You’ve prepared the best turkey for your family and friends and you’re stuffed and tired. Learn how long can turkey sit out while you are going through your turkey coma.
Thanksgiving is a joyous occasion that brings everyone together. You get to see your family members and, more importantly, feast on a turkey. Still, it can also be a hectic event.
You spend so much of your day cooking and preparing for everyone’s arrival. Part of the chaos centers around turkey. You’re not sure when to thaw it out and how long it needs to rest after roasting.
You’re tired and the last thing you want to do in the middle of all the work is wonder how long you can leave the turkey out on the counter before you have to put it away.
Ah, the Thanksgiving feast. A time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food. But what about all those leftovers? Can you safely eat cooked turkey that was left out? The answer, like most things in life, is a bit more nuanced than a simple yes or no.
The Science Behind Food Safety
To understand whether leftover turkey is safe to eat, we need to delve into the world of foodborne illness. The primary culprit in this case is Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious infection. While listeriosis is relatively rare, it can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems.
Listeria thrives in cold, moist environments, which makes leftover turkey a potential breeding ground. However, the good news is that proper handling and storage can significantly reduce the risk of listeria contamination.
Safe Handling Practices for Leftover Turkey
Here are some key steps to ensure your leftover turkey is safe to eat:
- Cook the turkey thoroughly. The USDA recommends cooking turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). This ensures that any potential bacteria are killed.
- Refrigerate leftovers promptly. After the turkey has cooled, slice it and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking.
- Reheat leftovers thoroughly. If you plan to eat your turkey cold, it’s still important to reheat it to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before eating. This will kill any bacteria that may have grown in the meantime.
- Don’t leave leftovers out at room temperature for extended periods. This is especially important if you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, or are caring for a newborn.
Addressing Specific Concerns
Now let’s address some of the specific concerns raised in the Quora thread:
- Can you eat cooked turkey that was left out for 10 hours? No, it’s not recommended. If the turkey has been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours, it’s best to discard it.
- Is it safe to eat cooked turkey that was left out at 64 degrees Fahrenheit? Even at a cooler temperature, it’s still not safe to eat cooked turkey that has been left out for more than two hours.
- Should I chuck the 1.5 pounds of leftover turkey? Yes, it’s best to err on the side of caution and discard the turkey. It’s not worth the risk of foodborne illness.
Additional Tips for Safe Food Handling
Here are some additional tips for safe food handling:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling food.
- Use separate cutting boards for raw and cooked meat.
- Clean your refrigerator regularly.
- Don’t thaw frozen turkey at room temperature. Thaw it in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.
- When in doubt, throw it out. If you’re unsure about the safety of your leftover turkey, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and discard it.
Enjoying leftover turkey is a delicious way to extend the Thanksgiving feast. However, it’s important to handle and store leftovers properly to ensure food safety. By following the tips outlined above, you can minimize the risk of foodborne illness and enjoy your turkey with peace of mind.
Happy Thanksgiving! And remember, food safety is always a top priority.
How Long Can You Safely Rest a Cooked Turkey?
If you carve into your turkey right after it is cooked, the juices don’t have time to redistribute. Carving too soon will leave you with a dry bird.
The tasty turkey drippings will leak out and onto your cutting board. Instead, be a bit patient and let it rest before carving.
PRO TIP: Knowing How Long to Let Your Turkey Rest before carving yields to tender, juicy meat. You should let your turkey rest for 15-30 minutes before you cut into it. Then you can leave it out for close to two hours.
How to Safely Thaw Out Turkey?
Instead of placing your turkey on a counter, let it thaw out in your fridge. It’ll take a while, but this way, the temperature is too cold for harmful bacteria to grow. We have all the directions on how to do this in our Thanksgiving Planner {freebie}.
However, if you’re pressed for time, you can also use it to speed up the process by submerging it in a sizable container of cold water.
How long is leftover turkey safe to eat?
FAQ
Is it OK to eat cooked turkey left out overnight?
How long can you leave a turkey out after it has been cooked?
How long can turkey meat stay at room temperature?
How long can you keep a turkey warm after cooking?
Can You Refrigerate a cooked turkey?
Once your turkey is cooked and cooled to room temp, you want to refrigerate the bird at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or eat well within two hours of removing the bird from the oven. For hot, juicy meat, you want your turkey to be ready 15 to 20 minutes before you begin your feast.
How long can you leave cooked turkey out at room temperature?
Answer: You can safely leave cooked turkey out at room temperature for two hours — or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit — says the United States Department of Agriculture. Cooked turkey that has been left out for longer than 2 hours (or 1 hour above 90° F) should be discarded.
What happens if you leave cooked turkey out for a few hours?
Leaving cooked turkey out for a few hours can be cause for concern. Bacteria thrive at temperatures between 41 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which is exactly where room temperature falls. Bacteria can be introduced onto your turkey if it is not cooked properly, by other raw foods through cross-contamination, or by humans.
Can you eat cooked turkey if left out at room temperature?
Cooked turkey is safe to eat if left out at room temperature for two hours or less. The USDA identifies anything beyond these two hours as the “Danger Zone” for perishable foods – the zone in which harmful bacteria begin to grow and food becomes unsafe to eat.