How Long Does Cooked Turkey Last in Fridge

Introduction

The best way to store cooked turkey is to put it in the refrigerator promptly after cooking. It will keep for up to three days if stored properly. After that, it’s best to discard the leftovers.

Home-cooked turkey is an excellent main dish to serve at Thanksgiving.

Cooking a turkey at home is a great way to save money and enjoy the holiday. If you’re planning on cooking your own turkey this Thanksgiving, there are some important steps you should take in order to make sure that it tastes as good as possible.

You’ll want to start by thawing out your frozen bird (if necessary). There are two ways to do this: either place it in the refrigerator overnight or submerge it in cold water for 24 hours. Once thawed, remove all packaging from around the bird before cooking.

Once cooked through completely–this should be about 20 minutes per pound–remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes before carving into slices or chunks. The meat should still be warm when served but not hot enough that its juices leak out onto plates or other serving dishes! In addition, keep refrigerated until ready-to-eat; otherwise food poisoning could occur due to bacteria growth if left out longer than two hours per day.*

It can also be served year round, so it’s a good idea to know how long cooked turkey lasts in the fridge.

You can store cooked turkey in the refrigerator for up to three days. If you want to keep it longer than that, it’s best to freeze it. This will allow you to keep your cooked turkey for up to six months in the freezer.

After it has been cooked and leftovers are refrigerated, how long does cooked turkey last?

After it has been cooked and leftovers are refrigerated, how long does cooked turkey last?

The shelf life of cooked turkey depends on how it is stored. If you store your leftover turkey properly in the refrigerator, it can last up to three days. The key factors that determine how long cooked turkey lasts in the fridge include:

  • The temperature at which you store it (40 degrees F or below)
  • Whether or not there are any signs of spoilage

The USDA recommends that you leave cooked whole cuts of poultry (including turkey) out for about one hour at room temperature before serving; after that, it’s best to refrigerate them as soon as possible.

The USDA recommends that you leave cooked whole cuts of poultry (including turkey) out for about one hour at room temperature before serving; after that, it’s best to refrigerate them as soon as possible.

The reason behind this is simple: bacteria. Bacteria grow rapidly in warm environments and can cause foodborne illness if eaten by humans. The USDA recommends refrigerating cooked turkey immediately after removing it from the oven or grill so that any bacteria present don’t have time to multiply and make anyone sick!

They suggest eating the meat within two days of cooking it.

  • The recommended time to eat a cooked turkey is within two days of cooking it.
  • They suggest that you refrigerate cooked turkey immediately after it’s done, and keep it there for no more than two days before eating or freezing the leftovers.
  • You can reheat leftover turkey in the microwave or oven if you prefer those methods over cold cuts (but not both). If you’re going with microwaving, they recommend heating up your leftovers on high power in 10-second intervals until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit — not just warm enough to eat but hot enough that disease-causing microbes won’t survive long enough to make anyone sick. If you’d rather use an oven instead of a microwave, preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit before popping those slices into an enclosed dish along with some water; once everything has heated through properly without drying out too much (about 15 minutes), remove from heat and serve immediately so nothing gets overcooked while waiting around!

When cooked turkey is properly cooled and wrapped well, it will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator.

The first step is to cool the turkey completely. This can be done by placing it in a large container and filling it with ice water, or by refrigerating it until the internal temperature reaches 40 degrees F. Once your cooked turkey has been cooled, you’ll want to wrap it well with foil or plastic wrap before storing it in the fridge.

When properly cooled and wrapped well, cooked turkey will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator. While we recommend eating your Thanksgiving leftovers within that time frame as well-prepared foods tend to lose flavor over time–if you do find yourself with leftovers after that point (or even if they’re still good when you make them), there’s no reason not to freeze them so they’ll last longer!

Unused cooked poultry should be reheated before eating to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

how-long-does-cooked-turkey-last-in-fridge

Unused cooked poultry should be reheated before eating to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

A food thermometer is the best way to check if your turkey has reached this temperature. If you do not have a thermometer and are unsure if your turkey is fully cooked, cut into the meat and check the juices run clear.

Cooked turkey will last longer if you store it properly in your refrigerator

Once you’ve cooked your turkey, it’s important to store it properly in the refrigerator. To maximize the shelf life of your leftover cooked turkey, keep it in a covered container. You can store your leftover cooked turkey in the refrigerator for up to three days after cooking. If you want to keep it longer than that, freeze the leftovers instead!

To prevent cross-contamination with other foods and ensure that they stay fresh as long as possible, always refrigerate cooked foods within two hours of preparation or serving time.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this article on how long does cooked turkey last in the fridge. This dish is a great option for Thanksgiving and other holidays, but it can also be enjoyed any time of year. If you’re looking for more information on how long other foods last in the refrigerator, check out our other articles on this topic!

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