How to Prevent Gumbo From Spoiling
The best part of a delicious gumbo is having leftovers for lunch the next day. You need to be careful, however, to properly store your gumbo to prevent it from spoiling, especially if you've made a seafood gumbo. Seafood does not keep well in the refrigerator, and eating bad gumbo is a recipe for food poisoning. However, if you properly store and freeze your leftover gumbo, it should be easy to keep from spoiling. Frozen shellfish such as shrimp or crabs that is cooked will keep in the freezer for a maximum of three months. Lean fish such as cod will last about six months in the freezer, and fatty fish such as salmon will last for only two to three months. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Store your gumbo immediately after you're done cooking. For short-term storage, the gumbo can go in an airtight plastic container in the refrigerator. Seafood gumbo will last at most three or four days in the refrigerator. Keep the container at the bottom of the refrigerator, where it's coolest.
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Check the thermometer in the refrigerator, and ensure that the temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. The freezer should be at least 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Freeze your gumbo to store it for longer periods. Put it in a sealable freezer bag, squeeze out the air and seal the bag before placing in the freezer. If you don't need to defrost it all at once, freeze smaller portions in several bags.
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Defrost your gumbo before eating it by transferring it from the freezer to the refrigerator, or letting it sit in a sealed bag in a bowl of cold water. Change the water every half an hour. Reheat your gumbo and eat it immediately after it finishes defrosting.
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Tips & Warnings
Spoiled food can carry a number of different types of dangerous bacteria. It may not be apparent that your food is tainted until after you get sick. Consult a physician if you feel feverish, nauseous or otherwise unwell after eating.
References
- Photo Credit Serving gumbo image by Daughterson from Fotolia.com
