How Long Do Thanksgiving Leftovers Last?
The big meal is over and the fridge is packed. Here is how long the classics stay good, and how to make sure none of it ends up in the trash.
Quick answer
Fridge: Cooked turkey, stuffing, gravy and most cooked sides: 3–4 days.
Freezer: Cooked turkey: 2–6 months. Soups, stews and gravy-based dishes: 2–3 months.
Storage tips
- Get leftovers into the fridge within 2 hours of serving.
- Carve the turkey off the bone and store it in shallow containers so it cools fast.
- Count from the day you cooked, not the day you packed it away.
- Freeze what you won't eat by day 3 instead of waiting.
Ideas to use it up
- Turkey and stuffing breakfast hash
- Turkey soup with leftover veggies
- Cranberry turkey melts
- Mashed potato pancakes
Fusion Mode in No Food Left Behind suggests dishes from exactly what's in your fridge.
Never lose track again
Snap or say what you put in the fridge. No Food Left Behind counts down from the day it was made and reminds you before it goes bad.