No matter how many unique side dishes you make, no holiday feast is complete without the star: turkey. Whether you want to grill, fry your bird or go the traditional baking route, the recipe options are endless. The only caveat to cooking holiday staples is that the process requires a lot of time and planning. How long does it take to defrost a turkey? How do you unfreeze it? How long can a thawed turkey be kept in the refrigerator? Then the cooking questions begin – how to prepare a turkey for roasting, how to get crispy turkey skin, etc.
The most important of these questions is how to thaw a turkey and how long you can keep a thawed turkey in the refrigerator. You need to plan your cooking to make sure your bird is defrosted early enough so that it goes into the oven on time, but not so early that it sits in the freezer longer than is safe. It’s also important to know how long a cooked turkey will last in the refrigerator so you can plan for the remainder of your fortune after Thanksgiving.
To help you get it all right, we’ve gathered turkey tips from Butterball’s turkey expert and nutrition expert Toby Amidor so you know what to do with this year’s frozen, thawed, cooked and leftover meat.
Experts featured in this article
Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, FAND, is an award-winning nutrition expert, food safety consultant, and author of Up Your Veggies: Flexitarian Recipes for the Whole Family .
How long can a frozen or thawed turkey be kept in the refrigerator?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator at 40°F or below for a few days before planning to cook it. Amidore said it takes about one day to thaw a turkey for every 4 pounds, which means a smaller turkey weighing 12 pounds will take three days, while the largest turkeys weighing 20-24 pounds may need a longer time. It can take up to six days to thaw. (Butterball has a handy calculator that will tell you exactly how long it will take to defrost your bird.
After thawing, the turkey can be kept in the refrigerator for a while two days Before it needs to be cooked, Amidore said. So, for example, if you’re cooking a 20-24 pound bird, you’ll want to thaw it in the refrigerator for at least six days before eating (so it has time to thaw completely) and not eat it before eating. Over eight days (to stay within the two-day period). For a 12-pound turkey, you’ll need to place it in the refrigerator for at least three days and up to five days.
When you’re ready to defrost, place the turkey in plastic wrap and place it on a rimmed tray or baking sheet to prevent juices from staining the refrigerator. Place it in the coldest part of the refrigerator to defrost, or better yet, store it in a backup refrigerator that isn’t opened often. “If you defrost the turkey in the refrigerator and choose not to cook it, you can refreeze it without cooking it, but there will be some loss in quality,” Amidor said.
How long does leftover turkey last in the refrigerator?
Amido says cooked turkey can be kept in the refrigerator at 40°F or below for up to three to four days. “Refrigeration will slow the growth of bacteria but will not prevent bacterial growth or kill bacteria.” When you reheat leftover turkey, make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, according to the USDA. Safe to eat.
If you won’t be eating the turkey within a few days, you can also freeze cooked turkey for three to four months, Amidore said.
—Additional reporting by Lauren Mazzo
Anna Monette Roberts is a former PS writer.
Lauren Mazzo is PS’s senior fitness editor. She is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition expert by the American Council on Exercise. Prior to joining PS, she spent six years as a writer and editor at Shape magazine, covering health, fitness, nutrition, mental health, sex and relationships, beauty and astrology.
