How long can I store Cooked Turkey in Refrig before Freezing? [duplicate]

How long can I store Cooked Turkey in Refrig before Freezing? [duplicate] - Photo of Assorted Food Hanging on Gray Metal Railings

How long can I store Cooked Turkey in Refrig before Freezing? I bought an Organic Turkey early for Thanksgiving and cooked it. It's been in my Refrig for a week and I'd like to trim and freeze parts and also make a soup. Is my timing on this acceptable?



Best Answer

I'm going to say no.

We chill food in the freezer or refrigerator to slow bacterial growth. In general, the refrigerator will slow the growth enough that cooked meat can be kept safely for 3-5 days, and the freezer enough that cooked meat can be stored for 2-3 months. If you've already kept the meat in the fridge for a week, it is already unsafe to eat. Freezing it now will not reverse that.

In general, if you want to freeze food you should do so ASAP after cooking to maximize the amount of time it will keep in the freezer. After it's already unsafe is too late.




Pictures about "How long can I store Cooked Turkey in Refrig before Freezing? [duplicate]"

How long can I store Cooked Turkey in Refrig before Freezing? [duplicate] - Anonymous woman walking through shops
How long can I store Cooked Turkey in Refrig before Freezing? [duplicate] - Cooked Chicken on White Plate
How long can I store Cooked Turkey in Refrig before Freezing? [duplicate] - Redhead Woman with Long Wavy Hair Standing Before Residential Building



Quick Answer about "How long can I store Cooked Turkey in Refrig before Freezing? [duplicate]"

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Never leave leftovers at room temperature. Pathogenic bacteria can grow rapidly in the "Danger Zone," the temperature range between 40°F and 140°F.

How long can cooked turkey stay in fridge before freezing?

Leftover turkey should be prepped for freezing as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of being cooked. Cut the cooked and cooled turkey into bite sized pieces.

Can you freeze turkey after 4 days in the fridge?

The USDA says, \u201cLeftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or frozen for 3 to 4 months.\u201d That doesn't mean they'll taste the same after that long, though. \u201cI wouldn't freeze anything longer than four to six weeks,\u201d said Stevenson.

Can you eat cooked turkey after 5 days?

Most food experts recommend that you eat leftover turkey within about four days of refrigerating it. It usually takes harmful bacteria longer than this to begin growing, at least on properly stored foods. After four days, the meat may become susceptible to mold and other growths that can cause food poisoning.

Can I freeze cooked turkey after 3 days?

According to the USDA, leftovers will last up to 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, but if you know you have more than you can eat in a few days, freeze it sooner rather than later. To freeze cooked turkey, first pick the meat from the bones.



How long can you store cooked turkey in the fridge or freezer?




More answers regarding how long can I store Cooked Turkey in Refrig before Freezing? [duplicate]

Answer 2

if it's not bad, it's still good...unless you have it tightly wrapped, turkey meat will dry out before any deterioration will take hold...i've used turkey that's been on the bone in the fridge lightly covered for up to 2 months (you may have to heat it with a few drops of water) on the other hand, if you wrap it in plastic & seal out the air, the moisture will cause it to go bad in less than two weeks..

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Min An, Ekrulila, Engin Akyurt, Nurlan Tortbayev