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Leftover Turkey Tips
- To save money, try to make turkey leftovers using ingredients you already have
- Be sure leftover turkey has been properly stored (refrigerated or frozen) before you serve it again
- Thaw slices of frozen turkey in the refrigerator
- Leftover turkey can be used in sandwiches, soups and casserole dishes, among other things
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The best part of Thanksgiving dinner is making sure everyone has enough turkey to eat. Sometimes that means you make more than enough turkey. Never fear, this guide will show you how to cook leftover turkey.
You chose the perfect turkey, cooked it to perfection, then had it as your centerpiece of a perfect meal. Now it's the day after Thanksgiving, and you have enough leftovers on hand to eat turkey sandwiches every day until Christmas. Don't worry; there's more than one way to cook leftover turkey!
There are many versatile ways to use your leftover turkey. Choose whatever appeals to you, but remember to be smart - if you're eating leftovers to be frugal, don't use a recipe that requires you buy 10 new ingredients. If you're getting tired of turkey, have a second Thanksgiving dinner. Invite friends and family you didn't get to see on the official holiday, and let them help you polish off your turkey. -
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Storage of Leftover Turkey
- The most important part of cooking leftovers is making sure they're safe to eat!
- You need to refrigerate or freeze cooked turkey within two hours of taking it from the oven.
- Make sure your refrigerator's temperature is between 34-40 degrees Fahrenheit, so the turkey stays below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
- You should eat refrigerated leftovers within four days.
- If you don't think you can eat the turkey within four days, freeze it instead of refrigerating. Frozen turkey stays good to eat for four months.
- Make sure your freezer's temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below. This ensures it's cold enough to properly preserve your turkey!
- Carve your turkey before refrigerating or freezing it. You want to remove all meat from the bones. An uncarved turkey won't chill quickly enough.
- Remove any leftover stuffing from the turkey, and refrigerate it separately. You should eat leftover stuffing within two days!
- If you have a lot of leftover turkey, start carving it up after it's been out of the oven for an hour and a half. That way you can safely get it into the fridge within two hours.
- If you know how you're going to use the turkey, carve accordingly: slices for sandwiches, diced turkey for soup, etc. This will save you a step when you go to use the turkey later!
- You can also refrigerate or freeze the bones to make stock later.
- Place your leftovers in 2 inch deep containers or plastic bags. The shallower container allows the turkey to cool faster, preventing bacterial growth.
- If you're placing the turkey in the freezer, wrap it in freezer paper, aluminum foil or other freezer-safe packaging to prevent freezer burn.
- You may want to coat the turkey with chicken broth, so it doesn't dry out in the refrigerator.
- Be aware that doing so reduces the time it will keep to two days, instead of four.
- Place containers in the refrigerator or freezer, with space around them so the cold air can circulate.
Cold Turkey
- The easiest thing to do is to eat your turkey straight from the refrigerator! Or take the easy additional step of putting your turkey in a sandwich or salad.
- Make sure you consume your turkey within a few hours of taking it from the refrigerator; when its temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended amount of time, bacteria can grow.
- You can take turkey slices straight from the freezer to make turkey sandwiches. If you make them in the morning, the turkey will have thawed enough by lunchtime!
- Keep them in the refrigerator while thawing; you still want the meat to stay under 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Re-Heating Turkey
- If you're re-heating your turkey, make sure you do it thoroughly!
- If you're using the oven, heat it to at least 325 degrees Fahrenheit so the turkey can heat quickly.
- If you're using a microwave, rotate your plate so the turkey re-heats evenly.
- You may wish to add broth or water for moister turkey.
- Use a food thermometer to make sure the turkey reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
