With turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries and side dishes galore, Thanksgiving meals are filled with tasty foods. But often those dishes stick around for much longer than a day.
And while Thanksgiving leftovers are as sought after as the big meal itself, turkey and side dishes are only safe to eat for a certain amount of time.
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Safely storing
For safely storing your leftover food, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says to keep these tips in mind:
- Store leftover food in shallow containers no more than 2 inches deep.
- Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within two hours.
- Set the fridge temperature between 33 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
- Remove cooked turkey from the bone, and store it separate from stuffing and gravy.
- Make sure you store any meat, eggs, veggies and milk within two hours.
- Throw away food left out at room temperature for longer than two hours.
- Discard any food you’re unsure of being safe. When in doubt, throw it out.
- Reheat leftovers to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Leftover lifespan
Whether you enjoy your leftovers as they are or use the ingredients to make new dishes, it’s important to keep expiration dates in mind. According to foodsafety.gov, a website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the following foods are safe in the fridge:
- Turkey: 3-4 days. Eat turkey within three to four days of cooking. If you use the turkey in a new dish like a soup or casserole, only consume within those initial four days. Another option is freezing the cooked turkey. Turkey can last up to four more months if frozen. However, keep that four-day time frame in mind. If it is frozen two days after cooking, once it is thawed out, it is only good for two more days.
- Stuffing and gravy: 2 days. Use stuffing and gravy within two days of cooking.
- Side dishes: 5 days. Enjoy miscellaneous side dishes up to five days after cooking, depending on the ingredients included in the dishes.
The main reason to enjoy your leftovers before these time frames is bacteria. Bacteria can grow in your food. The longer the food is in the fridge, the more bacteria it can harbor.
Bacteria and viruses found in food can cause food poisoning (or foodborne illness). You can prevent food poisoning by washing your hands often and cooking and storing food safely.
Alternatives to leftovers
If you cook a big meal and have more leftovers than you’ll be able to use up, consider giving all guests a plate to-go. Not only will they be thankful to have some delicious food to take with them, but you won’t have to worry about consuming all leftovers or discarding those you couldn’t finish.
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Posted In Emergency Medicine, Health Information, Healthy Living, Nutrition
SHN Staff
Sanford Health News is your site for health news from the experts at Sanford Health. SHN staff is a team of Midwest-Emmy-winning journalists bringing you trustworthy information on healthy living, health care, scientific research, health conditions and medical innovation.
FAQs
The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later. If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will be of best quality within 2-6 months.
How long is it safe to eat Thanksgiving leftovers? ›
As a general guideline, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recommends eating or freezing turkey and other leftovers within three to four days. For Thanksgiving, that means you should eat or freeze by Monday.
Is Thanksgiving food good a week later? ›
According to the USDA, Thanksgiving leftovers are safe in the fridge for up to four days, and safe in the freezer “indefinitely, but will keep the best quality for two to six months.”
Can you eat turkey 5 days after Thanksgiving? ›
Turkey: 3-4 days.
Eat turkey within three to four days of cooking. If you use the turkey in a new dish like a soup or casserole, only consume within those initial four days. Another option is freezing the cooked turkey. Turkey can last up to four more months if frozen.
Is leftover turkey good after 7 days? ›
USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.
Is it OK to eat 5 day old leftovers? ›
Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.
Can you eat stuffing after 5 days? ›
Three to Four Days After Thanksgiving
Mashed potatoes and leftover stuffing should be used — similar to cooked vegetables — or consumed.
How long can turkey carcass stay in the fridge? ›
How Long Can I Keep a Turkey Carcass for Making Soup? A refrigerated turkey carcass will keep up to 5 to 7 days. If you're planning on cooking turkey soup, be sure to make it within this time frame. A frozen turkey carcass will stay good for up to 6 months.
How long are Thanksgiving sides good for? ›
If the mashed potatoes have an on and off smell or appearance, throw them out without even tasting it. Vegetable-based sides are typically good to eat for about three-to-five days after being cooked if they're stored in the fridge. Their shelf life extends to 10-to-12 months in the freezer.
How to save leftover Thanksgiving dinner? ›
Leftovers should be stored within two hours of cooking. Divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze them in covered shallow containers so they cool quickly. A large container or whole turkey will take too long to cool down to a safe temperature, which gives bacteria a chance to multiply.
Do not refrigerate uncooked stuffing. If stuffing is prepared ahead of time, it must be either frozen or cooked immediately. To use cooked stuffing later, cool in shallow containers and refrigerate it within 2 hours. Use it within 3 to 4 days.
Can you eat turkey on the 5th day? ›
Snyder points to the USDA FoodKeeper app for best guidance: The tool notes that refrigerated, cooked turkey should be eaten within 4 days. Eat frozen turkey leftovers within 6 months for premier quality.
What if my turkey has been in the fridge for 3 days? ›
If properly stored, raw turkey can last in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cold cuts last up to 5 days. How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge? If you have leftovers that include cooked turkey, you can expect those to last in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
How long are Thanksgiving leftovers good for? ›
The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later. If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will be of best quality within 2-6 months.
How long is ham good for after Thanksgiving? ›
Information. Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F. See also Ham and Food Safety.
How to tell if cooked turkey is bad? ›
Like other leftovers, leftover cooked turkey can—and will—go bad. “The texture and smell of turkey will indicate when it has gone bad,” Edwards says. “Generally it will smell bad and get a slimy texture. It's best to throw it away after four days in the fridge or move it to the freezer at that point.”
How long after Thanksgiving is it safe to eat the ham? ›
Those popular spiral-cut hams or any store-wrapped cooked ham will last three to four days in the fridge. Cooked country hams will last a bit longer, up to a week. Do: Wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before refrigerating. If you choose to freeze, it will be good for one to two months.
Is stuffing good after 3 days? ›
For leftovers, remember the 2-hour rule and refrigerate cooked poultry and stuffing within two hours to avoid bacteria from multiplying on room-temperature food. Leftover stuffing should be consumed or frozen within 3-4 days.
