When it comes to leftover turkey safety, it all starts with the carving
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“(Shoving the whole thing into the fridge) means the meat will spend a longer time in the danger zone because it’s going from hot through the danger zone to cold, and that can allow bacteria to grow. Carve up the whole turkey, portion it into smaller portions, and put it in the fridge or the freezer.”
The same goes for other foods, such as soups and stews, which can cause foodborne illness if not stored properly. For example, don’t move turkey soup directly from the stovetop to the fridge. Ladle it into smaller containers to allow it to cool faster.
“It’s going to take hours for that hot pot to cool down. So that means it’s sitting in the danger zone for hours, which is basically the same as leaving it on the countertop. So bacteria will grow, and then it finally cools down, but the bacteria or toxins they produce are there.”
How long can you keep leftover turkey on the counter and in the fridge?
Once guests have finished feasting, don’t leave food out for longer than two hours. After two hours, put leftovers in the fridge.
Goodridge recommends storing cooked turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator (at or below 4 C/40 F) for three to four days. The same goes for other leftovers from turkey dinner, such as stuffing and gravy.
How long does turkey last in the freezer?
Wrapped tightly in freezer-safe packaging, cooked turkey is at its best when stored for up to six months in the freezer, adds Goodridge. “Beyond this period, it remains safe but may experience texture and taste degradation.”
How to prevent food poisoning
“With foodborne outbreaks, it’s never one thing that caused the outbreak. It’s often a breakdown in multiple things. For example, maybe they put the turkey into the fridge, but they didn’t wash their hands, and they touched something. And (the turkey) wasn’t on the bottom shelf — it was on the top — and some juices dripped down onto the leftovers that they subsequently didn’t heat up properly,” says Goodridge.
“It’s all about trying to break that cycle. And oftentimes, if you can even break one of those steps, you go a long way to stopping an outbreak or people getting sick.”
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