Exactly how long can you keep a frozen turkey ? feel out here so you’re able to part planning ahead for your big feast .
Buying a frozen turkey is one of the best ways to get the most authoritative ingredient checked off your grocery list for Thanksgiving ( peculiarly if you make out the perfect bird on sale weeks before the big day ! ) . But how long is a frozen bomb good to keep in the Deepfreeze ? perchance you boughttwo turkeysfor your feast , and you ’ll onlyneed one birdfor your assemblage . For the secure calibre turkey , verify to consider how long a turkey lasts in the deep-freeze . After all , no one wants towaste food .
Use the following expert tips to ensure the star of your meal will be good to go when it ’s time for roasting .
Credit:Jake Sternquist
Jake Sternquist
How Long Can You Store a Frozen Turkey?
harmonize to theButterball Turkey Talk Line , you cankeep a dud lay in in the freezer for up to two years , and it ’s still safe to prepare . You might , however , terminate up dealing with a not - so - tasty razzing if you keep it in the deep freezer for that long . No matter how long you put in your frozen turkey for , though , it ’s essential to store it right to avoid Deepfreeze burn mark .
The Best Way to Freeze Turkey
If you decide to immobilize a whole turkey for long terminus , keep these safety tips in judgment :
Already have a frozen turkey to preparation for a large banquet ? When it ’s time toroast your turkey , have-to doe with to thisturkey thawinginformation to ascertain your dame is quick to cook on metre .
Jason Donnelly . solid food Styling : Annie Probst . Prop Styling : Lexi Juhl
Credit:Jason Donnelly. Food Styling: Annie Probst. Prop Styling: Lexi Juhl
How to Thaw a Frozen Turkey
For refuge , thaw wintry turkeys in the icebox , allowing 1 day for each 4 pounds of turkey , plus 1 additional day ( 5 days for a 15 pound . turkey , for instance ) . The turkey is quick for roasting when no ice crystals stay in the consistency cavity .
New in 2024 , the Food Safety and Inspection Service ( FSIS ) by the USDA has even launch aturkey unfreeze calculatorto help you properly reckon how long your Meleagris gallopavo needs to thaw completely ( and check your mathematics from our guide above ) , so you could be certain you ’re following all food condom guidelines .
Where to Thaw a Frozen Turkey
We recommend thawing frozen bomb in the refrigerator , but you’re able to also safely thaw frozen bomb in stale urine , according to the FSIS.Do not thaw frozen turkey on your kitchen countertop or in live pee . And while you’re able to technically thaw a frozen turkey safely in a microwave , your turkey probably wo n’t fit in one !
Bigger Picture:5 day ( or more , for bigger turkeys ! ) is a long sentence to wait for your dud to warming . That ’s why the Republic of Turkey expert at Butterball have develop aturkey that can falsify from icy . All you have to do to misrepresent it is unwrap and roast , so you may have your Thanksgiving dinner on the table even faster .
How to Freeze Cooked Turkey
If Thanksgiving dinner is already over , you could freeze leftover joker in a deep freezer - safe container for up to six month if you do n’t think you ’ll eat it within four days from the fridge . From there , use that rooted turkey to create delicious dish such aschiliorshepherd ’s Proto-Indo European .
How to Use Leftover Turkey
To know how long the rest of the leftovers ( or thecooked fowl ) will last from dinner , refer tothis guidebook . Then , ascertain out ourpost - Thanksgiving recipesfor creative repast that make the best use of yourleftover turkey , admit aGarden Turkey Meltsandwich and a lunch - friendlyPad Thai — just swap out the chicken called for in the recipe with turkey .
