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.
Take our quiz: What do you know about food safety?
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 7 days too long for 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.
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.
Can you eat stuffing after 5 days? ›
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.
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.
Is Thanksgiving food good after 4 days? ›
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends throwing out refrigerated leftovers after three to four days. If foods are kept in the freezer, they can usually still be consumed for three to four months.
Can you eat cooked meat after 7 days? ›
Beef, veal, lamb and pork roasts, steaks and chops may be kept 3 to 5 days. After cooking, meat, poultry and seafood can be safely stored in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days.
Can I eat 7 day old chicken? ›
USDA recommends using cooked chicken within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within three to four days.
Can I eat cooked ground beef after 5 days? ›
USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days. There are two different families of bacteria: pathogenic bacteria, the kind that cause foodborne illness, and spoilage bacteria, the kind of bacteria that cause foods to deteriorate and develop unpleasant odors, tastes, and textures.
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.
How long can a butterball turkey stay in the refrigerator? ›
A thawed turkey may be kept in the refrigerator (40 degrees F or below) up to 4 days before cooking. Frozen Whole Turkeys and Frozen Whole Turkey Breasts need to be thawed before cooking. Thaw Fully Cooked Baked and Smoked Turkeys via the refrigerator method.
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.”
When should you throw away Thanksgiving leftovers? ›
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 turkey and dressing safe to eat? ›
Thanksgiving leftovers are safe to eat for up to four days when stored in the refrigerator. In the freezer, leftovers are safely frozen indefinitely but will keep the best quality for two to six months.
How long are Thanksgiving sides good for? ›
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.
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.
How long should Thanksgiving dinner last? ›
Four to Five Days After Thanksgiving.
