A juicy roasted turkey is the traditional centrepiece of the table when serving Christmas dinner and often takes hours to prepare.
When there are trimmings left over, it’s a shame to waste so much hard work by simply throwing it away.
But when it comes to storing cooked meat, many people are unsure as to exactly how long they can safely keep it.
While some simply stow it away in the fridge, mishaps with cling film, tin foil and non-airtight containers can quickly lead to spoiled meat that’s best avoided.
That said, UK Food Safety guidelines make it very clear exactly how to keep turkey fresh enough to tuck into over the days that follow December 25.
How to store cooked turkey
According to UK Food Safety guidelines, the only way to properly store turkey is to pay attention to where it’s kept before it’s even cooked.
The regulations stipulate that it’s safe to keep raw turkey in the fridge for just one or two days before roasting it in the oven.
Once properly cooked and served, it’s crucial to cool the leftover meat at room temperature as soon as possible, after which, it is best to cut the remaining meat off the bone into slices.
These portions should then be stored in clean, dry air-tight containers and placed in the fridge.
But even if the turkey looks and smells fine after more than a few days in the fridge, it’s important to follow food safety guidance that suggests a shelf life of just three to four days.
This is from the day it is cooked and subsequently placed in the fridge so it does leave a fair bit of time to get creative with recipes that use up leftovers.
Those who want more longevity from their turkey leftovers can freeze it in airtight containers instead, even if it was bought from frozen. Advice from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) read: “It will be safe to eat for a long time, but you may see a deterioration in quality after three to six months. This is called freezer burn.”
It is recommended that all leftovers are frozen with labels and dates, and should also be slowly defrosted in the fridge – but never at room temperature before eating them.
How to re-heat cooked turkey
Cold turkey is safe to eat straight from the fridge during the storage period, though a little more care needs to be taken when it comes to heating up thawed or chilled meat.
It is crucial to ensure the meat is piping hot throughout after being reheated and before tucking in. A meat thermometer is the best way to test this, where it should read a temperature of 75C or above.
Cooked meats should never be reheated more than once, and any leftovers should be discarded after being reheated.
If it’s in the freezer, it is safe for up to two to six months, but make sure you fully defrost it before using it.
