How long do the turkey and trimmings stay safe in the refrigerator or freezer?
The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday (today) after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later. If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will be of best quality within 2-6 months.
Not enough consumers know that food can become unsafe in the refrigerator after four days. In fact, 31 percent of participants in our recent research indicated they would eat leftovers kept longer than four days in the refrigerator. After four days, spoilage bacteria can cause food to develop a bad smell or taste.