One of the best things about Thanksgiving are the leftovers. The delicious food remaining from your Thanksgiving Day feast will usually see you through several days' of eating following the holiday.
Among the most versatile of the leftovers is turkey meat, which is often used for various sandwiches, pies, casseroles and other dishes.
How to Reheat Turkey Safely
Leftovers are convenient as they usually simply require reheating with no fuss. However, there are some important factors to bear in mind to ensure you safely reheat turkey.
The Right Cut
Once your turkey has been fully cooked, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises cutting the turkey into smaller pieces before refrigeration. Breast meat should be cut into slices, while the legs and wings can be left as whole when refrigerating them.
Temperature
While reheating leftover turkey, you should always check the temperature of the turkey parts (sliced and otherwise) in several places using a food thermometer. The turkey should be "steaming hot" and you should ensure the temperature reaches 165 degrees (Fahrenheit) throughout, the USDA says.
Oven Type
If you're using a conventional oven, it should be noted that it is unsafe to reheat any cooked meat or poultry in an oven set lower than 325 degrees (Fahrenheit).
Those using microwave ovens should also bear in mind that some of these devices do not cook food evenly and cold spots can develop within the food. If you're using a microwave to reheat your turkey, you should cover and rotate it once or twice while it's cooking, the USDA says.
How Long Can You Keep Leftovers?
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) says leftovers can be refrigerated for three to four days. They can be kept frozen for three to four months.
Leftovers should be sealed and stored safely in a storage container for optimal freshness. Any uneaten food that's been left out for more than two hours should be thrown away, the NTF explains.
Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Dish Ideas
Here are some ideas to "transform your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers," as recommended at the NTF website.
Turkey Frittata
Make a frittata for brunch with your leftover turkey using a recipe by Meghan Hensley from the Meg's Everyday Indulgence blog. The dish is made with a stuffing crust, leftover turkey, sweet potatoes and chunks of brie cheese. See the full recipe at the NTF website.
Hensley says: "It's a hearty yet healthy way to start your day since turkey is packed with b vitamins, zinc, potassium and iron."
Turkey Egg Rolls
These egg rolls with a turkey twist are made using crispy wonton wrappers stuffed with leftover turkey as well as any remaining Thanksgiving sides. It's served with a cranberry dipping sauce. See Hensley's full recipe at the NTF website.
Turkey Tetrazzini
This pasta casserole recipe from Katie Workman from The Mom 100 blog entails mixing leftover turkey with sautéed mushrooms and a cream sauce made with sherry, sage and parsley. Complete the dish with a cheesy crunchy bread crumb topping. See Workman's full recipe at the NTF website.
The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates the impact of inflation on Thanksgiving dinners.
The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates the change in the number of Americans traveling for Thanksgiving in 2020 and 2021, compared with 2019.
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