How to Store Holiday Leftovers Without Plastic Wrap

The holidays produce a glorious mountain of leftovers, and traditionally, an equally large mountain of plastic wrap and foil to store them. Between the big meals, the guests taking food home, and the days of eating turkey and sides afterward, holiday leftover storage is a major source of single-use plastic. It does not have to be.

With reusable containers, you can store all those holiday leftovers, and send guests home with plates, without a single sheet of plastic wrap. Here is how to store holiday leftovers plastic-free.

Use stainless containers instead of wrap and foil

The simplest swap is to store leftovers in reusable stainless containers rather than wrapping plates in plastic or foil. A set of containers in various sizes holds everything from sliced turkey to sides, sealing it for the fridge without the waste of disposable wrap.

Stainless containers also keep leftovers fresher and better protected than a loosely wrapped plate, and they stack neatly in a crowded holiday fridge. Browse the ECOlunchbox shop for a range of sizes that handle the full spread of holiday food.

Seal saucy and wet leftovers leak-proof

Holiday leftovers include plenty of saucy, wet foods, gravy, cranberry sauce, dressing-soaked stuffing, that plastic wrap never really contains anyway. A leak-proof Bento Wet Box or Splash Box seals these securely, so they store and travel without leaking in the fridge or a guest's bag.

Gasketed containers are the answer for the messiest leftovers, the ones most likely to spill. With a few leak-proof boxes on hand, even the gravy goes into the fridge cleanly and comes back out without a drip.

Send guests home plastic-free

Sending guests home with leftovers usually means foil-wrapped plates that get thrown away. Instead, keep a stash of reusable containers for guests to take, or better yet, ask guests to bring their own. Either way, the leftovers go home sealed and the plastic stays out of it.

If you send your own containers home with guests, it becomes a friendly tradition of returning them, which keeps the containers circulating and the leftovers plastic-free year after year. It is a small shift that removes a surprising amount of holiday waste.

Portion leftovers for easy meals

Beyond bulk storage, portioning leftovers into individual containers makes the days after a holiday easier. Packing single servings into reusable containers, a plate's worth of turkey and sides in a Three-in-One Classic, turns leftovers into grab-and-go meals and lunches.

Portioned leftovers in reusable containers are perfect for taking to work or sending with kids to school, extending the holiday meal into easy plastic-free lunches. It also helps you actually use the leftovers before they go to waste.

Reduce holiday food waste too

Plastic-free storage pairs naturally with reducing food waste, another big holiday issue. Storing leftovers well in airtight reusable containers keeps them fresh longer, so more of that holiday food actually gets eaten instead of forgotten and tossed.

Label or note what is in each container and keep them visible in the fridge, so leftovers do not get lost behind the eggnog. Storing food plastic-free and using it up is good for the planet on two fronts at once. Browse the ECOlunchbox shop to handle the holiday haul.

Frequently asked questions

How do I store holiday leftovers without plastic wrap?

Use reusable stainless containers instead of wrap and foil, seal saucy foods in leak-proof boxes, send guests home with reusable containers, and portion leftovers into individual containers for easy meals.

What containers are best for holiday leftovers?

A range of stainless container sizes for the full spread, plus leak-proof gasketed boxes for saucy foods like gravy and cranberry sauce. They store leftovers fresher and stack neatly in a crowded fridge.

How do I send guests home with leftovers plastic-free?

Keep a stash of reusable containers for guests to take, or ask guests to bring their own. Sending your containers home becomes a friendly tradition of returning them, keeping leftovers plastic-free.

How do I keep holiday leftovers fresh longer?

Store them in airtight reusable containers, which keep food fresher than loosely wrapped plates, and keep them visible and labeled in the fridge so they get eaten before being forgotten and tossed.

Can I use leftovers for lunches after the holidays?

Yes. Portion leftovers into individual reusable containers, like a plate's worth of turkey and sides in a compartment box, and they become grab-and-go plastic-free lunches for work or school.