Thanksgiving leftovers are some of the best things about the holiday! But reheating them can be a bit tricky. Thankfully, we have some tips on how to reheat your Thanksgiving sides so they taste just as good as they did on turkey day. When reheating Thanksgiving sides, there are several ways to go about it.
Thanksgiving is a big day, so you are sure to have some leftover turkey as well as the rest of your sides from your Thanksgiving meal. There are different methods for reheating perishable foods, and we are here to help.
Here is the scoop on reheating Thanksgiving sides!
1. Sweet Potatoes
The best way to reheat sweet potatoes is in a low-heat oven. Simply place them on a baking sheet and reheat at 325 degrees until warm, about 20-30 minutes.
If you have enough oven space, you can save a lot of stress and heat two baking sheets at the same time.
2. Green Beans
Green beans can be reheated in a number of ways. One is to place them in a slow cooker with some turkey stock and reheat on low heat until warmed through. Another way is to reheat them in a covered baking dish in a medium heat oven, about 350 degrees F, until heated through.
3. Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop. If reheating in the microwave oven, place it in a microwave safe dish and reheat in 30-second intervals until warm. If reheating on the stovetop, place the sauce in a small saucepan over low heat and reheat until warmed through.
4. Stuffing
There are several ways to reheat stuffing. All you have to do is to place it in a covered baking dish in a medium heat oven, until heated through. Another way is to reheat it in the microwave in 30 second intervals until warm.
Whether you are heating cornbread stuffing or other true recipes, leftover stuffing is always a favorite. If you microwave your stuffing to reheat it, try leaving it uncovered to let the steam escape.
5. Turkey
There are so many different ways to reheat turkey! If reheating turkey breast, it is best to reheat in a covered baking dish in a medium heat oven, checking it occasionally, until the breast meat is heated through. If reheating a whole turkey, it is best to reheat in a low heat oven, about 325 degrees, until heated through.
Turkey meat has to be thoroughly reheated, and you may want to cut any large chunks into smaller pieces to avoid any cold spots. You can also contact your local butcher shop or the poultry hotline for information on USDA meat and food poisoning.
Some people enjoy eating cold turkey, but if you wish to reheat it you need to do so properly to avoid consuming harmful bacteria. You can also use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature or your Thanksgiving turkey.
6. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes can be reheated in a number of ways. An easy way is to place them in a covered baking dish in a medium heat oven until heated through.
Mashed potatoes will also be reheat easily in the microwave. You can try doing so in 30-second intervals until warm. This is one of the easiest methods for reheating Thanksgiving sides.
7. Dinner Rolls
Dinner rolls are really easy to reheat. One is to place them on a baking sheet and reheat in a medium heat oven until warmed through. Another way is to reheat them in the microwave in 30 second intervals until warm.
While there are lots of Thanksgiving dinner leftovers that need to be reheated to a safe temperature, a piece of bread can be eaten at room temperature. This is a very easy dish to reheat at the last minute because they do not take much time.
8. Apple Pie
Apple pie will reheat pretty easily. A common method is to place it on a baking sheet and reheat in a medium heat oven.
9. Pecan Pie
There are also easy ways to reheat Pecan pie. One is to place it on a baking sheet and reheat in a medium heat oven.
The filling may heat faster than the pie dough, so keep that in mind when checking the temperature.
10. Pumpkin Pie
Just like apple and pecan pie, there are easy ways to reheat pumpkin pie. One is to place it on a baking sheet and reheat in a medium heat oven, about 350 degrees, until warmed through.
11. Sweet Potato Casserole
When reheating sweet potato casserole, place it on a baking sheet and reheat in a hot oven until warmed through. You can top it with whipped cream and other simple ingredients to make it taste even better!
12. Green Bean Casserole
On Thanksgiving day, green bean casserole is a popular dinner table side. A great tip is to store individual portions of green bean casserole in shallow containers. This way, when you reheat it in the microwave in 1 minute increments it will heat evenly.
If you made a traditional recipe, you can add some more crispy onions to add the crunch back into your dish.
13. Brussels Sprouts
Brussel sprouts are a delicious food that lots of people enjoy eating on Thanksgiving morning. If you wish to reheat them, place them in a single layer of an air fryer basket and fry them at 350 for about 10 minutes.
You can then top them with fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, sour cream, and black pepper. They will also pair very well with other dishes like cauliflower purée.
14. Glazed Carrots
If you want to reheat glazed carrots, toss them in a large saucepan with olive oil and cook on medium heat until thoroughly warmed.
You can serve them in a ceramic dish and add some maple syrup to revive the sweet glaze.
15. Gravy
The best way to reheat gravy is on the stovetop over low heat. Simply place the gravy in a small saucepan and reheat until warmed through. Another way is to reheat it in the microwave in 30 second intervals until warm.
If needed, you can add a bit of cold water to help thin the gravy if it gets too thick.
16. Macaroni and Cheese
There are a few ways that you can reheat macaroni and cheese. One is to place it on a baking sheet and reheat in a medium heat oven, about 350 degrees, until warmed through. You could also reheat it on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through.
17. Cornbread
The best way to store cornbread it to wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap. To reheat cornbread, remove each piece from the plastic wrap and place them on a microwave-safe plate in an even layer. You can place a damp paper towel on top so avoid drying out the cornbread.
A general rule is to start with less time, like 30 seconds, and then add more until everything is heated thoroughly.
Final Thoughts
That is the scoop on the best tips for reheating your plate of leftovers. We hope you put them to good use!
From the morning of Thanksgiving to the end of the day, people work tirelessly to cook the main course and Thanksgiving side dishes. From last-minute trips to the grocery store and setting the Thanksgiving table to cooking an entire Thanksgiving menu, there is so much to do.
You may even be coordinating video calls with distant loved ones trying to meet in Eastern time when they live in Central time. There are countless small pieces that come together to make the perfect Thanksgiving.
Enjoying time and great food with your whole family makes everything worth it. Leftovers are just a great bonus, so enjoy reheating your Thanksgiving sides and bon appetit!
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