How Long Is Cooked Turkey Good for in the Freezer?

Asking Google “how-to freeze turkey” this holiday season? Katie Workman, the creator behind The Mom 100, created a guide to prepping your extra turkey for the freezer. Use it over the holidays or any time of year when turkey is on the menu and leftovers are on the to-do list.

The holidays often mean plenty of delicious home-cooked turkey. But between the Thanksgiving bird and any other turkey meals throughout the year you may have leftovers. Freezing cooked turkey is a great way to preserve it so you can enjoy it for months after the initial meal. But just how long does cooked turkey last in the freezer?

Read on for tips on freezing turkey plus guidelines on how long frozen cooked turkey stays fresh and safe to eat.

How to Freeze Leftover Cooked Turkey

First proper storage is key for getting the longest freezer life and best quality out of your turkey leftovers. Here are some turkey freezing tips

Let turkey cool completely before freezing. Divide into smaller portions.
Use airtight containers or freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible.
Label bags or containers with contents and freeze date.
Freeze turkey within 3-4 days for best quality.
Store turkey in a freezer at 0°F or below. Use freezer thermometer to check.

Slicing or shredding turkey before freezing can allow you to freeze it flat in single layers. This reduces the chance of freezer burn.

For best texture, freeze turkey pieces up to 6 months. Ground or shredded turkey keeps for 4-5 months maximum.

How Long Does Cooked Turkey Last in the Freezer?

According to the USDA FoodKeeper guide, here is how long frozen cooked turkey lasts at 0°F:

Whole turkey: 1 year
Turkey pieces: 9 months
Turkey slices/cutlets: 6 months
Shredded turkey: 4-5 months
Turkey gravy: 4-6 months

The National Turkey Federation says you can freeze cooked turkey for 3-4 months for optimal quality and taste.

So the food safety limits are about a year at most, but the quality declines after about 4-6 months.

Signs Your Frozen Turkey Has Gone Bad

Frozen cooked turkey that has been properly stored in an airtight container at 0°F should stay safe basically indefinitely. But there are some signs that indicate frozen turkey may have spoiled and should be discarded:

Unpleasant odors, sliminess, or very dry turkey when thawing
Change in color from pink or light brown to gray or green
Unusual softness or stickiness
Signs of freezer burn like dry, brown spots
Mold growth anywhere on the turkey
Very outdated freeze date well over recommended storage times

Always inspect and sniff thawed turkey. If in doubt, throw it out.

Tips for Thawing and Reheating Frozen Turkey

Always thaw frozen cooked turkey safely in the refrigerator, cold water, or the microwave. Do not thaw turkey at room temperature.

To thaw in the fridge, allow about 1-2 days for a pound of frozen turkey. For quicker thawing, seal turkey in a bag and submerge in cold water, changing water every 30 minutes.

Reheat thawed turkey to 165°F. Add broth or gravy to prevent drying out.

You can also reheat frozen turkey pieces directly in soups, stews and casseroles. This allows the liquid and heat to gently thaw and rehydrate the turkey.

Health Benefits of Frozen Turkey

Enjoying frozen turkey has lots of nutritional benefits. Turkey provides:

Protein: High quality, lean protein helps keep you full and fuels muscle growth.
B Vitamins: B vitamins like B6 and B12 support energy levels and brain health.
Zinc: Zinc assists immune function and wound healing.
Selenium: Selenium acts as an antioxidant to protect cells.

Freezing cooked turkey allows you to store these nutrients for extended periods while retaining most of turkey’s health benefits.

Potential Risks of Eating Frozen Turkey

While frozen cooked turkey can safely keep for about a year when properly stored, there are some potential downsides to keeping it frozen for very long periods:

Quality loss over many months, like dryness and texture changes
Increased risk of freezer burn, which affects taste and texture
Loss of some heat-sensitive vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins
Possible absorption of odors from the freezer over time

For highest quality turkey, aim to freeze for no more than 3-6 months. Try freezing turkey in broth or sauce to better maintain moisture and flavor.

Serving Ideas for Frozen Turkey

Don’t let frozen turkey leftovers go to waste! Here are creative ways to use up that frozen turkey:

Add to soups, stews, chili, casseroles or stir fries
Make turkey pot pie, turkey tetrazzini or turkey alfredo pasta
Use in turkey salad, wraps, sandwiches or flatbread pizza
Mix into breakfast skillets or omelets
Blend into turkey burgers or meatballs
Make turkey hash with veggies
Stuff into empanadas or pierogies
Fold into enchiladas, fajitas or tacos
Top salads or grain bowls
Simmer into turkey noodle soup or turkey rice soup

The Bottom Line

Leftover cooked turkey can be frozen for optimal quality and taste for 3-6 months. Frozen properly at 0°F, cooked turkey should stay safe to eat for up to a year. But the quality declines after about 4-5 months.

Check frozen turkey for signs of spoilage like foul odors, stickiness, dryness or freezer burn before consuming. Handle frozen turkey carefully and stick to food safe thawing methods.

Freezing cooked turkey allows you to save those holiday and dinner leftovers for future meals. With proper freezing and reheating, you can safely enjoy delicious turkey for months after it was initially prepared.

how long is cooked turkey good for in the freezer

How Do You Prevent Freezer Burn?

Freezer burn happens when air gets into contact with food. Make sure you leave as little extra room as possible in the container or bag.

What Are the Best Containers for Freezing Turkey?

I like to use freezer-proof zipper top bags for freezing turkey, because you can really press out all of the excess air before sealing them. The zipper-top bag packages marked specifically for the freezer are thicker than regular zipper-top bags and definitely better for freezing. Also consider reusable freezer-proof bags. If you want to use a freezer-proof container, that’s fine. You want to make sure the turkey is pretty well packed in, again to reduce the amount of air in the container which can cause freezer burn. Whatever container you use, please make sure to label it with a permanent marker. Write the kind of turkey you are freezing (e.g., breast meat), the date you are freezing it, and if you like, the amount in the container (e.g., 4 cups turkey or 1 pound turkey).

how long is cooked turkey good for in the freezer

How long is leftover turkey good for in the fridge?

FAQ

Is a 2 year old frozen turkey ok to eat?

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

How long will cooked turkey last in the freezer?

How Long Can You Freeze Leftover Turkey? Leftover turkey freezes well for up to six months if properly handled, packed and frozen within three days of the original preparation. However, I like to try and use it within three months for best flavor and texture, and to avoid the possibility of freezer burn.

Can you reheat frozen cooked turkey?

Once your turkey is cooked and cooled, slice and then batch it into portions to store in the freezer. You can then take out what you need when you need it. Just remember that meat previously cooked and frozen should only be reheated once.

How long does it take a frozen turkey to go bad?

In both cases, you’ll want to store the turkey in the deepest part of the freezer. When properly stored, raw turkey pieces should stay good in the freezer for up to 9 months, while whole raw turkeys last for a year when frozen. Cooked turkey pieces last in the freezer for 4–6 months.