Every year, you end up having a full belly of your Thanksgiving favorites, but there’s still plenty of food leftover. It’s a common issue many families face, but it does have some consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the peak time for food poisoning cases occurs in November and December. Why? Because many people are chowing down on old Thanksgiving leftovers long after their storage time.
Peddler’s Son is one of Arizona’s leading wholesale produce suppliers for quality products and on-time delivery. We serve a wide range of industries, including those in healthcare, education, catering, restaurants, and grocery stores. We take pride in our services and look forward to nurturing incredible relationships with our clients. Read our article below to learn how long you can store Thanksgiving leftovers in your fridge and other food safety tips.
How Long Can You Store Thanksgiving Leftovers?
To keep your Thanksgiving meal fresher longer, you need to keep it in a safe storage environment. Most leftovers will stay fresh and tasty for at least a few days in the fridge, or potentially longer than a month if placed in the freezer. Additionally, it’s a good rule of thumb to put your Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, gravy, and other side dishes in the fridge within 2 hours of serving. This will ensure your food’s integrity is preserved and remains tasty when you eat it later.
The following is the shelf life of common Thanksgiving items:
- Turkey: Your bird can last 3-4 days in the fridge and 2-3 months if placed in the freezer
- Gravy: Typically, gravy can last about 1-2 days in the refrigerator and last 2-3 months in the freezer
- Cranberry Sauce: Your sauce can last quite a while in the fridge with a storage time of 10-14 days, but a lower storage time in the freezer of only 1-2 months
- Stuffing: Only lasts about 3-4 days in the refrigerator and 1 month in a freezer
- Mashed Potatoes: Your potato dish may only last 3-5 days in the fridge, but it can last up to 10-12 months if placed in a freezer
Cook Your Thanksgiving Leftovers Properly
Another important thing to remember before eating those leftovers is how you reheat them. Whether you’re cooking it for the first time or reheating it, you should cook all leftovers to 165 degrees before you eat them. This is just food safety 101 and it can help prevent serious illnesses from occurring.
Additional Storage Tips You Should Keep in Mind
When it comes to storing food correctly and safely, it’s not just as simple as getting a bag or Tupperware and calling it a day. There’s plenty of planning to ensure your food is properly protected for the remainder of its food cycle.
Some recommendations we have include:
- Make room in your refrigerator and freezer ahead of time to avoid shuffling things around after dinner
- Make sure you have plenty of small and large freezer bags, and freezer-safe containers
- Round plastic pie storage containers help save space in the refrigerator. You can stack them, plus you won’t worry about anything falling and crushing the pies
- Once your leftovers are packed away, avoid opening and closing the refrigerator door until the food has had time to cool down.
Peddler’s Son Offers All The Ingredients for a Delicious Thanksgiving Meal
Peddler’s Son has provided Arizona businesses with quality wholesale products for over 30 years. We are committed to customer service, quality, and honest pricing to ensure our customers get the best products and provisions possible.
As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor, we provide our services to everyone from the produce department to the hospital cafeteria. No matter your industry, Peddler’s Son is here for you! Contact us today and learn what a partnership with us can mean for your business.