How long does turkey last in the fridge, can you freeze cooked turkey and how to store leftovers safely
The last gift you want to give this Christmas is food poisoning 🎄
- There are an estimated 2.4 million cases of food poisoning every year in the UK.
- Christmas is the last time of the year you want to be feeling under the weather.
- This is how to safely store your turkey leftovers.
There’s nothing like tucking into a slice of turkey on Christmas Day. If you’re lucky, there may even be some leftovers to enjoy over the holiday season, but if you don’t store them safely you could put yourself at risk of food poisoning.
The Food Standard Agency (FSA) estimate that there are 2.4 million cases of food poisoning in the UK every year, with Christmas the last time you want to be feeling under the weather.
Leftovers can go towards a tasty lunch on Boxing Day, with many opting to freeze what’s left of their cooked turkey to make it last longer.
However, eating unsafe cooked turkey and meats can cause food poisoning, which causes nasty symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea. Here’s everything you need to know about storing your turkey leftovers safely this Christmas.
How long does turkey last in the fridge?
Leftover cooked turkey from Christmas Day can be safely stored in your fridge for two days. It’s recommended to keep it in an airtight container, and that is stored away from raw meat.
Can you freeze cooked turkey?
If you have cooked turkey left over and want to make it last longer, you can freeze it for use in future meals. It’s safe to freeze cooked turkey, other cooked meats and meals made from previously cooked and frozen meat.
Frozen turkey is best eaten within two to three months, as after three to six months, the quality of the meat will be affected. This is called freezer burn and is when foods in the freezer are exposed to cold, dry air, causing them to dehydrate and form ice crystals, affecting the overall quality, rather than the safety of the food.
How to store leftovers safely
It’s important that you store any turkey leftovers safely in order to avoid getting food poisoning over the festive period. Let cooked food cool quickly at room temperature before putting it in the fridge within one to two hours where it will be safe to eat for two days.
For freezing, let cooked food cool at room temperature and freeze within one to two hours, splitting leftovers into smaller portions or containers can help the food cool quicker. When adding to the freezer, don’t forget to label and date the items so you’re not left guessing later on.
When you want to eat your frozen turkey, the FSA advise you do not defrost at room temperature, instead defrost slowly and safely in the fridge or in a microwave on the defrost setting.
Before cooking, make sure the food has defrosted thoroughly as partially defrosted meat may not cook evenly leaving harmful bacteria that could make you unwell able to survive the cooking process.
Once your food has been defrosted it must be eaten within 24 hours, do not refreeze food that you have already defrosted.
The last gift you want to give others this Christmas is food poisoning. Find out more about how to safely defrost and cook your turkey at the Food Standards Agency.