Is it really Thanksgiving if you don’t wind up with leftovers? For many of us, that too much is just enough, because the actual best parts of the holiday are the meals that follow the original turkey feast. I’ll be honest and admit that I look forward to my Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich more than the holiday meal itself. But perhaps you’ve faced the remnants of that gorgeous, golden turkey centerpiece and debated the best way to store it, keeping safety (and flavor!) in mind. How long can you actually keep turkey in the fridge? Should some of the meat be frozen right away?
While you’re clearing the table and beginning to wash dishes, thinking about what you’re going to do with all that leftover turkey, here’s what you need to know.
How Long Can You Leave Turkey on the Bone? A Complete Guide for Leftover Turkey Storage
As the holidays roll around, many of us will find ourselves with leftovers from a delicious turkey dinner. One common question is how long you can safely store turkey with the bones still in. Properly storing and handling leftovers is crucial to avoid foodborne illness. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about storing leftover turkey on the bone.
The Short Answer
According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, you can store leftover turkey on the bone for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. The bones begin leaching iron, magnesium and calcium into the meat over time which causes the quality to deteriorate quickly. For best quality, remove the meat from the bones within 2 days The turkey carcass can be used to make broth within 1-2 days as well. Frozen leftover turkey on the bone will last for 4-6 months
Safety Guidelines for Leftover Turkey
There are a few guidelines to follow for safely storing leftover turkey:
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Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking. Cut turkey into smaller pieces to allow it to cool faster.
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Store turkey meat and carcass in separate, shallow airtight containers to allow for faster cooling.
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Use leftovers within 3-4 days. Freeze any leftovers you won’t use within that timeframe.
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Reheat thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F until hot and steaming. Bring gravy to a boil before serving.
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Do not store stuffing inside the turkey. Remove and store separately.
Key Factors for How Long Turkey Lasts
There are a few key factors that determine how long leftover turkey will last safely:
Proper Storage Temperature – Store turkey at 40°F or below. The temperature of your refrigerator should be set to 40°F or below. If stored above 40°F, bacteria can multiply rapidly.
Cooking Method – Whole turkeys that are cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F can be safely stored for 3-4 days. Deep fried turkeys reach higher internal temperatures so may last a day or two longer.
Meet Quality – Meat on the bone tends to deteriorate in quality more quickly than meat that has been removed from the bone. Bones release calcium, iron and magnesium that breakdown muscle fibers.
Type of Meat – Dark meat generally lasts longer than white breast meat. Cooking method has less impact on shelf life for dark meat.
Freezing for Maximum Freshness
For best quality, turkey meat should be used frozen within 2-6 months. To freeze:
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Allow cooked turkey to cool completely, then wrap tightly in freezer wrap or place in airtight containers.
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Label packages with contents and date.
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Freeze at 0°F or below.
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For best texture, do not thaw before reheating. Cook frozen turkey directly in the oven or microwave until heated through.
Making Turkey Stock from the Carcass
One way to use up the leftover turkey carcass is converting it into homemade stock. This adds delicious flavor to soups, gravies and more. Here are some tips:
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Use the carcass within 1-2 days for best flavor. The longer its stored, the less flavorful the stock.
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Place carcass in a stock pot and add aromatics like onions, celery, carrots, garlic and fresh herbs. Cover with water by 2-3 inches.
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Simmer on low heat for 3-4 hours, skimming fat and impurities that rise to the surface.
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Strain the stock through a mesh sieve. Cool broth completely before refrigerating overnight to allow fat to solidify. Skim off hardened fat before use.
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Turkey stock can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for 4-6 months.
Signs Your Turkey Has Spoiled
It’s important to discard turkey that shows signs of spoilage. Look for:
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Strong, unpleasant odors
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Graying color or slimy texture
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Drying around the edges or mushy spots
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Mold growth
If in doubt, remember the old adage “when in doubt, throw it out.” Don’t risk getting sick from spoiled turkey.
Food Safety for Handling Raw Turkey
When working with raw turkey prior to cooking, keep these food safety guidelines in mind:
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Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, never on the counter. Place on a rimmed baking sheet to catch drips. Allow 24 hours per 4-5 pounds.
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Avoid rinsing raw turkey to prevent splashing bacteria around. Pat dry with paper towels instead.
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Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw turkey and cooked foods. Wash all items that touch raw meat thoroughly in hot soapy water.
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Wash hands before and after handling raw turkey.
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Refrigerate raw turkey within 2 hours of purchasing. Use within 1-2 days or freeze for later use.
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Marinate turkey in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Discard marinade after use due to raw meat contamination.
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Stuff turkey just before roasting. Use a food thermometer to ensure center of stuffing reaches 165°F.
The Takeaway
Leftover turkey on the bone will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. For best quality, remove meat from the bones within 1-2 days. Make broth with the carcass within this timeframe for maximum flavor. Freeze any turkey you won’t use within 3-4 days and consume within 2-6 months for optimal freshness and taste. Following proper storage methods, handling instructions and signs of spoilage will help keep your leftover turkey safe to enjoy!
How long does turkey last in the fridge?
With your leftovers sitting in front of you, the first step in smart turkey storage is to think about what you’re going to do with them. Do you have a leftover turkey recipe that you’re already planning to try for Friday dinner? Or would you like to keep that delicious turkey in reserve for sometime down the road? Even though you may be exhausted from a day or two of cooking, entertaining and feasting, it’s still best to deal with your turkey in one way or another as soon as possible.
From a food safety perspective, it’s important to minimize the time your turkey spends in the “Danger Zone,” or between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The USDA notes that food has a limit of two hours at room temperature before bacteria growth becomes an issue.
Asking the experts how long cooked turkey keeps in the fridge yields a range of answers. LG’s resident culinary expert Brian Karam recommends capping it at one to two days, but also suggests that “time can be maximized by keeping larger pieces whole and not making them smaller before refrigerating, [as] smaller pieces are more susceptible to air exposure and could hasten spoilage in refrigerator.” Aly Forster of Diestel Family Ranch says “you will want to consume within three to four days.” The USDA’s guidelines state that “Thanksgiving leftovers are safe to eat up to four days in the refrigerator.” At the furthest end of the spectrum, Patrick L. Guzzle, vice president of food science at the National Restaurant Association says that “seven days is the maximum time recommended for cooked foods to be stored in the refrigerator.”
The wide variation in answers largely comes down to the difference between food safety and food quality. Guzzle points out that “Food safety is primarily concerned with harmful microbiological organisms, [and] may veer from what an average consumer might consider for quality (i.e., taste, texture, aroma, etc.)” Fortunately, Forster adds, “We like to say ‘poultry isn’t shy’—one whiff easily lets you know if that meat is still wholesome!” Ultimately, when using leftovers, Forster concludes, you’ll need to use your best judgment to determine how long you feel comfortable within this range. Be sure, she notes, to “inspect the turkey for any signs of spoilage.” Or as I like to say, “When in doubt, throw it out.”
If you’ve only got enough turkey left for a few sandwiches and a batch of turkey jook, keeping your leftover meat in the fridge will be enough. But if you have enough for a couple more full feasts, then you’ll want to think about freezing that turkey for the future.
We’ve still got half a bird!
You’re not alone. Whether you’re buying a frozen Butterball turkey, a heritage bird from your local butcher shop, or a smaller turkey breast, leftovers are almost a given. According to a 2011 USDA study, around 35% of turkey is wasted each year, so understanding how to best store your leftovers goes a long way to reducing the amount of turkey that ends up in landfills and compost heaps. That statistic feels even larger when you learn that the National Turkey Federation reports that 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, and Butterball’s senior brand manager Chad McFadden notes that 79% of consumers surveyed for a 2023 report planned to buy a whole bird. McFadden also says that the most popular Thanksgiving turkey option weighs between 16 and 20 pounds, and the average guest count for the holiday is nine people, with a suggested estimate of 1 to 1.5 pounds of turkey per person. After we do some quick turkey math, this suggests that, generally, households have somewhere between 2.5 and 11 pounds of turkey and turkey bones left after the Thursday Thanksgiving feast. That’s a lot of sandwiches.
How long is it safe to leave turkey on the bone?
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