How to Invigorate Leftovers

You know how it works; you make a large quantity of a certain meal and look forward to not having to cook for several more mealtimes—except that you may not be quite as excited about not-cooking when your tastebuds end up tired of those flavors, or when the food is not quite at its prime.

One of the things that really helps leftovers to keep their appeal is to reheat them kindly and gently! First, store leftovers carefully by sealing them well in the refrigerator, in their own glass or ceramic container with a tight fitting lid, so they do not spill or dry out. Store components of a meal each in their own individual container or combined with compatible foods that will need reheating/things that will not make them soggy and altered. Then, reheat in the oven {either uncovered under convection, or covered for the regular bake setting} or transfer to a saucepan or saute pan on the stovetop. {Microwaves are not the best or healthiest kind of heat, nor do they aid flavor in food. More importantly, microwaves are NOT adept at killing bacteria; food has to come evenly to 135 degrees in order for bacteria growth to be stalled.}

For more information, read here about food danger zones and about using up leftovers before they become too much of a harbor for unwanted bacteria. Use up leftovers while they are still fresh and while you can perk them up and make them interesting! Letting leftovers get too old makes them more boring at best; more wasteful at worst!

Here are several of my favorite methods for reviving leftovers and making them seem like a whole new meal. {My husband often says that he would not know that this was the same dish consumed before and would not have expected it to be served in such a different form.} :)

DIFFERENT FORM

You can easily make a different accompaniment or base to the manner in which a meal was served previously.

If it is a braise or stew, serve it over rice or polenta—with freshly made and/or different garnishes—the next time.

If it was a filling for tortillas, serve it—instead—over freshly chopped salad greens, or underneath fresh sprouts, the next time.

DIFFERENT SERVING

I like to be creative with table settings at most meals already, and changing the serving style is a great way to refresh leftovers.

With leftovers, it is nice to serve on a different color of dishes, or on a different table {or the front porch}, than the previous meal.

Sometimes, if the first round was served family-style at the table, I’ll plate the leftovers in individual dishes instead.

It adds interest to meals to have a handy supply of several sets of dishes, various fabric napkins, and unique serveware available.

DIFFERENT FLAVOR

You can give a meal a whole new style by changing the flavors.

This works best if the meal is comprised of plainer, individual components that were assembled at the table by the ones consuming.

For instance, one day’s roast beef sandwich can use lettuce and honey mustard, and the next day’s, fresh dill and horseradish.

One day’s sourdough toast is delectable with butter; the next day, it can be spread with cream cheese and raspberry preserves.

DIFFERENT SIDES

I like to make more side dishes to go with a meal the second-time around. There’s more time then, plus it stretches the leftovers.

If we did not have a side dish with a meal the first time, I make sure to make a salad or sliced vegetables for the second time.

Sometimes leftovers can look a little bare by themselves, so it is nice to fill in a plate with accompaniments, garnishes, or sauces.

I hope these ideas have given you some ideas, and I hope you experiment creatively with your leftovers. :)