how long after cooking turkey can you make soup

How Long After Cooking Turkey Can You Make Soup? The Ultimate Guide

Making soup from leftover turkey is a great way to use up the remnants of your holiday bird. But how long after cooking can you safely make turkey soup? This is an important food safety question that many home cooks have.

As someone who loves whipping up big batches of hearty turkey noodle soup each year, I’ve done lots of research on the shelf life of cooked turkey and how long it keeps in the fridge or freezer. In this article, I’ll share everything I’ve learned over the years about making delicious turkey soup safely

Key Things to Know About Leftover Turkey For Soup

Here are the key points to keep in mind

• Cooked turkey can be kept refrigerated for 3-4 days before using for soup. For best quality, use within 1-2 days

• Frozen turkey keeps for 2-6 months if properly stored. Thaw fully in the fridge before making soup.

• handle turkey carefully and refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.

• Reheat cooked turkey thoroughly to 165°F before adding to soup.

• Homemade turkey broth from the bones adds amazing flavor. Simmer bones for 8-12 hours.

• Add veggies like carrots, celery, and onion for extra flavor and nutrition.

• Noodles, rice or other grains make it a complete meal. Cook them separately for best texture.

Follow proper food safety and you’ll be rewarded with the most amazing turkey leftovers soup! Let’s dive deeper into the specifics.

How Soon Can You Make Turkey Soup After Cooking?

Ideally, you should use up your leftover roasted turkey within 3-4 days. For absolute best quality and flavor, try to make your post-Thanksgiving turkey soup within 1-2 days.

The reason is that cooked turkey can spoil fairly quickly at fridge temperatures. Bacteria like salmonella can start to multiply, causing possible food poisoning.

So why not go ahead and make soup immediately after your turkey dinner while everything is still fresh? Great idea!

In my house, we often get the turkey soup pot going right away while also nibbling on leftovers. It takes time for the broth to simmer and absorb all that lovely flavor from the bones.

Starting it ASAP means we can enjoy turkey noodle soup within a day or two. No need to wait a whole week or longer.

How To Store Leftover Turkey Safely

To extend the shelf life of cooked turkey destined for soup, proper storage is key. Here are some tips:

• Allow turkey to cool completely before refrigerating. Don’t pack hot turkey into the fridge.

• Store turkey meat in airtight containers or resealable bags. This prevents drying out.

• Use turkey broth within 1-2 days or freeze for longer storage.

• Freeze turkey meat in portion sizes easy for soups and casseroles.

• When freezing, use freezer bags, plastic wrap or aluminium foil. Exclude as much air as possible.

• Refrigerate at 40°F or below. Use freezer at 0°F or below.

Following these basic leftovers storage guidelines will ensure no problems with spoiled turkey. Always inspect turkey before use and look for an off smell or slimy texture. When in doubt, throw it out. Safety first!

What’s the Shelf Life of Frozen Turkey For Soup?

Freezing is an excellent way to extend the lifespan of leftover cooked turkey. The turkey meat will keep well in a freezer set at 0°F or below for 4-6 months.

For absolute best quality, try to use frozen turkey within 2-3 months. It will gradually lose moisture and texture over time in the freezer.

Make sure to tightly wrap or seal turkey in airtight packaging with as little air as possible. And use labels! Nothing like mystery meat.

I like to freeze turkey portions ready for future soups – diced breast meat, shredded leg meat, wings, etc. It makes thawed turkey easy to toss right into simmering broth.

Thawing Frozen Turkey Safely

Always thaw frozen turkey in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Place it on a plate or in a pan to catch drips as it defrosts.

Small packages may thaw overnight, while a large turkey may take 2-3 days to thaw fully. Cook thawed turkey immediately and do not refreeze.

For quicker thawing, you can place the sealed frozen turkey in a bowl of cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold. Defrosting in the microwave is also an option.

Be diligent about food safety when handling thawed raw turkey. Wash hands, utensils and surfaces to avoid any risk of cross contamination to other foods. Cook thoroughly until 165°F internal temperature.

How To Use Turkey Bones For Soup Stock

One of the secrets to amazing homemade turkey soup is using the leftover bones to make your own turkey broth.

Simmering the bones for several hours extracts tons of rich turkey flavor and collagen. Much better than plain water or canned broths!

After removing all the meat, break up the turkey carcass into pieces to fit in a large soup pot. Cover with water by a few inches.

Bring to a boil then reduce to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble away for 8-12 hours, skimming foam as needed. Strain and debone.

For a smoother broth, strain again through a cheesecloth. Add the turkey meat back and use within 1-2 days. You can also freeze broth for longer storage.

Make sure bones come from properly refrigerated turkey. Don’t use bones that have been left sitting out too long at room temperature after cooking.

Other Turkey Soup Ingredients

Carrots, celery and onion are classic aromatic veggies for turkey soup. Diced small, they add tons of flavor. Other options are potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, corn, green beans, spinach, etc.

Grains like rice, barley, quinoa or pasta make it a hearty meal in a bowl. Cook them separately for the best texture.

Herbs and spices like thyme, sage, parsley, rosemary infuse extra flavor. You can also use poultry seasoning. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a kick.

Let your creativity lead the way. Turkey soup handles all kinds of ingredients deliciously. Just be sure to start with a flavorful homemade turkey broth as your base.

Turkey Soup Food Safety Tips

When handling raw turkey and prepared foods like soup, following food safety guidelines helps prevent the risk of food poisoning. Here are some key tips:

• Refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours after cooking turkey

• Use cooked turkey within 3-4 days; 1-2 days is best

• Store soup in airtight containers in the fridge

• Reheat fully to 165°F before eating

• Simmer soup until piping hot before serving

• Wash hands, surfaces, utensils after handling raw turkey

• Thaw frozen turkey safely in the fridge or cold water

• Cook raw turkey thoroughly to 165°F minimum internal temperature

• When reheating, bring soup to a full rolling boil for 1 minute

Adhering to proper temperatures, storage times, good hygiene, and thorough cooking will keep your turkey creations safe and delicious.

Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup

This classic soup never goes out of style. Here’s a simple recipe to try:

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts homemade turkey broth
• 2 cups cooked turkey, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 4 oz uncooked egg noodles
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a large pot, heat broth over medium heat.

2. Add diced turkey, onion, carrots, celery and garlic. Simmer 10 minutes.

3. Stir in thyme. Taste and add salt if needed.

4. Add uncooked noodles and simmer 8-10 minutes until tender.

5. Remove from heat and add pepper to taste.

6. Serve piping hot topped with parsley. Enjoy!

Get creative with homemade turkey soup, but always make sure to follow proper food safety. With some simple planning, you can whip up this hearty, budget-friendly meal for days after your holiday bird. Stay safe and happy simmering!