Nothing says “holiday meal” quite like turkey, but turkey is great any time of the year. It’s just not quite as ubiquitous. That leaves two questions for a survival mom: Where can I find some great leftover turkey recipes?!? And how can I add turkey to my long-term storage?
Help has arrived! Here are some great ideas for ways to use leftover turkey that go beyond a simple sandwich, and freeze-dried turkey and turkey-jerkey both make great additions to your long-term storage food.
Long Term Storage Turkey
Freeze Dried
Freeze dried foods look nearly identical to fresh because the freeze drying process retains the size, shape, and color of the food. Freeze dried raspberries and blackberries are almost identical to their fresh counterparts and we use these frequently in desserts and smoothies.
When food is freeze-dried, it is flash-frozen (frozen super quickly so ice crystals don’t form), then the moisture is removed and it is packaged. It is much less temperature-sensitive than most foods, is extremely light-weight, and can be returned to it’s original state just by adding boiling water, even decades later. When you buy a can of freeze-dried turkey or other meat, it is important to read the information on the can to know how long it should be good for.
Most companies sell freeze dried products in both small and large cans. The larger sizes are usually more economical – if you are going to actually use that much. If you will only use a small amount at a time, it’s better to buy several smaller sizes because they are only good for so long once they are opened. (The packaging includes guidelines.)
Preserving it for (much) Later
Sometimes, we just have too much to eat before it goes bad. That’s when it’s time to make some jerky and can some turkey to enjoy weeks or months later.
Sandwiches and Sandwich Fillers
Turkey sandwiches are a classic leftover meal for a reason – they are fast, tasty, and (can be) yummy. That “can be” is the problem. Who hasn’t gotten sick of turkey sandwiches in the week after Thanksgiving? These give you more options for your lunch box.
Turkey Wraps with Curry-Chutney Mayonnaise and Peanuts
And more…15 Best-Ever Leftover Turkey Sandwiches
Dinner (Pizza and more!)
Here are some fun twists on classic meals, like turkey and dumplings instead of chicken and dumplings and turkey tetrazzini. Instead of delivery pizza, make your own barbeque turkey or turkey Alfredo pizza. It is so much healthier than delivery, and cheaper!
Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Breast
Carolina Style Leftover Turkey Stumbo (a stew that is so delicious that it wants to be a Gumbo)
What favorites of yours did we miss? Add them in the comments so the rest of us can try them the next time we have a turkey at our own homes.
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Liz Long
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Get recipes. I’m terrible with working out what to do with leftovers (other than eat then straight).
My kids love “leftover” tortillas. In a tortilla place turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, a dash of mashed potatoes, a pat of butter (if everything but the cranberry sauce is warm it will melt) and a sprinkle of shredded cheese.
I don’t know what it is about that combination of Thanksgiving ingredients, but they always taste great together. Starbucks now has a turkey and cranberry panini, which is amazing. Same ingredients, except no mashed potatoes and gravy.
I love your title! I used to work at a kitchenware store that also had fussy, pretentious cooking classes with recipes like “Broasted butternut squash and Seckel pear bisque with balsamic vinegar reduction and frizzled pancetta” ( not making that up). When I joked with a regular customer that I was going to teach a class called “Casseroles That Don’t Suck” , someone apparently overheard and we got calls to sign up for the non-existent class!