Christmas Leftovers and Summer Party Food Safety: An Australian Guide

An Australian Christmas usually means hot weather, long lunches, a ham in the fridge, a platter of prawns and an esky or two. This guide covers buffets, ham, seafood, eskies and barbecues, using advice from Australian food safety agencies. For how long leftovers keep in the fridge, see our guide to how long leftovers last in the fridge. For freezing, see how to freeze leftovers safely.

Why summer entertaining needs extra care

The Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) points out that holiday gatherings often include "some of those most at risk of food poisoning: the very young, elderly, pregnant, and people with poor immune systems" (FSIC, Christmas and Summer entertaining tips).

Queensland Health explains the basic idea: "The temperature of food and the time it is in the temperature danger zone (between 5°C and 60°C ) is key." It adds that "The use of potentially hazardous foods should be kept to a minimum unless the food can be kept cold (5°C or lower) or hot (60°C or higher)" (Queensland Health, Eating outdoors).

Plan the menu and the fridge space

FSIC suggests you "aim to buy just what you need to avoid food waste and keep food safer."

Fridge space gets tight at Christmas. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) advises: "Avoid overloading fridges—air circulation is essential to keep food cool. Consider alternative storage options like ice chests for non-perishable drinks to free up space for high-risk foods" (FSANZ, Festive season food safety).

FSIC also recommends checking the fridge itself: "Use a fridge thermometer to check that the fridge temperature stays at 5°C or below (the colder the better!)."

Buffets and grazing platters

FSIC's tip is a phased roll-out: "Beat the heat by putting out small amounts initially and then replace them (do not top them up) from the fridge." It also says to "ensure foods are covered, as those pesky flies are not only annoying around your face, but may carry contamination to your foods."

The Better Health Channel gives similar advice for outdoor meals: "Take salads, pates, dips and other perishables outside only when required, and return them to the fridge when that part of the meal is finished" (Better Health Channel, Food safety outdoors).

FSANZ suggests you "Prepare high-risk foods like dairy-based desserts, cooked seafood and salads just before serving and store them correctly until they're needed." Our leftovers guide explains how long food can sit out.

Looking after the Christmas ham

A leg of ham often lasts well past Christmas Day, so it's worth storing properly. FSIC advises checking "the storage instructions and best before or use by dates before removing the ham from its plastic wrap." Its storage method is:

• "Cover it with a clean cloth (or 'ham bag') soaked in water and vinegar (1 litre of water with at least two tablespoons (50-60ml) of vinegar, keep the cloth moist so it doesn't dry out, change the cloth every three days, and store the covered ham in the fridge at or below 5°C."

FSIC also suggests you "consider how much ham you are going to use in the next 2-3 days, and then consider cutting up and freezing the rest for later." Our freezing guide covers how to freeze and thaw it.

Prawns and seafood

Cooked prawns and smoked salmon are Christmas staples, and FSIC lists "cooked seafood like prawns and smoked salmon" among the perishable chilled foods to keep an eye on.

If your summer includes fishing, Queensland Health says: "Be extra careful with the handling and storage of caught seafood." It advises: "Ice the fish as soon as possible after catching."

Packing the esky

For picnics and beach days, Queensland Health recommends you "make sure food is cold before putting into eskies". Its tips include:

• "Use plenty of ice or cold packs around the food and keep eskies closed as much as possible to avoid temperature loss."
• "Use separate eskies for the storage of raw food and other foods and drinks if possible to reduce the risk of contamination."

Better Health adds:

• "Make sure all cooked foods are completely cooled before you pack them in the cooler."
• "Travel with the cooler on the floor of the car, out of sunlight. Cover the cooler with a blanket for extra insulation."

Barbecues

For a Christmas or Boxing Day barbecue, Better Health suggests you "Keep the meat in the fridge until you are ready to start cooking it" and "Use a clean plate for all cooked meats - don't re-use the same plate or container that held raw meats."

FSANZ advises you "ensure all meats, including poultry, are cooked to a safe internal temperature of 75°C. Use a meat thermometer for accuracy." If you're marinating meat for the barbecue, see our guide to marinating meat safely.

After the party

FSIC's advice is simple: "Refrigerate or freeze leftovers as soon as possible." For food that has been outdoors, Queensland Health says: "Throw out any left overs particularly on hot days. Remember: If in doubt, throw it out!"

For fridge times for leftovers, see our leftovers guide. If you'd like to save some for January, our freezing guide explains how.

Where containers fit in

Dividing leftovers into smaller containers makes the fridge easier to manage after a big lunch. The Vuumex Glass Vacuum Food Container Set includes four borosilicate glass containers in 470ml, 800ml, 1.4L and 2.7L sizes, plus a rechargeable vacuum pump. The glass bases "suit the fridge, freezer, oven, microwave (lids off) and dishwasher", and the lids have a date dial, which is simply a reminder of when you put food in. A container doesn't change any of the time and temperature advice above.

Quick checklist

• Check the fridge temperature with a thermometer and free up space by putting drinks on ice.
• Put out small amounts of food and replace them from the fridge.
• Keep the ham covered and in the fridge, and freeze what you won't use soon.
• Pack eskies with cold food and plenty of ice, and keep the lid closed.
• Cook barbecue meat right through with a meat thermometer and use a clean plate for cooked meat.

More food storage guides

Our guides to reducing food waste at home, understanding date marks on food, meal prep for beginners, how to store vegetables in the fridge, pantry storage containers and gifts for home cooks pick up from here. Questions about our containers? Contact us.

Sources: Food Safety Information Council, Christmas and Summer entertaining food safety tips; Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Festive season food safety; Queensland Government, Eating outdoors; Victorian Department of Health, Better Health Channel, Food safety outdoors. This guide is general information only.