even wine.
- Embrace one-pot meals
Low-effort and simple recipes between Christmas and New Year are a must to put leftovers into use. Use up several festive ingredients in one dish in recipes like casserole, pie, and bubble and squeak.
- Creative recipes
It’s easy to get in the post-Christmas slump and rely on Turkey sandwiches, but there are creative ways to use leftovers and turn them into nutritious meals. Turkey lasagna, cranberry stuffing sausage rolls or red curry turkey salad, to name just a few ideas.
- Organisation
Good organisation will limit food waste, so plan ahead to ensure there is enough room to store leftovers. Also, consider labelling food containers with their contents, or splitting them into smaller containers with exact portions for easy ready-made meals.
- Store correctly
Knowing how to correctly store food will make it last longer. For example, potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables last longest if they are kept in the dark.
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