How long does leftover turkey last?

Maybe you’re just starting to put together your Thanksgiving dinner menu. But what about the next few days?

Leftovers are a tried-and-true part of the Thanksgiving experience. However, health experts emphasize the importance of following health guidelines when storing these dishes for later consumption. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that foodborne illnesses cause 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

“Food safety is such an important issue this Thanksgiving, especially as Americans prepare to cook a large meal for large groups that they don’t often cook,” says Meredith Carothers, MPH, food safety public affairs specialist at USDA, told USA TODAY.

Here’s how to make sure you save the leftovers so they’re safe to consume in the next few days.

According to Carothers, your leftover turkey should be in the fridge or freezer within two hours, unless you’re using a buffet warming tray heated to at least 140°F. It should be stored in an airtight container and, if frozen, reheated to at least 165°F before eating, Washington, D.C.-based nutritionist Caroline Thomason, RD, CDCES, tells USA TODAY.

“Thanksgiving leftovers are safe in the refrigerator for up to four days—until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat them—or you can put them in the freezer to enjoy later,” says Carothers. “If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will stay at their best quality for up to two to six months.”

This refrigeration rule applies to all other leftovers, too—we’re talking mashed potatoes, gravy, macaroni and cheese, and the rest of your Turkey Day offerings.

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What to do with leftover turkey?

While we’re all about eating Thanksgiving leftovers as is the next day, James Beard Award-nominated chef Jerome Grant, along with Thomason, also offers plenty of ideas to make the same foods feel like new again. Turkey is “as versatile as a lean protein,” says Thomason, making it the perfect centerpiece for countless recipes, including the following:

How long does leftover turkey last?

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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