Ah, Thanksgiving. A time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food. But what about all those leftovers? Can you safely eat cold leftover turkey sandwiches? 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 cold 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 BabyCenter and Quora threads:
- Is it safe to eat cold leftover turkey that has been sitting out for 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.
- Can you eat cold leftover turkey that has been covered with foil and kept cold in the refrigerator? Yes, this is generally safe. The foil will help to prevent the turkey from drying out, and keeping it cold will slow down the growth of bacteria. However, it’s still important to reheat the turkey before eating.
- Is it safe to eat cold leftover turkey if you are pregnant? While it’s generally safe for healthy adults to eat cold leftover turkey, pregnant women should be extra cautious. The risk of listeriosis is higher for pregnant women, so it’s best to reheat the turkey before eating.
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 sandwiches 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 sandwiches with peace of mind.
Happy Thanksgiving! And remember, food safety is always a top priority.
Don’t waste your leftover turkey – it will probably be great in a pie
If you’re lucky, you might have some turkey leftover on Christmas day. If it survives the turkey mayonnaise sandwiches at 10pm, that is.
Nobody wants to waste good meat. And turkey is perfectly safe to eat the next day – hot or cold. But there are some things you should consider in order to stay safe.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said leftovers should be cooled to room temperature and then covered, wrapped, or placed in a sealed container.
Turkey should be placed in the refrigerator or freezer within one to two hours, depending on when it will be used, of course. If frozen, the meat should be eaten within 24 hours of being defrosted. The ideal fridge temperature is between 0-5°C degrees, by the way.
The advisory board claims that keeping turkey apart from other foods also helps because different foods cool at different times. Splitting the meat into smaller portions is also wise.
According to the FSA, any cooked turkey that has been defrosted can be used to prepare a new dish (turkey curry is a popular option). This new dish can then be frozen and only need to be warmed up once.
The instructions stated, “When using frozen leftovers, make sure you defrost them thoroughly, ideally in the fridge overnight.”
“If this isn’t possible, use a microwave on the defrost setting. Always reheat leftovers until steaming hot.”
Christmas leftovers should be consumed or frozen within two days, or one day for rice dishes, according to the FSA. Big birds can take up to 48 hours to thaw.
The British Turkey board said the best way to reheat cooked turkey is to slice it up and layer the slices in an oven dish. It advises covering the meat with gravy (providing you have any leftover, of course), then covering with tin foil and a lid and placing in a hot oven. Legs and wings can and should – for flavour – stay on the bone.
“Make sure the turkey is piping hot before serving,” British Turkey said. “Alternatively, reheat in a microwave, using manufacturer’s instructions. ” (More details on reheating below).
Also worth considering is stock and butter when reheating, in lieu of gravy. These will help keep the bird moist – dry turkey is the Devil’s work. A lot of cooks encourage the ‘low and slow’ method when reheating, too. Patience will make for a better meal. What’s important is ensuring the meat is piping hot through.
If using the microwave, Kitchn said you should cut the turkey up first, cover in butter and stock or broth, then heat through until piping hot.
After that, you could use the turkey for a salad, an old English favorite called pie, or a winter stew made with potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions. Deep-frying is always a good option, or perhaps all you want to do is coat the cooked leg meat in breadcrumbs and create turkey dinosaurs. Just don’t waste it.
No matter how many sherries you may have had, it’s crucial to keep this food safety in mind while enjoying the Christmas season.
Food poisoning can be serious. It’s caused by various bacteria including: campylobacter, salmonella, listeria, and some types of E. Coli.
You really don’t want any of those at Christmas. Or ever, really.
And it isn’t only cooked and reheated turkey that should be watched. “Many forget that the food experts advise against washing raw turkey – which in essence results in splashing germs around your kitchen,” said Which?.
“However, be sure to wash your veg and hands throughout your food prep.”
Deli Meat Dangers
FAQ
Is it OK to eat cold turkey?
Can turkey be served cold?
How long can you eat cold cooked turkey?
Can you eat cooked ground turkey cold?
Can you eat a Turkey in cold storage?
Meat is a highly perishable food item on which bacteria grows very well and very quickly. The USDA advises against eating foods that have been left out of cold storage for more than two hours, and the full night on the counter greatly exceeds this limit. Play it safe and throw the turkey away.
Can I eat spicy food when I have a cold?
Although after eating spicy food one may feel relieved from the symptoms of a common cold, it is temporary relief and is not the cure for the condition. In fact, eating too much spicy food can cause stomach pain leading to nausea and vomiting.
Can you eat cold turkey for breakfast?
Eat cold foods with caution. The good news: You don’t have to give up your cold-turkey-for-breakfast habit, as long you wrapped and stashed it in a timely fashion. The rule of thumb for cold foods: If it was fully cooked in the first place and refrigerated within that two-hour window, you can nosh it straight from the fridge.
Is it safe to eat a cold turnkey?
It is usually considered safe to eat cold turnkey directly out of the refrigerator any time within the four day window. Reheating turkey that has been either refrigerated or frozen often involves a bit more precision.