How to Store Thanksgiving Leftovers
For many people, the high point of Thanksgiving isn’t the big meal itself — it’s feasting on the leftovers the next day.
To make the most of your leftovers, you’ve first got to ensure that they’re being kept in a safe storage environment. Most Thanksgiving dishes will stay fresh and tasty for at least a few days in the refrigerator and a month or more in the freezer.
Some general tips:
• Refrigerate turkey, stuffing, gravy and other cooked side dishes within 2 hours of serving.
• Carve turkey meat off the bones before refrigerating. Place the meat and stuffing in separate containers.
• Divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze in covered shallow containers for quicker cooling.
Follow the guidelines below to enjoy the maximum taste from your Thanksgiving foods:
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STORAGE TIME
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Item
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Pantry
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Fridge
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Freezer*
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Tips
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• Turkey — whole, cooked
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3-4 days
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2-3 months
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Cut whole bird into smaller pieces before refrigerating.
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• Gravy — homemade
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1-2 days
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2-3 months
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Bring leftover gravy to a full boil before using.
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• Cranberry sauce
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10-14 days
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1-2 months
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Store leftovers in covered plastic or glass container.
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• Stuffing — cooked
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3-4 days
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1 month
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Remove stuffing from turkey before refrigerating.
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• Cooked potatoes or yams; green bean casserole
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3-5 days
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10-12 months
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Mashed potatoes freeze well; whole baked potatoes don’t.
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• Pumpkin pie — baked
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3-4 days
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1-2 months
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Keep refrigerated. Texture may change after freezing, but taste shouldn’t be affected.
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• Apple pie — baked
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2 days
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2-3 days after pantry storage
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1-2 months
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To freeze, wrap pie tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place in heavy-duty freezer bag.
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• Wine, red or white — opened bottle
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3-5 days
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1-2 months
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Freeze leftover wine for use in cooked dishes such as sauces and stews.
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• Bread — soft-crusted
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4 -5 days
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2-3 months
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Refrigerator storage is not recommended, as bread will quickly dry out and become stale — for longer-term storage, freeze bread instead.
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hard-crusted
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1 -2 days
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2-3 months
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*Freezer time shown is for best quality only — foods kept constantly frozen at 0° F will keep safe indefinitely.
Sources: For details about data sources used for storage information, please see here.
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