It’s probably time to toss those Thanksgiving leftovers

EDITOR’S NOTE: Eyeing those Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge? This story originally posted Nov. 29, 2021, but worth revisiting.

If you haven’t eaten the Thanksgiving leftovers yet, it might be too late.

Any remaining food from Thursday’s meal should have been consumed by Monday night, experts said.

“You should eat Thanksgiving leftovers in three to four days — five days maximum,” said Martin Bucknavage, senior food safety extension associate at the Department of Food Science, Penn State University. “Anytime past that point, and the turkey will most likely become slimy and lose some flavor. Mashed and sweet potatoes will begin to dry out, and stuffing will become soggy.”

That’s in line with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, which suggests Thanksgiving leftovers are safe in the refrigerator for up to four days. Those stored in the freezer will remain of the best quality for two to six months. Frozen food stays safe indefinitely, although the quality might decrease over time, the USDA said.

Jesus Garcia, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, wrote on the agency’s website that the Monday after Thanksgiving is the last day one can safely eat leftovers.

Bucknavage and his wife set a plan for the leftovers. There is a slim chance you could get sick from eating leftovers after Monday, but don’t risk it, Bucknavage advised. Waiting any longer to eat the food can be bad for higher-risk populations, especially older people.

“The best thing to do is to plan how much you will eat and freeze the rest,” Bucknavage said.

Meredith Carothers, food safety expert with USDA, said the recommendation of three to four days is conservative for safety’s sake. If food is stored properly, discarding your leftovers can be avoided, she said.

When using an item that was frozen, she said, don’t leave it in the refrigerator for multiple days.

“Use the frozen item right away,” Carothers said. “It’s OK to take an item out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator on Saturday, but it’s then best to eat it by Sunday. Once you have reheated something, it is OK to reheat again. But know that the turkey can dry out the more your reheat it.”

Find a way to incorporate leftovers into mealtime by making a turkey casserole or pot pie where you can throw everything into one pot or pan, Bucknavage said. Turkey soup also is an option, he said.

When reheating leftovers, make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the USDA. For the microwave, cover and rotate the food for even heating.

Get creative, said Leslie Bonci of Point Breeze, a registered dietician and owner of Active Eating Advice by Leslie. Use leftovers for a snack such as a layered dip. Begin with potatoes, top with turkey and cranberries and some green vegetables, and use carrots or celery instead of salted chips.

Give leftovers new life by combining pieces of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and vegetables and then add a little egg to hold it together in a muffin pan and bake. Use pumpkin pie filling as a topping for oatmeal, or combine it with milk and other fruits and vegetables to make a smoothie.

“Cranberries are a great complement on ricotta cheese on toast or used as a sweetener on yogurt,” Bonci said.

With more holidays coming up, consider storing food in smaller portions in the freezer, Carothers said. That’s a better way to organize leftovers and keep them fresh, so when you pull them out there won’t be too much food and they will be eaten right away.

“If leftovers seem too dry, you can always add more gravy,” she said.

Said Bucknavage: “There is nothing better than a leftover turkey sandwich with mayonnaise and stuffing and cranberries. It’s like having another turkey dinner.”