Noshing on Thanksgiving leftovers is just as much of an American tradition as a roast turkey dinner with all the classic sides. But it’s important to enjoy your leftovers with caution, to stay safe and avoid foodborne illness. After all, you don’t want to spend your long holiday weekend laid up with food poisoning.
Generally speaking, leftovers can be stored safely in the refrigerator for three to four days. “After that, the risk of foodborne illness increases, as bacteria may begin to grow,” says Zachary Cartwright, lead food scientist at Aqualab by Addium and a member of the Institute of Food Technologists’ Food Safety and Quality Management Division. “Thanksgiving leftovers can generally follow the same guidelines for storage and handling, but there are a few specific considerations to ensure food safety.” Here’s what you need to know about how long Thanksgiving leftovers last in the fridge, courtesy of a food safety expert — plus tips for cooking and storing food to make sure it’s safe and tasty until the last bite.
Experts say it’s important to carve the turkey meat off the bone within two hours. You should also quickly stash the food in the fridge, in an airtight, shallow container, or carefully wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and store it only for up to four days.
- Comer restos de Thanksgiving é uma tradição americana tão importante quanto o jantar de peru assado com todos os acompanhamentos clássicos.
- É essencial armazenar os restos com cuidado, e seguir as orientações para evitar intoxicação alimentar.
- Os leftovers podem ser seguramente armazenados na geladeira por três a quatro dias.