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.
Wondering how long that leftover turkey can last in the fridge before going bad? With the holidays coming up, chances are you’ll have turkey leftovers that you’ll want to store properly.
Knowing how long turkey stays fresh can help reduce food waste and keep your family safe from foodborne illness. In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about fridge life for raw and cooked turkey.
Overview of Turkey Storage Times
Here’s a quick overview of how long turkey lasts in the fridge:
- Raw turkey: 1-2 days
- Cooked turkey: 3-4 days
- Turkey cold cuts: 5 days
These timelines can vary slightly based on storage conditions Now let’s go over the details,
How Long Does Raw Turkey Last Refrigerated?
Raw turkey lasts 1-2 days in the fridge when properly stored Keep the turkey in its original packaging or wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil Place on a plate or in a container to catch any juices that may drip,
Store raw turkey on the bottom shelf of the fridge at 40°F or below. Keeping it cold prevents bacterial growth.
Some experts recommend using ground turkey within just 1 day for maximum freshness.
Once raw turkey is refrigerated, it should be cooked within the 1-2 day timeline. Don’t attempt to refreeze raw turkey once it has been thawed.
What’s the Fridge Life of Cooked Turkey?
Cooked turkey leftovers will last 3-4 days in the fridge. Be sure to carve the turkey and refrigerate in shallow containers within 2 hours of cooking.
Leave the turkey meat in larger chunks rather than shredding for longer lasting leftovers. Shredded turkey deteriorates faster.
Store turkey drippings and gravy separately from the meat. Gravy will only last 1-2 days.
If you won’t be able to eat the leftovers within 3-4 days, move them to the freezer. Frozen turkey maintains quality for 4-6 months.
How Long Do Turkey Cold Cuts Last in the Fridge?
Keep unopened packages of sliced turkey cold cuts for 5 days past the sell by date, or follow use by dates on the package.
Once opened, an opened package or deli container of turkey lunchmeat will last 5-7 days in the fridge.
For maximum freshness, use turkey cold cuts within 3-5 days. Discard any deli meat with an off smell or slimy texture.
Signs Turkey Has Gone Bad
Rely on your senses to determine if turkey has gone bad. Here’s what to look for:
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Smell: Raw turkey has a very mild odor. Discard if the raw turkey smells sour or has a strong, unpleasant odor. Cooked turkey should smell like the seasoning used. An off-smell means spoilage.
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Color: Raw turkey is pink, white, or grey with a metallic sheen. When raw turkey turns green, grey, or yellow, it’s spoiled. Cooked turkey also dulls in color as it goes bad.
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Texture: Raw poultry should be moist but not slimy. Sliminess is a sign of bacterial growth. Cooked turkey will become dry, stringy, or mushy as it spoils.
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Expiration dates: Don’t rely solely on dates. Use your senses too. But do follow any use by dates as a guide.
When in doubt, remember the saying “When in doubt, throw it out.” Don’t risk getting sick from eating spoiled turkey.
Turkey Food Safety Tips
Follow these food safety guidelines when handling raw and cooked turkey:
- Refrigerate or freeze turkey right after grocery shopping. Don’t leave sitting out.
- Thaw frozen turkey in the fridge, cold water, or microwave. Never thaw at room temp.
- Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw turkey to avoid cross-contamination.
- Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F. Check with a meat thermometer.
- refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.
- Reheat cooked turkey to 165°F. Bring gravy to a rolling boil when reheating.
Following basic food safety practices helps prevent foodborne illness when storing leftovers.
Can You Freeze Turkey Leftovers?
Freezing is a great way to preserve turkey leftovers for longer term storage. Here are some freezing tips:
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Portion turkey into shallow containers or freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible.
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Allow room for expansion so food doesn’t burst.
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Label packages with contents and dates.
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Freeze cooked turkey for 4-6 months and raw turkey cuts for 9-12 months for best quality.
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Thaw in fridge overnight before using. Don’t refreeze thawed turkey.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can cooked turkey sit out at room temperature?
Cooked turkey should not sit out at room temp for longer than 2 hours. After that point, bacteria can quickly multiply.
Can you freeze and thaw turkey multiple times?
It’s not recommended to freeze and defrost turkey more than once. Each thaw cycle allows bacteria an opportunity to grow.
How can you tell if frozen turkey is still good?
Check for ice crystals. If there are none, that indicates the turkey underwent temperature fluctuations and shouldn’t be refrozen. Also look for freezer burn or oxidation.
What happens if you eat spoiled turkey?
Eating bad turkey can cause food poisoning symptoms like vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. In severe cases it can progress to dehydration and hospitalization.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully this guide gave you a better understanding of how long turkey lasts in the refrigerator. Follow the suggested timelines for raw poultry (1-2 days), cooked turkey (3-4 days), and turkey cold cuts (5-7 days).
Rely on your senses to test for spoilage. Cook turkey thoroughly, refrigerate promptly, and practice good food safety when handling turkey to keep your leftovers fresher for longer.
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 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.