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.
The crowning jewel of many holiday meals is a perfectly roasted turkey But after everyone has filled up on that first feast, you’re often left with pounds of leftover turkey. Avoid wasting this delicious meat by learning how to store turkey correctly With proper refrigeration and freezing, you can enjoy your holiday bird for days or even months after cooking.
In this article, I’ll go over everything you need to know about storing cooked turkey safely, how long it lasts in the fridge or freezer, and signs it has spoiled. Follow these turkey storage tips and you’ll always have tender, flavorful meat ready for sandwiches, casseroles, soups, and more!
Proper Refrigeration
The first step in maximizing leftover turkey quality and shelf life is proper refrigeration. Here are some tips:
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Allow the cooked turkey to cool at room temperature for no more than 2 hours before refrigerating. This prevents harmful bacterial growth.
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Divide turkey into smaller portions or slices and store in shallow airtight containers This encourages rapid, even cooling
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Refrigerate at 40°F or below. Use a refrigerator thermometer to verify the temperature.
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Cooked turkey keeps for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, according to USDA guidelines
Freezing Cooked Turkey
For longer term storage, freeze your leftover turkey. Here’s how:
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Similarly, portion turkey into containers with shallow depths for fast freezing. Leave 1⁄2 inch headspace.
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Freeze turkey immediately at 0°F or below. Constant freezing temperature stops microbial growth.
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Label containers with contents and freeze-by date. Sharpie on foil or freezer tape works great.
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Frozen turkey maintains quality for 2-6 months but remains safe indefinitely.
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Thaw frozen turkey slowly in the refrigerator, never at room temperature or in hot water where bacteria can multiply quickly.
Signs Turkey Has Spoiled
Rely on your senses to determine if refrigerated or frozen turkey has gone bad:
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Smell: Raw turkey has a very mild odor. Spoiled turkey smells foul.
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Look: Cooked turkey is tan to light brown. Gray, green or mucus-like coating indicates spoilage.
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Texture: Turkey should be moist and tender. Dry, slimy, or sticky turkey has spoiled.
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Taste: Rancid, sour, or bitter flavors mean turkey is unsafe to eat.
When in doubt, remember the old adage “If it smells funny, don’t eat it!” Discard turkey with an off odor, appearance or texture.
Food Safety Tips
Always follow food safety principles when dealing with raw poultry and leftovers:
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Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F as measured in the thickest part.
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Allow only 1-2 hours for perishable foods like turkey to be left in the “danger zone” between 40-140°F when bacteria rapidly multiply.
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Avoid cross contamination by using separate cutting boards and utensils for raw turkey and other foods. Wash all surfaces with hot soapy water after working with raw turkey.
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Store turkey drippings separately from cooked turkey. Drippings should be refrigerated for only 1-2 days.
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When reheating turkey, heat thoroughly until steaming hot, at least 165°F. Bring gravy to a full rolling boil.
Follow this advice for handling and storing your leftover turkey after the big holiday meal. By freezing and refrigerating turkey properly, you can continue enjoying delicious meals for several days or weeks to come. Check for signs of spoilage, follow food safety guidelines, and your turkey will retain its tender juiciness and amazing flavor long after the initial feast is over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have some questions about how to make your leftover turkey last as long as possible? Here are answers to some common queries:
How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge?
According to the USDA, cooked turkey will keep 3-4 days if refrigerated at 40°F or below. When stored properly, it remains safe to eat but loses flavor and moisture over time.
How can you tell if refrigerated turkey is bad?
Signs that cooked turkey has spoiled include an off smell, slimy texture, and grayish color. Leftovers with an unnatural or rancid smell should be discarded.
What happens if you freeze cooked turkey?
Freezing stops bacteria growth that causes turkey to spoil. Frozen turkey maintains quality for 2-6 months. It remains safe indefinitely but texture suffers over longer freezing.
How do you know if frozen turkey has gone bad?
Frozen turkey that is dry, stringy, or tastes sour has deteriorated. Significant freezer burn or any change from light tan color indicates spoiled turkey.
Can you get sick from eating spoiled turkey?
Eating turkey that has spoiled can cause foodborne illness. Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea may result. To avoid getting sick, discard any turkey with an odd look, smell or texture.
How should you reheat leftover turkey?
Thoroughly reheat turkey pieces, slices and gravy to 165°F. Boil gravy for at least 3-5 minutes. Partial reheating can allow bacteria to survive and make you sick.
What are some tasty ways to use up leftover turkey?
Sandwiches, soup, casseroles, wraps, salads, turkey tetrazzini, turkey pot pie, turkey enchiladas, and turkey noodle soup are all delicious options!
Storing turkey properly is key to enjoying the flavors and health benefits of those tasty leftovers for as long as possible after your holiday feast. Follow these guidelines on refrigeration, freezing and reheating to maximize the shelf life while minimizing the risk of foodborne illness.
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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.