How Long Does Cooked Turkey Last in the Fridge? Here’s the 3-to-4-Day Rule

The turkey was on Thursday, and it is now Sunday or Monday with a container of sliced breast still on the refrigerator shelf. Is it still good, or is it time to let it go? Here is what USDA, FDA and FoodSafety.gov say about cooked turkey in the refrigerator and freezer, along with gravy, stuffing, reheating and spoilage signs.

How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge?

For a complete pantry and fridge reference, see our Food Storage Guide. For related questions, see how long cooked turkey can sit out, whether gravy goes bad and whether turkey stock goes bad.

How Long Does Cooked Turkey Last in the Fridge?

Cooked turkey keeps 3 to 4 days in a refrigerator at 40°F or below. USDA’s Turkey Basics page lists cooked turkey, and cooked dishes and gravy, at 3 to 4 days. USDA’s Keep Food Safe cold storage chart lists poultry pieces, plain or fried, at 3 to 4 days, and pieces in broth or gravy at 3 to 4 days. USDA’s leftovers guidance (last updated July 2020) says leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. FDA’s Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart (March 2018) also lists cooked poultry at 3 to 4 days, and FoodSafety.gov’s cold food storage chart (reviewed September 2023) lists cooked meat or poultry at 3 to 4 days. CDC’s holiday turkey page (reviewed April 2024) says to eat cooked turkey and dishes made with it within 3 to 4 days.

None of these pages separates sliced from whole, or the breast from the legs. We apply the single range to all cooked turkey, which is our own reading. Gravy is the one place the federal charts disagree, and the table below shows both figures.

Those timings assume the turkey went into the refrigerator promptly and the refrigerator stays at 40°F or below. USDA suggests checking it with an appliance thermometer. Counting from the day the turkey was cooked, rather than from when you carved it or last reheated it, is our own conservative reading, because the pages we read don’t say how to count.

How Long Is Thanksgiving Turkey Good For?

Roast the turkey on Thursday, refrigerate the leftovers within 2 hours of serving, and USDA’s 3 to 4 days carries you into the weekend. Counting Thursday as day 0, day 3 is Sunday and day 4 is Monday. That counting is our own reading, since USDA’s pages don’t say how to number the days. FoodSafety.gov’s Thanksgiving leftovers post says you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat the leftovers, calls it the “use or freeze” deadline, and says food can become unsafe in the refrigerator after four days. That supports Monday as the end of the window, not an extra day.

This timeline starts from a turkey that was refrigerated within 2 hours of serving. If the platter sat out longer, the clock above doesn’t apply. See how long cooked turkey can sit out for that case. For the leftovers beyond turkey, see how long leftovers last.

Is Cooked Turkey Good After 5 Days?

We would discard it. Every federal source we read stops at 3 to 4 days for cooked turkey, and FDA’s gravy figure is shorter. Some websites say 5 days, a week or more. We found no support for that on the USDA, FDA, FoodSafety.gov or extension pages we read. USDA says you can’t see, smell or taste harmful bacteria that may cause illness, so turkey that looks and smells fine on day 5 is still past the range. If you can’t use it by day 3 or 4, freezing it earlier is the better route, which is our own suggestion.

Why Do the Charts Say 3 to 4 Days?

The federal pages give the range but not the reasoning, so this part is our own reading. Cold slows many bacteria, but it does not stop all of them. FDA’s Listeria page says Listeria monocytogenes can grow at refrigeration temperatures, and that freezing will not eliminate or reduce it. The page names pregnant people, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems as groups susceptible to serious effects.

Handling matters as much as the day count. The CDC says C. perfringens outbreaks most often involve food cooked in large batches and held between 40°F and 140°F, and that poultry, meat and gravy are commonly involved. A big bird, a pan of stuffing and a pot of gravy cooling slowly on the counter fit that description.

If anyone eating the leftovers is pregnant, over 65 or has a weakened immune system, we’d stay at the short end of the range and reheat the turkey to 165°F. That is our own suggestion, and a doctor can give advice for individual cases.

How Should You Store Leftover Turkey?

Get it into the refrigerator promptly, and divide it up first. USDA’s Turkey Basics page says perishable foods should not be left out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours, and to refrigerate or freeze leftovers promptly in shallow containers. The leftovers page gives a 1 hour limit if the temperature is over 90°F, and says to divide large amounts of food into shallow containers. USDA’s leftovers page says hot food can go directly into the refrigerator or be chilled in an ice or cold water bath first.

FoodSafety.gov’s Thanksgiving leftovers post also says to divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze them in covered shallow containers.

Steps we would take:

• Remove the stuffing from the bird right away, as USDA advises, and store it separately.
• Slice the breast meat. USDA says legs and wings may be left whole.
• Pack the turkey in covered shallow containers, as FoodSafety.gov advises, or wrap it tightly.
• Store gravy in its own container. Keeping it separate from the turkey is our own suggestion, because the two have different charts.
• Write the cooking date on each container, so you can count from that day.
• Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below. USDA suggests an appliance thermometer to check it.

Does Sliced or Whole Cooked Turkey Last Longer?

We found no source that gives different times. USDA’s Turkey Basics page advises slicing the breast meat and says legs and wings may be left whole, but it gives one 3 to 4 day range for cooked turkey. So a carved bird, a whole breast and a drumstick all fall under the same limit, which is our own reading. The practical difference is cooling. A whole bird or a big breast cools slowly, so we’d carve it and divide it into shallow containers rather than refrigerating it whole.

For a carcass you plan to simmer into stock, see how long turkey stock lasts. That post covers how soon to start the stock.

How Long Do Gravy and Stuffing Last?

USDA’s Keep Food Safe chart lists gravy and meat broth at 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, and stuffing at 3 to 4 days. FDA’s chart lists gravy and meat broth at 1 to 2 days. We found no explanation of the difference on either page. FDA’s chart lists turkey pieces covered with broth or gravy at 3 to 4 days, so the disagreement is about gravy on its own. The cautious choice, which is our own suggestion, is to use gravy early in the window or freeze it. See our post on whether gravy goes bad and whether gravy needs to be refrigerated.

For boxed stuffing, see whether Stove Top stuffing goes bad. For other holiday sides, see whether cranberry sauce goes bad and whether pumpkin pie goes bad.

Can You Freeze Cooked Turkey?

Yes. USDA’s Turkey Basics page lists plain turkey slices or pieces at 4 months in the freezer, and turkey covered with broth or gravy at 6 months. It says freezer storage times are for quality only and that frozen foods remain safe indefinitely. USDA’s Keep Food Safe chart gives the same 4 and 6 months for poultry pieces, 4 to 6 months for poultry casseroles, and 2 to 3 months for gravy. FDA’s chart gives the same 4 and 6 months for pieces, and says freezing at 0°F keeps food safe indefinitely.

USDA’s pages don’t all agree on the other rows. The Turkey Basics page lists cooked poultry dishes, stuffing and gravy at 4 to 6 months, while the chart lists stuffing at 1 month and gravy at 2 to 3 months. The leftovers guidance gives 3 to 4 months for leftovers in general, and FoodSafety.gov’s chart lists cooked meat or poultry at 2 to 6 months. Its Thanksgiving leftovers post says best quality within 2 to 6 months. We’d treat the shorter figures as the safer bet for flavor, which is our own suggestion.

Freezing doesn’t undo earlier handling. FDA’s Listeria page says freezing will not eliminate or reduce Listeria, so freeze turkey that was refrigerated promptly and is still inside the 3 to 4 day range. Packing turkey with some broth or gravy, as USDA’s 6 month row suggests, helps limit drying. USDA’s leftovers guidance says frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

How Do You Thaw Frozen Cooked Turkey?

Thaw it in the refrigerator. USDA’s Turkey Basics page says to thaw the wrapped, cooked, frozen turkey on a tray in the refrigerator, allowing about a day for every 4 to 5 pounds. It says to eat the thawed turkey, cold or reheated to 165°F, within 3 to 4 days. USDA’s leftovers guidance says refrigerator thawing takes the longest, but the leftovers stay safe the entire time.

Thawed in the refrigerator, leftovers can be refrozen without reheating, per USDA’s leftovers page, though quality may decline. We’d not refreeze turkey that thawed on the counter. For reheating turkey from frozen, we found no USDA timing on the pages we read, so use a thermometer.

How Do You Reheat Leftover Turkey?

Reheat leftovers to 165°F as measured with a food thermometer. USDA’s leftovers guidance says to reheat sauces, soups and gravies by bringing them to a rolling boil. For the microwave, it says to cover and rotate the food for even heating, check the temperature in several places with a food thermometer, and allow a resting time before checking the internal temperature.

We found no USDA oven temperature for reheating leftovers on the pages we read, so rely on the thermometer reading. Adding a splash of broth or covering the dish with foil to keep the turkey moist is our own suggestion. If reheated turkey still turns out dry, see how to fix dry turkey.

We’d reheat only the amount you plan to serve, which is our own suggestion. For more, see our post on why reheating food twice is a problem. Reheating is a safety margin on turkey that was stored correctly. It does not rescue turkey that was left out too long or kept past the range.

Can You Eat Leftover Turkey Cold?

USDA and CDC word this differently. USDA’s Turkey Basics page says thawed cooked turkey can be eaten cold or reheated to 165°F within 3 to 4 days, and we found no USDA statement that rules out eating leftover turkey cold. CDC’s holiday turkey page says to reheat all leftovers to at least 165°F before serving or eating. Because CDC’s advice is the stricter, we’d reheat leftover turkey, and we’d reheat it for anyone in a higher-risk group, since FDA says Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. That is our own suggestion.

What About Store-Bought, Smoked or Fried Turkey?

We found no separate refrigerator timing for smoked, deep-fried or grocery-cooked turkey on the pages we read. We apply the same 3 to 4 days for cooked turkey, which is our own reading. USDA’s Turkey Basics page says cooked turkeys with the USDA inspection seal on the packaging have been processed under controlled conditions. It gives no separate refrigerator timing for them, so we’d follow the label on packaged products. Sliced deli turkey is a different case, covered in our deli turkey post.

How Can You Tell if Cooked Turkey Is Bad?

Look for mold, a sour or off smell, or a slimy or sticky surface. These are reasons to discard it, and their absence does not prove the turkey is safe. USDA says you can’t see, smell or taste harmful bacteria that may cause illness. We don’t suggest tasting turkey to find out. Rely on the number of days and how the turkey was stored.

What Can You Make With Leftover Turkey?

Use it within the 3 to 4 days, or freeze it. None of our recipes call for turkey, but several use cooked shredded chicken, and swapping in leftover cooked turkey is our own suggestion. Check each recipe and adjust the seasoning to taste.

• Spicy tortilla soup calls for 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken, and the author used a rotisserie chicken.
• Mini green chicken and poblano enchilada boats call for 2 cups of cooked shredded chicken.
• Best ever 7 layer burritos use the white meat of a rotisserie chicken, which suits leftover sliced turkey breast.

Count the 3 to 4 days from the day the turkey was first cooked, not from the day you make the new dish. We found no federal guidance that restarts the clock, so this is our own cautious reading. Refrigerate the finished dish promptly. For soup troubleshooting, see common soup mistakes.

Cooked Turkey in the Fridge FAQ

How long does turkey gravy last in the fridge?

USDA’s charts list gravy at 3 to 4 days and FDA’s chart lists it at 1 to 2 days. We’d use it early or freeze it. See our post on whether gravy goes bad.

See also

Cooking TipsFood & Entertaining

How Much Turkey You Need Per Person at Thanksgiving, According To Experts

Further Reading

• How Long Can Cooked Turkey Sit Out?
• Does Turkey Stock (or Broth) Go Bad?