Leftover Turkey and Stuffing Casserole (Day after Thanksgiving Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

How many days after Thanksgiving can you eat leftover turkey? ›

How long do the turkey and trimmings stay safe in the refrigerator or freezer? The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later.

Thanksgiving dinner leftovers can be safely stored in the refrigerator in sealed containers for about 3-4 days. After this period, it's advisable to move any remaining leftovers to the freezer for longer-term storage.

The best way to reheat turkey is in a 350°F oven.

Cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes.

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for three to four days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Turkey typically lasts up to four days in the fridge before it goes bad.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends using cooked turkey within three to four days as long as it is kept refrigerated at a temperature that is 40°F or lower. “Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth,” the website states.

Preheat the oven to 350 F and warm the dish covered for 30 to 40 minutes, until it is heated through. To recreate the crispy top found in freshly-baked stuffing, remove the foil for the last 10 minutes of the baking time. If the stuffing feels dry, add a splash of stock or some turkey drippings before rewarming.

The best way to reheat the stuffing and the turkey is in the oven, and green beans and mashed potatoes would best be reheated over low heat on the stovetop until they're warmed through.

Turkey: Cooked turkey can be stored in the refrigeration for up to four days, and in the freezer for up to four months. Dressing/stuffing: Like turkey, if stored properly, stuffing or dressing will be safe to eat for three to four days after cooking. It will last for about a month if stored properly in the freezer.

Just make sure any plastic wrap has been removed and that it is covered with a lid or aluminum foil. If it is in a glass baking dish, put it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. Refrigerated Casserole: Take it out of the refrigerator, put it in a cold or hot, 350°F oven. Reheat for about an hour.

How do you reheat a 9x13 casserole? ›

If you baked your casserole ahead of time, simply cover the dish with foil and reheat at 350˚F until heated through.

Heat the oven to 350°F and transfer the stuffing to an oven-safe dish (or, you can keep it in the dish that it was originally cooked in). If it seems dry, you'll want to add a splash of broth. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake again until crisp, 15–20 minutes.

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Stuffing Leftovers

If you made a stand-alone stuffing side dish, refrigerate it for up to four days—as long as it's cooked. The USDA does not recommend refrigerating uncooked stuffing. Cooked stuffing will keep a month in the freezer.

You can freeze turkey, other meat and meals cooked from previously cooked and frozen meat. But once defrosted, the pause button is off and you should eat the food within 24 hours. You can make your leftovers into new meals and then freeze them.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends throwing out refrigerated leftovers after three to four days. If foods are kept in the freezer, they can usually still be consumed for three to four months.

If properly stored, raw turkey can last in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cold cuts last up to 5 days. How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge? If you have leftovers that include cooked turkey, you can expect those to last in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

How many times can you reheat turkey? It's not a good idea to reheat turkey more than once. Technically, as long as it reaches 165° each time, it's safe to eat. That said, it's a food safety hazard to some degree, since every time you heat and cool food, it passes through the danger zone (between 40° and 140°).

If your turkey has been properly handled, you can refrigerate and eat it for up to four days. If you are planning to freeze it, it's best to freeze it within one day of cooking for optimal texture and taste. However, leftover turkey can be frozen after three days and it will be fine.