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    Home » Eco Living

    How to store turkey and easy leftover Recipes

    Published: Nov 13, 2020 · Modified: Nov 15, 2022 by REALMEALDEAL ·

    Many of us only buy and cook a turkey at Christmas and Thanksgiving, so it's understandable we have lots of questions about how to store turkey. How long does fresh turkey keep? How long can you store cooked turkey? How long does it keep in the fridge? Can you freeze it and how can you defrost it safely? Knowing how to safely store turkey leftovers can minimize our food waste and help us get the most out of the food we've bought. I've also included some handy recipes for using up leftovers.

    roasted turkey on board being carved by lady
    Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

    If you're looking for some good Christmas recipe ideas, check out my How to Cook Christmas Dinner for Two in one hour (as featured in the Huffington Post) and my super easy Mince Pie recipe.

    Jump to:
    • How to store fresh turkey
    • How long does it freeze?
    • How to defrost
    • Timings for defrosting a turkey
    • How to store cooked turkey meat in the fridge
    • Can you freeze cooked leftover turkey?
    • How to reheat turkey
    • Easy Leftover Recipe Ideas
    • More Christmas leftover ideas

    How to store fresh turkey

    Store your turkey in the fridge. As with all meats, you should store near the bottom of the fridge and put it in a tray to prevent raw meat juices from dripping onto other foods. It can be stored for 1 -2 days in the fridge.

    How long does it freeze?

    You can keep an uncooked or fresh turkey in the freezer. It's best eaten within one year. Wrap it carefully to avoid freezer burn and label it with the date it was placed in the freezer.

    How to defrost

    The time needed to defrost a frozen turkey will depend on its size. You can store it in the fridge for 1 - 2 days, once it is fully defrosted, before being cooked.

    You should defrost your turkey in the fridge and not at room temperature. This is because the outside of the bird will defrost first and get warm. Warm uncooked poultry meat is a breeding ground for bacteria and can lead to food poisoning.

    Place the turkey in a tray with high sides to catch all the juices as it defrosts. A whole bird will need about 24 hours in the fridge for every 5lb / 2.2kg in weight. The table below gives guidance on defrosting different weights.

    Your fridge should be set to 4°C / 40°F. The times quoted are estimates as all fridges vary and will warm up slightly whenever the door is opened.

    You can also defrost a turkey in cold water which is quicker. Defrosting poultry in warm water however, can lead to food poisoning. Keep the turkey in the original wrapping or seal it in a large plastic bag. Place the turkey in a bucket breast side down. It needs to be completely submerged so weigh it down with a plate. Most importantly, you need to change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold so you can't do this overnight. It takes about 30 minutes for every 1lb /0.5kg.

    Make sure it is fully defrosted before cooking.

    Timings for defrosting a turkey

    WeightFridgeCold Water
    5kg - 8kg /10lb -18lb2 - 3 ½ days5 - 9 hours
    8kg - 10kg / 18lb - 22lb3½ to 4½ days9 - 11 hours
    10kg -11kg / 22lb - 24lb4½ to 5 days11 - 12 hours
    11kg - 13kg / 24lb - 29lb5 - 6 days12 - 15 hours

    How to store cooked turkey meat in the fridge

    Strip leftover meat from the bone and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Don't leave cooked meat out at room temperature for longer than about 90 minutes. If you don't have time to remove it all from the bone, just store it in the fridge as it's more important the meat doesn't stay out in a warm environment. Cooked meat can be kept in the fridge for 3 -4 days.

    Weighing your leftovers is helpful as you will know how many meals it will make or if you need to put some in the freezer. Ideally, you should freeze the meat straight away, but you can freeze it within 4 days. Store cooked meat away from raw meat in the fridge.

    Can you freeze cooked leftover turkey?

    Cooked turkey meat can be stored in the freezer and ideally should be eaten within 3 - 4 months. After this time the texture and taste may start to deteriorate. If your turkey was frozen before cooking, you can still freeze it cooked. You can't freeze it twice in the same state so cooked meat cannot be defrosted and then frozen again for example.

    Store cooked turkey in the fridge for 3 - 4 days & in the freezer for 3 - 4 months.

    How to reheat turkey

    When reheating, as with all meat, you should only reheat it once. Make sure it is piping hot. The internal temperature should be 74°C / 165°F. It is best to defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating. You can of course eat leftover turkey meat cold & it's great in sandwiches or a salad.

    Easy Leftover Recipe Ideas

    Leftover Christmas Turkey Recipes are a part of the planning. Many recipes that can be cooked with leftover chicken, can also be cooked with leftover turkey. I've pulled together some of my favorites here. They are all easy, family-friendly and don't take too long to cook.

    Curry Recipes

    Turkey curry is a popular leftover dish. These are two simple curry recipes.

    Healthy Chicken Korma Curry with yoghurt
    This healthy Chicken Korma curry uses natural yoghurt and is a lighter version of a traditional korma made with coconut milk or cream. The yoghurt still gives it a nice creamy texture, but without all those extra calories. It's also a handy recipe for using up any leftover roast chicken.
    Check out this recipe
    chicken korma and rice in bowl topped with fresh coriander
    Easy Chicken Balti Curry Recipe
    This Easy Chicken Balti Curry is healthy, has a great flavour and is made with fresh ingredients. Ideally you will need a food processor or hand blender for this recipe.
    Check out this recipe
    Chicken balti with spinach in a bowl

    Pasta Recipes

    Pasta dishes are great for using up leftover turkey, especially if you don't have quite enough meat leftover. You could also add any leftover ham to these pasta dishes. Use extra vegetables to make these dishes go further if you need to. They all use vegetables that are in season in winter.

    Creamy Chicken Leek and Mushroom Pasta
    An easy chicken pasta recipe with mushrooms, leeks and spinach in a white wine creamy sauce, ready in just 30 minutes
    Check out this recipe
    creamy chicken leek and mushroom pasta in bowl topped with fresh parsley
    Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake
    Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake with green pesto is a great recipe for using up leftover chicken. Easy to prepare with minimal prep time.
    Check out this recipe
    chicken pasta bake in tray portion removed and plated to one side

    Risotto Recipe

    Risotto is a tasty colorful dish that works well with leftover turkey or chicken. This one is easy and ready in just 30 minutes.

    Chicken and Chorizo Risotto
    Chicken and Chorizo Risotto is an easy meal and ready in just 30 minutes. Great for using up leftover chicken.
    Check out this recipe
    two bowls of chicken and chorizo risotto topped with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese

    More Christmas leftover ideas

    If you've got any leftover gammon or ham, you might like to make a lovely spaghetti carbonara. This simple recipe is ready in just 25 minutes.

    Tagliatelle Carbonara No Cream
    A homemade tagliatelle carbonara ready in just 15 minutes is wonderfully different to the shop bought sauces and cheaper too! Some people use eggs and cream, others eggs and butter and some just eggs. I've opted for the middle one of eggs and butter as it's not as rich as the cream version but still tastes great.
    Check out this recipe
    tagliatelle carbonara in bowl topped with parmesan and fresh parsley

    Leftover vegetables can always be turned into a delicious soup. You don't need a specific recipe. People have been making soup for thousands of years without a recipe. Just use up what you have.

    More Eco Living

    • The Best Zero Waste Gift Ideas
    • How to Eat and Cook Sustainably
    • 14 Easy Fairtrade Recipes for Fairtrade Fortnight
    • Food Storage Labels - A quick easy guide

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