Here’s how long you can keep Christmas food for

Christmas Day is great, but Boxing Day leftovers are better - here’s our expert advice on how to store and look after them so you can eat like it’s Christmas all week.

So you’ve got a full smoked ham, a platter of turkey and some seafood sitting in the fridge and you’re wondering just how many days you have to eat it all before it goes to waste. We’ve been there. Just like you, we can think of nothing worse than good food going to waste, so we asked one of our trusted food editors for some advice and tips on storing and keeping our leftovers.

Follow these tips and tricks and you’ll be eating like it’s Christmas for weeks.

How long does leftover Christmas ham last?

“If stored properly, your leg of ham will last for up to ten days,” says Alison Adams, one of our expert food editors. “Soak a calico ham bag – some butchers will provide you with one of these – or a clean pillowcase in a mixture of water and a large splash of vinegar. Wring it out then pop the ham inside, then re-soak every couple of days to keep it fresh.” This process might sound strange, but it’s the best way to keep cooked and cured ham fresh and moist.

If you want to freeze your Christmas ham (we don’t need to tell you how much space they take up in the fridge), cut thick slices and wrap them in plastic, and then in foil. You can keep your ham slices frozen for up to a month.

Our best recipes for leftover Christmas ham

You can keep your ham slices frozen for up to a month.

How long does leftover Christmas turkey last?

“Leftover turkey should be eaten within three days – make sure it’s back in the fridge no more than two hours after it’s cooked,” says Alison. “Remove the flesh from the bones and the stuffing from the cavity, and store it all in airtight containers.” If removed from the bone and frozen, your turkey can last for about three months. Top tip: place the sliced turkey in an airtight container and pour over some turkey stock or gravy before you seal and freeze for extra flavour.

Our best recipes for leftover Christmas turkey

How long does leftover Christmas pudding last?

Theoretically, if it’s wrapped properly, your Christmas pudding and cake will last for ages, even at room temperature. “But it’s always best to store in the fridge or freezer,” says Alison. “Wrap the whole pudding well in plastic wrap and store in the fridge, or slice, wrap in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container to freeze.”

Our best recipes for leftover Christmas pudding

How long does Christmas seafood last?

Seafood has the shortest leftover span, so eat your prawns, oysters and pieces of fish first. “Transfer leftovers to clean airtight containers or place in an even layer on a plate and cover with plastic wrap,” Alison says. “Don’t keep seafood for any more than two days and make sure it wasn’t out of the fridge for too long.”

For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.

Originally published as Here’s how long you can keep Christmas food for