# Thanksgiving Leftovers: How Long They Keep and What to Make With Them

Source: https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/meat-and-seafood/chicken-and-turkey/turkey/thanksgiving-leftovers-how-long-they-keep-and-what-to-make-with-them-kzofim
Updated: 2026-10-25

Thanksgiving leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. For a meal on Thursday, finish or freeze everything by Sunday or Monday. When placed in the freezer, cooked turkey, stuffing, gravy, and side dishes keep their best quality for 2 to 6 months.

Under USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) guidelines, cooked dishes need to go into the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking so bacteria do not have time to grow.

## Before It Goes in the Fridge

Refrigerating cooked food quickly stops bacteria from multiplying. FSIS guidelines recommend that cooked dishes should be put into the refrigerator 2 hours after leaving the oven or stove, or 1 hour if the room is above 90 °F. This includes the time the bird rests on the counter before carving and the time platters sit on the dining table. Our [Thanksgiving dinner timeline](https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/meat-and-seafood/chicken-and-turkey/turkey-whole/thanksgiving-dinner-timeline-what-to-do-each-day-from-one-week-out-iooi5b) builds cleanup into the evening so platters are cleared in time.

A whole cooked turkey will not cool fast enough on a refrigerator shelf. Heat stays trapped deep in the bird long after the skin feels cool, so slice the breast meat off the bone to help it chill faster. Legs and wings are smaller and can therefore stay whole. If meat remains on the carcass after dinner, follow the carving steps in our [turkey cooking guide](https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/how-to-cook/holiday/ultimate-turkey-cooking-guide-calculator-perfect-holiday-turkey-isasgs) to strip meat from the bone before packing into containers.

Spoon all stuffing out of the bird right away and refrigerate it in a separate dish, as stuffing left inside traps warm juices in the cavity and slows down cooling.

Divide turkey, stuffing, and vegetable casseroles into small portions in shallow, covered containers so the middle cools quickly. A deep pot or high mound of warm food holds heat in the center, while shallow containers let cold air chill the food evenly. One shopper's review of Signature SELECT Meal Prep Containers With Lids is headlined "Good size for meal prep", noting that the "lids fit tight, so no spillage."

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## How Long Each Leftover Keeps

In a refrigerator set at 40 °F or below, or a freezer set at 0 °F, most dishes keep for the same amount of time.

| Leftover | Fridge (40 °F or below) | Freezer (0 °F), best quality |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sliced turkey | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 6 months |
| Stuffing (out of the bird) | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 6 months |
| Gravy | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 6 months |
| Cooked sides and casseroles | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 6 months |

Food kept continuously frozen at 0 °F stays safe indefinitely. The 2 to 6 month guideline is about taste and texture, which fade as food loses moisture in the freezer. Different USDA publications list slightly different freezer times, with these numbers coming from the FSIS "Leftovers and Food Safety" chart.

Mark each container with its contents and date before putting it in the freezer. If you are comparing wraps from your kitchen drawer, our [guide to parchment, wax paper, foil, and freezer paper](https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/paper-cleaning-and-home/plastic-foil-and-storage/freezer-and-wax-paper/what-s-the-difference-between-parchment-wax-paper-foil-and-freezer-paper-qbverm) explains which ones best block dry freezer air. One shopper's review of Signature SELECT Bags Freezer Click & Lock Double Zipper Quart is headlined "Freeze me", describing the bags as "easy to close, just the right size and not too flimsy." For pies and other baked desserts, see our [holiday desserts guide](https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/how-to-cook/holiday/holiday-desserts-complete-sweet-endings-entertaining-guide-6f15qc).

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## Reheating Safely

Steam rising from the surface does not mean food is hot all the way through. FSIS guidelines state that all leftovers must reach 165 °F, checked with a food thermometer in the center of a casserole or the thickest piece of meat. When using a microwave, stir or rotate dishes halfway through heating to eliminate cold pockets in the center.

Lean breast meat dries out quickly if you reheat it uncovered. Arrange turkey slices in a baking dish or microwave container, pour a splash of broth over the meat, and cover tightly before heating to trap steam and keep the meat moist until it reaches 165 °F.

Stuffing and gravy require direct, thorough heat. Reheat stuffing in an oven set no lower than 325 °F, or in the microwave, until the center measures 165 °F on a food thermometer. Pour leftover gravy into a saucepan and bring it to a rolling boil on the stovetop before serving. Our [Thanksgiving gravy and stuffing guide](https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/condiments-spice-and-bake/sauce-marinades-and-mixes/gravy-and-glazes/turkey-gravy-and-stuffing-make-ahead-steps-safe-temperatures-and-what-to-buy-uyqn5i) has more on making and storing both dishes.

## What to Make With the Leftovers, and What to Freeze



![A bowl of homemade noodle soup with carrots and herbs on an autumn table](https://media.paperstarship.com.au/api/public/assets/file/275e42ed-0bfa-462f-aa8a-dd289175f06e/45fc4efb-90c9-4f1b-abe1-6827fa99ee94.jpg)

You can simmer the stripped carcass of a turkey in water or broth to make stock, using the stovetop method in our [soups and stews guide](https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/how-to-cook/soups-stews-from-scratch-complete-guide-to-hearty-homemade-soups-fws2pn). Strain out the bones, return chopped turkey to the pot, and stir in wide egg noodles during the final minutes of cooking so they stay tender. If you plan to refrigerate leftover soup, store the noodles separately and combine them with the broth when reheating so they do not soak up all the liquid overnight.

For a baked dinner, mix diced turkey, condensed cream soup, and cooked pasta in a baking dish, then add a crisp topping, and bake at 350 °F. Our [casserole guide](https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/how-to-cook/complete-guide-to-making-perfect-casseroles-3d1grg) covers the basic proportions and baking times so you can use whatever ingredients you like. One shopper's review of Signature SELECT Pasta Egg Noodles Wide Bag is headlined "Fresh and delicious", calling them an "Excellent product" that is easy to make.

For Friday lunch, layer sliced turkey, cranberry sauce, and warm stuffing onto sturdy sandwich bread. No extra condiments are needed.

Portion whatever meat remains by Sunday or Monday into freezer bags, adding a spoonful of gravy to each bag to keep the meat moist. Press each bag flat before sealing so it freezes faster and stacks easily. Our [storage bags guide](https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/paper-cleaning-and-home/plastic-foil-and-storage/plastic-bags/what-s-the-difference-between-storage-bags-freezer-bags-and-sandwich-bags-gouugw) explains which bag thickness prevents freezer burn, while our [meal-prep containers guide](https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/paper-cleaning-and-home/plastic-foil-and-storage/storage-containers/meal-prep-containers-glass-plastic-and-how-many-compartments-you-need-4xceb4) covers reusable glass and plastic containers for single-serving meals.

If you would rather have fewer leftovers to manage next time, our guide to [Thanksgiving for two to six](https://www.safeway.com/shopping-guides/meat-and-seafood/chicken-and-turkey/turkey/thanksgiving-for-two-to-six-turkey-breast-smaller-birds-and-how-much-to-buy-u4w4f5) covers turkey breasts, smaller birds and how much to buy.

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## Common Questions About Thanksgiving Leftovers

### How long is leftover turkey good for in the fridge?

Cooked turkey lasts 3 to 4 days when held at 40 °F or below. To ensure the meat chills fast enough to prevent bacterial growth, carve the breast off the bone and store portions in covered, shallow containers within 2 hours of cooking.

### Can you freeze cooked turkey, and for how long?

Yes. Cooked turkey stays safe indefinitely at 0 °F, though flavor and texture are best within 2 to 6 months. Carve the meat into meal-sized portions and pack each one with a splash of gravy or broth to keep the slices moist when thawed and reheated.

### How long does stuffing last in the fridge?

Three to four days, provided you spoon it out of the bird right after dinner so it chills fast, and heat it until 165 °F before serving.

### Is turkey that sat out overnight safe to eat?

No. Throw away any cooked turkey left at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour if the room was warmer than 90 °F.

### How do I reheat turkey without drying it out?

Place turkey slices in a dish with a splash of broth and cover the container tightly with foil or a lid. Trapped steam keeps the slices moist. They are ready once a thermometer in the thickest piece measures 165 °F.

### When do Thanksgiving leftovers need to be eaten or frozen?

By the Sunday or Monday after Thanksgiving. Whatever you will not eat by Monday evening should go into the freezer.