Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (2024)

FAQs

Can you make cottage pie to eat the next day? ›

Yes, make the cottage pie right up to the point before you put it in the oven. Then quickly cool, cover and refrigerate, along with the gravy. It should be fine in the fridge for up to a day.

Divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze them in covered shallow containers so they cool quickly. A large container or whole turkey will take too long to cool down to a safe temperature, which gives bacteria a chance to multiply.

If you fall in this second category of people don't fret. You can absolutely reheat a cottage pie straight from frozen and still get tasty results. Hopefully, you've frozen it in an oven-safe dish, but if not, you'll have to transfer it to one now.

Alternatively, leave to cool completely before placing the lids on and vacuum sealing the containers. Cooked cottage pies will also keep fresh for 5 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. When reheating cottage pies, preheat the oven to 160ºC / 320ºF then place your pie in the oven for 20-30 mins.

As long as you follow good food hygiene, it should be fine for 3-4 days.

While most food can be reheated more than once, it is better to only reheat food once which is why it's suggested that you split large portions into smaller ones. Each time you reheat and cool food it is likely that you will alter the food's taste/texture as well as increasing the chances of bacteria growing.

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

Here's How to Send Thanksgiving Leftovers With Guests

All you need are a few disposable cupcake tins and matching lids. The tins should have at least 4 to 6 open spots for maximum leftovers. Have each of your guests take a cupcake tin and choose whatever Thanksgiving food they'd like to take home.

Transfer the turkey and mashed potatoes into oven-safe dishes, add a little stock to the turkey and butter to the potatoes, and cover both dishes. Reheat them together for about 30 minutes at 350°F. You're winning the leftover dinner game right now.

How long can you keep Cottage Pie in the fridge? Once you've put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours. If you allow any left overs to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Cottage Pie in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.

Can you freeze leftover cottage pie? ›

FOOLPROOF FREEZING

Make sure the pie is completely cold, then cover it well with cling film and freeze. Always freeze the pie on the day that you make it.

Yes, you can reheat cottage pie in the air fryer. If your machine has a reheat setting, use this; if not, place it in a suitable basket or dish and air fry at 150 degrees C until piping hot. Start at 10 minutes, but remember, it will take longer depending on how much you've got left.

Yes! In fact, mashed potatoes are of the most freezer-friendly potato preparations out there. The key is to coat your potatoes with plenty of butter and cream. The fat from the dairy will protect the potatoes in the freezer and help them retain their flavor.

You can freeze shepherd's pie before baking it. This way, you can save time by defrosting your oven-ready shepherd's pie whenever you want to enjoy it.

Freshly baked shepherd's pie will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge refrigerate covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

It will keep in the fridge for 4 days – assembled and ready to heat, or once cooked. You can also freeze Cottage Pie 100% perfectly. You can bake from frozen – though it does take around 1 hour (it's a formidable block of ice!!) or thaw then bake. Cooked leftovers also freeze well.

Leftovers or Make Ahead

A Shepherd's Pie is the perfect make-ahead food. In the fridge Cook up to point 11 in the recipe below and you can keep this recipe in the fridge for 2 days.

Loosely covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, you can store your pie in the fridge for up to four days. According to FoodSafety.gov, homemade pies such as pumpkin or pecan can be safely stored in the refrigerator for three to four days.

Apple and other fruit pies keep at room temperature for up to two days, then in the fridge for two more. Pumpkin, custard, or other egg/dairy-based pies can be stored in the fridge for up to four days.