The Easter festivities are over, but your fridge is still packed with ham, casseroles, and other holiday meal leftovers. While you'd love to savor them once more, the crucial question is: how long can you safely eat these leftovers without risking foodborne illness?
Safety Tips for Easter Leftovers
To keep you and your family safe, follow these guidelines from the CDC and FoodSafety.gov for storing and consuming Easter leftovers:
Bacon - Uncooked bacon lasts a week from purchase, while cooked bacon is good for 5-14 days when refrigerated.
Breads - Homemade breads can be stored in the pantry or fridge for 3-5 days or refrigerated for up to 3 months.
Cakes - Refrigerated cakes remain fresh for up to 10 days, provided they were stored properly from the start.
Casseroles - Properly stored and refrigerated casseroles can be enjoyed for up to 4 days after cooking.
Egg dishes - Refrigerated egg dishes last 3-4 days from the day they were made or can be frozen and eaten up to 3 months later.
Hard-boiled eggs - These popular Easter treats are good for up to a week when refrigerated and stored properly from the time they were cooked and served.
Ham - Fully cooked ham is safe to eat for 5 days from the fridge and up to 2 months from the freezer. Fresh, cooked bone-in ham lasts a week in the fridge and 1-2 months if frozen.
Knowing how long you can safely enjoy Easter leftovers is essential to prevent foodborne illness.
Be sure to follow these storage and consumption guidelines for each type of leftover. As you continue to enjoy the remnants of your holiday meal, consider sharing your experiences and questions about safely handling leftovers. Did you find any Thanksgiving leftovers still in the freezer? Are you good at freezing and eating leftovers? Let's discuss!