There is Magic in those Dinner Leftovers

What do you do when a meal is finished?

Generally we wash the dishes and package up the leftovers, but what happens to the leftover portions not eaten? Do they get consumed later or do they sit in the refrigerator until they start to reek and you finally throw them out? You should use refrigerated leftovers within three to four days. If you find that you are throwing leftovers in the garbage, how about saving some time and money by learning how to use those leftovers in new ways to surprise your family at dinner time.

Do you take leftover dinner food to work for lunch?

Some people like leftovers and some do not. Still then, many will eat them one day out, but quickly get tired of eating the same thing over and over. There is a way to fix the problem if you or someone in your family feels the same way.

For example, say you prepare a roasted pork loin and rice for dinner one night. The family wants something else for dinner the following night so the pork loin gets pushed to the back of the refrigerator. Normally, that’s where it will stay until you clean out the refrigerator, right? Well no more!. Let’s do something to keep that pork loin from going to waste.

What may be turning family members off from wanting it again the next night is eating leftovers the way they were originally served. Your family doesn’t have to eat the pork loin as is. So, chop that pork loin up into bite size pieces.

Stir fry the leftover rice in a large skillet or wok with a bag of frozen veggies, an egg, and some of the chopped pork loin to make pork fried rice. Add a little soy sauce and you’ve got a whole new dinner for your hungry family.

So you see, this is just one way that leftovers can be turned into a new dish with a new flavor. The same can also be done using chicken, seafood, or beef.

Let’s take a look at beef.

Do you have hamburgers leftover from dinner? Go ahead and chop them up until they resemble ground beef again. The meat can be combined with chili powder and taco sauce to make beef tacos. Or, add some beans, chopped peppers and tomatoes, and sauce to create a pot of chili. If you have the imagination, there are an unlimited number of possibilities of what you can do with meats and side dishes from a previous night’s dinner.

By using some leftover creativity, you can make one meal last for two, three, or even four more days. But, you don’t have to eat it all in the same week. Fix a new meal with the leftovers and freeze it until you are ready to have that particular meat again. On that day, dinner will already be made, all you’ll need to do is heat it up. Yes, it really can be just that simple.

Your ability to transform any meal into a new creation will simply amaze your family. Besides that, you will save money on your grocery bill and won’t be throwing it away in the trash can as spoiled leftovers. Try these and similar ideas to expand your family’s palate.

Keep in mind that proper storage of leftovers and other previously cooked foods is imperative for food safety.