10 Delicious Leftover Turkey Recipes to Make Until Your Fridge Is Empty | Livestrong.com (2024)

FAQs

How long is leftover turkey good for in the refrigerator? ›

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.

Use freezer-safe bags or containers and "limit air space in the package to prevent freezer burn," she says. Another option is to wrap the turkey in aluminum foil, followed by plastic wrap. "The aluminum foil helps prevent freezer burn and the plastic wrap helps retain moisture," explains Baker.

Cook food thoroughly.

For both turkey and ham, that's 165 degrees. And that goes for heating leftovers, too. Keep food out of the “danger zone.” Bacteria can grow rapidly in the danger zone between 40 and 140 degrees. After food is prepared, keep hot food hot and cold food cold.

Place the turkey on a parchment or foil-covered baking sheet in a single layer. Transfer to the freezer for one hour, until the turkey is quite chilled and firm. This will allow the slices or cubes to stay separate when you freeze them in a bag or container.

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.

Once the turkey is thawed, you can keep it in the refrigerator for one to two additional days before cooking.

Place the turkey pieces in a baking dish and drizzle with a few tablespoons of stock and/or butter. Cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can microwave the sliced turkey (cover with a damp paper towel) in a microwave-safe dish at 50% power in 1-minute intervals.

The best way to store turkey, whether it's in the refrigerator or freezer, is by placing leftovers in air-tight containers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that your leftover turkey should be sliced or divided into small quantities and stored within 2 hours.

Simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, put the carved meat in a baking dish, and add some chicken broth or turkey stock to the pan. The meat will absorb some of the liquid as it heats, making it nice and juicy. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in the oven until the meat is hot, 20 to 30 minutes.

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 a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

Though it's especially obvious in leftover fish and poultry, discerning connoisseurs can pick out the WOF bouquet in most reheated meats. These flavors are the result of a series of chemical reactions that begins with the deterioration of specific kinds of fats known as polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs.

You may have noticed that turkey is a common ingredient in dog treats and dog food. Skinless, unseasoned white turkey meat that's been properly cooked is actually fine for dogs to consume in small amounts. Ground turkey, as long as it's plain and has no additives, is also perfectly healthy for dogs.

If you want o buy it now I would freeze it raw, defrost it in the fridge and roast it. That way you can enjoy the freshly cooked meat and the cold leftovers. When you freeze cooked turkey the texture is dryer so it works best in recipes with added sauce like curry or coronation salad.

To prevent your foods from spilling over and becoming one messy heap, start by freezing all of your leftovers for just about two hours - this will allow them to become firm but not frozen. Then, place individual portions in your vacuum sealer bag, and finally, preserve the contents with your vacuum sealer.

Leftover cooked food may be stored in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. During this time, you can reheat the leftovers to 165 °F. Be sure to return any unused portion to the refrigerator within two hours to remain safe.

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.

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.