How Long Are Thanksgiving Leftovers Good For?

November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving involves a lot of food, and unless you’re a competitive eater, you’ll likely end up with some leftovers the next day, or the next week.

But it’s not always clear exactly how long you can safely enjoy those leftovers, especially since the holiday involves such varied foods.

Don’t doubt your weekend snacks any longer with our handy guide to saving Thanksgiving leftovers.

Turkey

How long it will last: 3-4 days
The centerpiece bird should go in the fridge after two hours at room temp, so don’t dawdle as you enjoy dessert. Take the meat off the bone, and remove the stuffing and store that separately, then wrap the turkey up tight to keep away any bacteria.

Gravy

How long it will last: 2-3 days
Gravy doesn’t fare too well in the fridge, but you can extend the shelf life by bringing leftovers to a boil before serving.

Cranberry Sauce

How long it will last: 2 weeks
The sugar in cranberry sauce helps preserve the sweet-tart manna for up to two weeks, especially if you seal it in a jar.

Mashed Potatoes / Sweet Potatoes / Green Beans

How long it will last: 3-5 days
Like veggies on any normal day of the year, Thanksgiving sides like mashed potatoes can go about a work week in the fridge before you’ll notice a difference.

Stuffing

How long it will last: 3-4 days
Assuming you store it separately from your turkey (like you should) stuffing will be just fine in the fridge for a couple days. Just be sure to reheat it to 165 degrees.

Pumpkin Pie

How long it will last: 3-4 days
That silky pumpkin pie will last up to four days in your refrigerator, but good luck keeping it that long with a hungry family in the house.

Apple Pie

How long it will last: 2-4 days
For the first few days, fruit pies survive better in a cool dark pantry than the fridge where the texture will decline quickly. After two days, though, you have no choice but to chill leftovers. Take this as an incentive to eat apple pie for every meal before you reach that point.

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