Here’s How Long It’s Actually Safe to Keep Thanksgiving Leftovers
It’s time to eat and eat and eat.
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After Thanksgiving dinner is done and your plate is empty, the only thing left to do is head back into the kitchen and search for leftovers. If this is your plan for a few days after your holiday feast, you may be wondering how long each dish actually lasts.
From days in the fridge to months in the freezer, here’s how long you can safely savor your Thanksgiving dinner according to FoodSaftey.gov.
Turkey
Thanksgiving’s main dish is good for four days in the fridge. However, If you place the turkey into Ziplock bags and place it in the freezer, you can keep it up to four months.
Gravy
Your gravy will be good for up to four days in fridge and four months in freezer. To reheat, place the gravy in a saucepan and bring it to a rolling boil to ensure even heating.
Stuffing
Up to four days in fridge and two to three months in your freezer.
Mashed Potatoes and Yams
Both are good up to four days in the fridge and two months in freezer. To reheat potatoes, stir in some cream to rehydrate and microwave at half power for two to three minutes.
Cranberry Sauce
Homemade cranberry sauce can stay in the fridge for ten days. Canned cranberry sauce, on the other hand, can last one to two weeks in the fridge. Freezing is not recommended for either.
Pies
Your dessert can be kept at room temperature for two days or be stored in the fridge, covered, for a total of four days.
Before you begin cooking, make sure you have the right containers and plastic food storage bags on hand. This way you can send leftovers home with others and be able to store the food safely.
It’s also a good idea to do a quick refrigerator clean up to ensure you have enough room for your leftovers. So goodbye old food and hello delicious turkey dinner.
