Thanksgiving Dinner Guide: Is It Safe To Eat Leftover Turkey, Pie And Other Food?

Thanksgiving has surely left a lot of fridges stuffed with leftovers from holiday dinners. But how long can leftover turkey and other food be kept in the refrigerator?

Here are a few tips that might save some households from unpleasant surprises when dealing with Thanksgiving leftovers.

• Turkey

Cooked leftover turkey should be stored in the fridge immediately after dinner. This Thanksgiving staple should be good for the next three to four days, but for those who wish to make it last longer, storing it in the freezer is the best way to go.

Turkey stored in the freezer can last up to four months, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. If stored in broth or gravy, turkey should last up to six months in the freezer.

But it should be fully defrosted before being used. Remember that turkey should only be reheated once.

• Pies

Pie is also a tricky dish as it should never be left out on the table for more than two hours. Pumpkin pie, or any pie with an egg-based filling, may start to grow bacteria when left to sit out for a long time.

Instead of leaving the pie exposed, loosely wrap it in foil or plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. Once there, it should be good for three to four days. This rule also applies to pies bought from stores.

• Bread

Is it safe to eat bread that was stored in the fridge? Yes, it is. Will it still taste good? Probably not.

Keeping bread makes it stale as it dries it out. Instead, opt to store the leftover bread in the pantry for about a week. For those who wish to make it last a little bit longer, wrap it up tightly in foil and place it in a freezer bag. Storing it in the freezer will keep the bread tasting fresh for the next three months.

• Pasta

Leftover pasta can be stored in the fridge for about three to five days, according to a CNN report. For those who want to keep the pasta good for up to two months, leaving it in the freezer will help.

Pasta sauce, on the other hand, can be kept in the fridge for the next seven to 10 days. When stored in the freezer, the sauce will be good for up to six months.

• Takeout food

For households who don't want to cook during Thanksgiving and prefer to buy takeout, most food one can order, such as pizza and Chinese food, are good for the next three to four days if properly stored in airtight containers in the fridge. Rice, however, can stay good for a little bit longer — about four to six days.