Boxing Day food should be easy. The aim is to use what is already in the fridge without rebuilding the entire Christmas dinner from scratch.
In this guide
- Start with what needs using first
- Leftover vegetables
- Potatoes and mash
- Cooked meat
- Bread and breakfast
- Cooling, freezing and reheating
Start with what needs using first
Check the fridge before choosing a dish. Use delicate cooked vegetables and opened dairy products before sturdy ingredients such as roast potatoes. The recipe library is useful when one ingredient needs a clear destination.
Do not keep food sitting at room temperature while deciding. Return ingredients to the fridge and take out only what you are about to use.
Leftover vegetables
A Leftover Vegetable Frittata is one of the easiest ways to combine small amounts of cooked vegetables. Keep the pieces fairly small so they heat through evenly before the eggs set.
Vegetables can also be folded into quesadillas. Use the method in Gourmet Bean and Cheese Quesadillas as a starting point and replace part of the filling with well-drained leftovers.
Potatoes and mash
Turn leftover mash into the topping for Shepherd’s Pie or portion it for Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes. Roast potatoes can be chopped and crisped in a frying pan for a quick hash.
For a more substantial meal, Twice-Baked Potatoes can absorb small amounts of cheese, cooked vegetables or meat without feeling like another plate of leftovers.
Cooked meat
Cooked turkey, chicken or beef can be chopped and added to a sauce, pie or rice dish. The structure of Chicken Tikka Masala on a Budget shows how cooked meat can be carried by a strongly flavoured sauce.
Avoid repeatedly cooling and reheating the same food. Use only the amount needed for the meal and keep the rest chilled.
Bread and breakfast
Stale bread is ideal for Savoury Pain Perdu. Add a modest amount of leftover cheese or ham and serve it with a simple salad rather than another heavy roast plate.
Bread can also be frozen in slices. The Types of Bread guide links to several bread recipes and helps match leftovers to the right style of meal.
Cooling, freezing and reheating
Cool cooked food promptly, refrigerate it and reheat only what will be eaten. The Freezer-Friendly Potato Ideas guide covers potato dishes that can be prepared for later.
When in doubt about how long something has been out, how it was cooled or whether it has already been reheated, discard it rather than taking a risk.