HOUSTON – It’s almost time for families and friends to gather and feast on Thanksgiving Day. It’s a day filled with a lot of wonderful food and leftovers.
If you’re not sure how long to keep your leftovers, we’ve got some helpful information to make sure you can enjoy your turkey even after the holiday.
Recommended Videos
How long can you keep turkey in the refrigerator?
Leftover turkey and trimmings can be kept in the refrigerator for about four days, so you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to enjoy your turkey, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
You should freeze the rest of your leftovers, and it’s recommended you only preserve them for six months maximum.
Related: Want to give back this Thanksgiving? Volunteer for Houston’s Super Feast: Here’s how
Food safety
Leftovers need to be placed in the fridge or freezer two hours after they’ve been cooked.
You should split and store your leftovers in smaller portions, so they can cool faster.
Food should be placed into the fridge as quickly as you can.
Tips to reheat your leftovers
Frozen leftovers can be reheated without thawing them. You can reheat soups or stews in a saucepan. Casseroles and one-pot meals can be reheated in the oven or microwave too.
Leftovers should be covered when you reheat them, so they are warmed up all the way.