Kristin Lessard & Steve Kelly

Kristin Lessard & Steve Kelly

Kristin & Steve, weekday mornings from 5-10!Full Bio

 

How Long Are Thanksgiving Leftovers Safe to Eat?

Does food taste better the next day? A lot of people think so. A new survey by OnePoll found that over two-thirds of Americans feel Thanksgiving leftovers taste better than the actual meal itself. 

72% of poll respondents said they make extra food for that Thanksgiving meal because they want those leftovers. But how long are those leftovers safe to eat?

According to The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) you shouldn’t leave those leftovers out on the counter at room temperature for too long. They say within two hours of cooking they should be put away in the fridge. That roasted turkey will last in the refrigerator for three or four days before starting to spoil, and leftover stuffing, potatoes, gravy, yams, and green beans are safe to eat for about three to four days. That will all keep well in the freezer for about two to three months.

For some reason cranberry sauce lasts a while. If you make it yourself that can be kept in the refrigerator for seven to ten days, and I didn’t know this, the canned cranberry sauce is safe to eat for one to two weeks after opening!

My favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal are the pies. Those made with egg, cream, or chiffon will last in the fridge for three to four days. As for those fruit pies like apple and blueberry, you can keep those out on the counter for a day or two, or pop them in the fridge and they’ll last about a week. Read more about it HERE!

Putting away Thanksgiving leftovers

Photo: Getty Images


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