On Your Fourth Day of Eating Thanksgiving Leftovers? Check Out These Food Safety Tips.

For many of us, the best part of Thanksgiving is the leftovers. Whether you’re dreaming of turkey sandwiches, reheated stuffing, or creative casseroles, keeping those leftovers safe allows you to enjoy every bite without worry. Here’s how to handle them with care.

Packing Up

Once everyone’s had their fill, it’s time to shift into leftover mode. Perishable foods should be refrigerated within two hours of coming off the table. The faster food cools the better, so divide large portions into smaller containers.

Refrigerate perishable foods within two hours (or one hour if it’s more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside). Keep your fridge at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and your freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Storage

Thanksgiving leftovers don’t last forever. Keep this easy timeline in mind:

• Refrigerator: Safe for three to four days
• Freezer: Best quality for two to six months

If you already know you won’t finish something in the next few days, go ahead and freeze it now. A simple piece of tape with the date can save a lot of guesswork later. When your fridge is filled with similar-looking containers, labels make it easy to know what’s still good.

Reheating

Leftovers should be reheated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit for safety. Reheat sauces, gravy, and soups until they’re bubbling. If you’re microwaving, stir halfway through so everything heats evenly. Smell and appearance can help, but timing matters most. If leftovers have been in the fridge longer than four days, it’s safer to toss them.

Enjoy those leftovers, but treat them with the same care you did the main meal. A little attention to storage and reheating keeps the post-Thanksgiving tradition tasty and keeps you feeling your best.