Safe Thanksgiving Storage
What's the best way to store holiday leftovers?
Your turkey will come out marvelously this year, no doubt. Your guests will rave about it all day. But the best part is after the holiday meal, when you turn those leftovers into a week's worth of sandwiches, salads and soups. Delicious idea! But, is it safe?
Read the article below
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Not if your bird has been sitting out on the counter for more than two hours. According to the USDA, harmful bacteria can thrive and multiply between 40°F and 140°F (which is why refrigerators should be set at 40°F or lower). Consuming perishable items such as milk, yogurt, poultry, fish and Thanksgiving turkey that have been left out for longer than two hours can be dangerous.
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Since you cannot smell or taste bacteria, food can spoil without seeming "off." Certainly, if you see mold, the food should be thrown out. In most cases, cutting off the offending area doesn't solve the problem because poisons that can cause mold growth may lurk way below the food's surface. Hard cheese is the exception – you may be able to salvage it by cutting out a large area around the mold.
Divide and Conquer
If you haven't exceeded the two-hour mark, divide the remains of your Thanksgiving feast into small, shallow dishes so that they can cool (if they haven't already) to safe temperatures quickly. Coat each slice of turkey with chicken broth (to keep it from drying out) before storing it in an airtight container. Refrigerate those items that you'll consume within a few days; immediately freeze items you'll want to eat later.
Reheating
To reheat the turkey, add a touch more broth and cover it so that the meat will stay moist. Cook it in the oven to an internal temperature of 165°F, which will kill any lingering bacteria. Always bring sauces, soups and gravy to a boil when reheating. To microwave leftovers, make sure to rotate the food while it's cooking so that it will reheat evenly.
How Long to Store?
Plain, cooked turkey will last for three to four days in the refrigerator, but turkey covered with broth or gravy generally only lasts one or two days. Turkey, with or without gravy, will remain safe in the freezer for up to six months. Turkey salad will last for three to five days in the refrigerator, but does not freeze well. If you've made turkey soup from your leftovers, refrigerate it for three to four days, or freeze it for two to three months.
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