How long can leftovers be left over?

One of the silver linings about the amount of food left over from Thanksgiving is enjoying leftovers for days after the big meal and relaxing a little when it’s time to cook dinner. A fun, albeit sometimes heated (no pun intended), discussion is often held by family members about how long that turkey is going to stay “fresh enough” for sandwiches before it's time to toss. Here are some general guidelines for how long most Thanksgiving leftovers will remain safe before needing to be used up or discarded. Remember, these are guidelines and not hard-and-fast rules. Check for spoilage before consuming.

Turkey is generally safe to eat for three to four days from the refrigerator. After that, it will start growing harmful bacteria. The best way to use up leftover turkey is in sandwiches, soups, salads, or casseroles within a few days. The high heat of cooking or baking the leftover turkey will decrease bacteria concerns in those first few days. Avoid gnawing on it cold from a sandwich baggy out of the frig like some people enjoy.

Stuffing that was cooked inside the turkey will keep for three to four days, just like the turkey it was raised in. Stuffing baked separately in a casserole dish is safe for 4-5 days. Reheat stuffing to an internal temperature of 165°F before eating.

Mashed potatoes without any gravy added to it will usually last up to five days in the fridge. Potatoes mixed with gravy only stay fresh for three days due to the moisture and fat content in gravy speeding up spoilage. You can mash leftover potatoes together with broth or milk to make potato patties if you want something different with them: fry in a skillet until heated through and crispy outside.

Vegetables need to be used up within three to four days as well. You can stir leftover veggies into omelets, frittatas, or quiches. The egg cooking process helps to eliminate any issues of bacteria in the leftovers for the short-term. Green bean casserole is safe to eat for three to four days. After day four, the soggy topping may start getting slimy.

Cranberry sauce, if sealed well, will last a surprisingly long time in the refrigerator – up to two weeks. Its high acidity and lack of moisture help prevent bacterial growth. You can use the leftovers to make a cranberry crisp, cranberry jelly, or cranberry BBQ sauce.

Baked goods like pies, rolls, and desserts containing eggs or dairy only last around three days. After that, they develop unsafe bacteria or mold. If they start to go stale, simply crumble them together and make a Thanksgiving-themed bread pudding.

Most of the foods above except the cranberries must be eaten within four days of Thanksgiving. The question then arises about what to do with leftovers that have surpassed those recommended storage times. The trash should be the last place for it to go. Some people freeze it to use with bear bait stations during hunting season, some donate it to friends and family with farm animals such as pigs and hogs. Some leftovers can be eaten by chickens, but not all (onions can cause anemia, buttered foods can cause indigestion, raw potato peels can be toxic, and anything with a high sugar content isn’t good for chickens).

You can make the most of your Thanksgiving meal for days with a little know-how. Just be sure not to leave items out at room temperature for more than two hours and enjoy your repurposed leftovers safely and fully cooked.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.