How Long Can You Keep Fresh Turkey Refrigerated?

Although turkey is a crowd-pleaser, it can be a little tricky to store and prepare before any event because of how huge they are. Figuring out how long you can keep fresh turkey refrigerated will help you decide when it’s best to buy the turkey and maintain its freshness. So, how long can you keep fresh turkey refrigerated? We’ve got you covered!

How Long Can You Keep Fresh Turkey Refrigerated?

You can keep fresh turkey, turkey cutlets, and giblets for one to two days in the fridge. That’s as long as the refrigerated temperature is at least 40ºF.

That said, the storage period would depend on whether or not you’ve safely handled the turkey during your trip home.

For instance, you shouldn’t keep fresh turkey in a hot car for more than 30 minutes. Otherwise, you risk the multiplication of harmful bacteria even before refrigerating it. 

Generally, raw meat, like turkey, is a highly perishable food. While 30 minutes isn’t long enough for the turkey to show visible spoilage signs, some bacteria can reproduce within as little as 4 minutes and produce harmful toxins. 

Sure, oven temperatures around 165ºF and above are enough to kill bacteria, but that won’t affect the toxins.

PRO TIP: Bring the cooler full of ice on the day of pickup and you won’t have to worry at all about risking bacteria growth.

How Long Can You Keep Cooked Turkey Refrigerated?

You can keep cooked turkey at 40ºF or lower anywhere between three to four days in the fridge. Any longer than that, and the turkey might spoil. As you can tell, cooked turkey lasts longer than fresh turkey. 

While cool temperatures slow down bacterial reproduction, they will still multiply, eventually reducing food quality. We always suggest 3-4 days for refrigerator storage for our protein based recipes, such as the Air Fryer Turkey Breast, Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin, Air Fryer Turkey Legs or Air Fryer Whole Chicken.

The high cooking temperatures not only fully cook the turkey but also kill bacteria originally found in the food. 

For those that want the down and dirty science of it all – the heat won’t make your leftovers immune to harmful germs. Pathogenic bacteria in the air can still contaminate the food, causing food-borne illnesses. 

These organisms are tricky to detect because, generally, pathogenic bacteria won’t affect the appearance, smell, or taste of the turkey. That’s how people get food poisoning and always say, “but it didn’t taste bad.”

What Is the Best Method to Store Long-Term?

Freezing is your go-to method if you want to store fresh or cooked turkey long-term. A properly handled turkey can last 6-12 months in the freezer. That’s one reason we always suggest to buying a turkey for your freezer after Thanksgiving to meal prep later.

The storing period can increase even more if the product is vacuum sealed! We love to use the Editable Freezer Labels {freebie printable} to make sure I know what is in each bag and the date I put it in my freezer. This also helps when I do a freezer inventory, there is no question how old is my food.

For fresh turkey parts, you can freeze them for up to 9 months. Ground turkey and giblets, on the other hand, last 3-4 months when kept in the freezer. The Freezer Tips 101 {freebie printables} guide you for all foods that you will freeze and the length of time best for each food.

PRO TIP: Both turkey parts and ground turkey have more surface area exposed to bacteria. That’s why they don’t keep as long as whole fresh turkey.

However, you should note that meat starts to lose its flavor and texture the longer you store it, so don’t wait too long or you will just have to toss it out.

Why Turkey Loses Its Freshness Even When Frozen

This has to do with the moisture content found in food. Generally, water makes up 75% of the muscles in meat and poultry. Once frozen, that water turns into ice crystals.

Naturally, those crystals have sharp edges which can rupture the cells in the meat, causing them to lose their moisture. This process is known as freezer burn.

As a result, the turkey shrivels and discolors—from oxygen exposure. While it’s still safe to eat, you may find the turkey bland and not as tasty.

How to Store In the Fridge?

While refrigerating is a simple task, you should still handle it carefully to prevent the spread of harmful organisms. 

Here are a few tips to make sure the turkey remains safe until cooked:

• Check the “use by” date on the package to ensure you pick a fresh turkey.
• Choose a package that has no tears.
• Skip rinsing the turkey. The water won’t wash any bacteria away.
• Place the packaged turkey in a tray to prevent poultry juice from spilling into the fridge.
• Refrigerate immediately after purchase.
• Place the turkey at the back end on the lower shelf, as it’s typically the coldest part in the fridge.

How to Store Fresh Turkey in the Freezer?

You can directly freeze a whole fresh turkey in its original packaging. Just be sure the freezer’s temperature is at least 0ºF. 

If the turkey comes without any packaging, you’ll need to wrap it before freezing it. 

Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Towel Dry the Turkey 

Place the turkey on a cutting board and use a paper towel to pat it down until the skin is dry. 

Since raw meat is kept in the fridge, condensation can form on its surface once it leaves the shop, especially in a warmer climates. 

This excess moisture will turn into ice crystals, increasing the chances of freezer burn, as mentioned earlier.

Step 2: Wrap It Up

Now that you’ve removed excess moisture, you’ll need to wrap the turkey to minimize oxygen exposure. Oxygen changes food color and is the culprit behind the gray spots on the turkey’s surface. 

You have plenty of wrapping options to choose from, like vacuum sealing, plastic wraps, and aluminum foil. 

Here’s how to wrap the turkey in the mentioned options: 

Vacuum Sealing

Vacuum sealing is the best choice to maintain meat freshness. Not only does it expel excess air, but it’s also effective in stopping oxygen from lurking back in through any pockets. 

Plus, the absence of oxygen stops bacteria that require oxygen (aerobic bacteria) from growing. 

The vacuum sealing process is simple. All you need to do is place the turkey in a large bag, smooth any ridges out, then seal the bag using a vacuum sealer.

Plastic Wrap 

Plastic wrap or Ziploc bags are your second best option if you don’t have a vacuum sealer. Plus, they’re more affordable. Just make sure they are freezer-friendly to resist moisture and vapor in the freezer. 

For the plastic wrap, all you need to do is tightly seal the turkey with it. Then, place the wrapped turkey in a freezer bag.

On the other hand, you can achieve similar vacuum sealing results using a zip bag and water. To do so:

1. Place the turkey in a large freezer zip bag
2. Seal the bag leaving around an inch open
3. Fill a pot, tub, or bucket with water
4. Lower the bag slowly without submerging it completely in the water
5. Seal the opening once the water pushes all the air out, and remove the bag from the water

Aluminum Foil and Parchment

Food-grade aluminum foil is another safe choice to freeze the whole turkey in. While it won’t keep the air out as much as vacuum sealing, it’ll still protect the meat from freezer burn. 

All you need to do is tightly wrap the turkey with heavy-duty foil and make sure to smooth any air voids out.

Step 3: Label the Bags and Freeze

Labeling the turkey with the freezing date is crucial, simply because you won’t remember how long the meat has been sitting in the freezer. 

The truth is, frozen food will lose its quality over time—even for that perfectly sealed turkey. Plus, you don’t want to put in a load of work only to have freezer burn ruin your perfect recipe.

When you’re done labeling, set the freezer at 0ºF or lower. Then, place the turkey at the back of the freezer, away from the door. That’s to avoid exposing it to temperature changes. 

In addition, avoid opening and closing the freezer often, as that’ll introduce warm air. As a result, ice crystals form on the food’s surface.

Can You Put Fresh Turkey Back in the Fridge?

You can’t refrigerate fresh turkey once it reaches room temperature. While cooked turkey can sit out for two hours (one hour for room temperatures higher than 90ºF), you should cook raw poultry after taking them out of the fridge. 

That’s because raw turkey contains bacteria, and at room temperature, these germs multiply rapidly, which can make you sick. 

Can You Put Thawed Turkey Back In the Freezer?

Yes, you can refreeze thawed turkey, but that’ll depend on the thawing method. 

The safest way to defrost a turkey is in the fridge, which can take 1-6 days. Even after it’s completely thawed, refrigeration keeps the temperature low, preventing bacteria from growing rapidly.

Like fresh turkey, you can keep the thawed poultry for up to two days in the fridge or before freezing it again. 

However, you shouldn’t freeze or refrigerate a turkey back if you’ve used cold water or microwaving to defrost it. 

FAQ

Overview

So, how long can you keep fresh turkey refrigerated? 

Fresh turkey, whether whole or cutlets, keeps well in the fridge for two days. Cooked turkey, on the other hand, can stay in the refrigerator for four days. However, that’s only achievable at 40ºF or lower and remember to keep tabs on How Long to Let Turkey Rest before eating it as the clock starts ticking from the time you remove it from the oven.

To maintain the freshness long-term, you can freeze raw turkey at 0ºF for up to 12 months.

Regardless of the storing method, you shouldn’t leave turkey at room temperature to avoid bacterial multiplication. That way, you can prevent spoilage and reduce the risks of food poisoning.

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