Turkey: it’s not just for American Thanksgiving, anymore. It’s a delicious alternative to higher-fat meats, a great source of a complete protein, and it can be made year-round for a great family dinner.
Here, we’ll discuss how to store turkey leftovers and turkey deli meats in a timely and proper manner so it’s not only delicious but also safe to eat!
Cooked turkey is safe to eat if left out at room temperature for two hours or less. The USDA identifies anything beyond these two hours as the “Danger Zone” for perishable foods – the zone in which harmful bacteria begin to grow and food becomes unsafe to eat. Dispose of your cooked turkey if it has been left out at room temperature for more than two hours.
It may not be easy to make a decision when the food has been sitting out for just a while. Knowing what to look for to identify when cooked food has gone bad will facilitate the process substantially.
Is It Safe To Eat Turkey Left Out Overnight?
You’ve enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner, or packed deli turkey sandwiches for lunches tomorrow, and then got distracted before getting the turkey put away. You wake up to find the meat still on the kitchen counter and it’s tempting to think it’s still just fine.
Don’t risk it. Meat is a highly perishable food item on which bacteria grows very well and very quickly. The USDA advises against eating foods that have been left out of cold storage for more than two hours, and the full night on the counter greatly exceeds this limit.
Play it safe and throw the turkey away.
Can You Get Food Poisoning From Turkey That’s Been Sitting Out?
Food poisoning is a real concern with perishable foods that have sat at room temperature for too long. If you eat turkey that has been sitting out for more than two hours, you’re in what the USDA calls the “Danger Zone” and at risk for food poisoning.
Two hours is the general rule of thumb, but pay attention to your surroundings. Is it a hot summer day making the “room temperature” even warmer than usual?
If so, the bacteria will grow faster and put you at greater risk of food poisoning as soon as within the hour of “room temp” storage.
As always, err on the side of caution. Turkey is a delicious and great source of protein, but not worth the risk of food poisoning.
How Can You Tell If Turkey Has Gone Bad?
Meat–whether it’s cooked or uncooked– is pretty good about letting you know when it is no longer safe to eat. Because it grows bacteria quickly if left out, the rancid smell will send a clear message quickly: do not eat.
Cooked turkey should smell like the seasoning in which you cooked it. Deli turkey and raw turkey should have a neutral smell that, while not as pleasant as fresh out of the oven, definitely doesn’t smell rancid.
The other big telltale sign for meat that has gone bad is texture. If your meat has a slimy coating to it– and you’re sure it’s not gravy!– that is the layer of bacteria growth forming. The best bet is to throw this turkey away.
Whether it’s been left out or put into storage and you see any kind of discoloration or growth on its surface, this is a sure sign that its shelf life is over and it is not safe to eat. Do not be tempted to cut away “the bad parts;” mold growth tells you that the meat is bad all over.
How Long Can Turkey Be Stored?
Turkey makes for great leftover meals for days, even months, as long as it is stored properly. If you plan to use the turkey soon, the refrigerator will do the trick. If you have more long-term plans for your bird, turkey freezes really well.
Raw, whole birds (or parts of whole birds) must be used within the shortest window– 1-2 days is all you have for safe storage of raw turkey. Once the bird (or partial bird) is cooked, you can store it in the fridge and safely enjoy it for leftover meals for 3-4 days.
Deli turkey– also known as sandwich meat, lunch meat or cold cuts– is treated with curing, salting, fermenting, or smoking and can therefore last a bit longer in the refrigerator. If properly wrapped in a sealed, airtight storage, you can safely eat refrigerated deli turkey up to 4-5 days after storing.
If you don’t have plans for your turkey within the next few days, turkey does very well in the freezer. Wrap your raw or cooked turkey in a resealable, airtight plastic bag or storage container and freeze for a meal months on down the road.
Raw turkey will freeze well for 6-9 months. Cooked turkey will be safe and good to eat for up to a year after freezing. Deli turkey slices can safely be stored in a freezer indefinitely, but for the best taste and texture, you’ll want to thaw and eat the turkey within a month or two.
For best results when storing frozen deli meat, wrap the package that it comes in with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it into a resealable plastic bag or storage container. This will slow the deterioration of the quality in taste and texture while it sits in your freezer.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Freezing meats is a great way to ensure leftovers since it keeps the meat safe from bacterial growth. However, you also need to thaw your meat properly to make sure that it is still safe to eat.
Do not allow frozen turkey to sit out on a counter to thaw. Put the turkey into the fridge and plan ahead accordingly as if it is a larger piece or a whole bird, this could take up to a couple of days. Deli meat should be thawed in the same manner, so plan ahead for making school lunches with frozen turkey slices!
Should You Throw Away Turkey That Hasn’t Been Stored Properly?
You came home from the store and put away all your groceries… except that package of turkey meat hiding at the bottom of the bag.
Or, it was a delicious turkey dinner, but that darn tryptophan kicked in and knocked you out for the night. Now, the turkey has been sitting out long past the “danger zone.”
What to do? It seems such a waste to throw food away, but in this case, it’s the right thing to do. Turkey meat is a perishable food item that grows unhealthy bacteria quickly when not stored properly.
If you haven’t put the turkey into cold storage within two hours of cooking, throw it away.
It is always better to be safe than sorry here.
How Should Turkey Be Stored?
If you’ve just brought your deli meat (aka lunch meat, cold cuts, sandwich meat) home from the store, and you plan to make sandwiches over the next few days, keep it in its original packaging and put it in the refrigerator.
If you get it home and realize you already have a package that needs to be eaten in the refrigerator, don’t worry! The new package can be frozen. Keep it unopened in its store packaging and wrap it in an extra layer of plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Put it into the freezer. Turkey sandwiches will be on the lunch menu next month, too!
If you come how with a full or partial raw bird, and you plan to cook in today or tomorrow, keep it in its store packaging and put it into the refrigerator as soon as you get home.
If it’s an especially hot day and you’ve been out running errands, be sure you’re watching the clock and you’ve put the turkey into the fridge within an hour of it leaving cold storage at the market.
If you’re not planning to cook the raw turkey within a day or so, you’ll need to get it into the freezer. Its original store packaging will keep it fresh and good in the freezer for a while, but if you don’t have any plans for next few weeks to use the bird, give it an extra layer of plastic wrap or aluminum foil before freezing.
What if it’s a day or two after Thanksgiving and the very thought of eating any more turkey is making your stomach turn? You know it’s still good and you know you’ll crave it again, but you just need a turkey break. Store your cooked turkey properly and enjoy leftovers in January!
To make it easy on you when you do want to eat turkey again, carve the bird into whatever size servings make the most sense for your household before you freeze it.
Wrap cooked turkey in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and then place in a resealable bag or storage container. Get it into the freezer and don’t give it another thought until you crave it again.
Turkey is a family and dinner party favorite for good reason: it’s the gift that keeps on giving! Just be sure to store it promptly and properly so you can enjoy leftovers as another meal safely. For best results, don’t forget the gravy.