Leftovers are half the fun of Thanksgiving, but they have a clock on them. This is general food-safety information, not medical advice.
How long are Thanksgiving leftovers good?
Most cooked leftovers, including turkey, other cooked meat and poultry dishes, soups and stews, are good for 3 to 4 days at 40 degrees F or below, according to the USDA/FDA Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart and USDA FSIS guidance. In 2026 Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, so the last day for food cooked that day is Monday, November 30.
Leftover turkey: how many days in the fridge?
Plain cooked turkey pieces are 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, and so are turkey pieces covered in broth or gravy. Cooked poultry dishes such as pot pie are also 3 to 4 days. Get turkey into the fridge within 2 hours of cooking (1 hour if the room is above 90 degrees F), and carve it off the bone into shallow containers so it chills quickly.
How long does leftover gravy last?
Gravy is the exception. The USDA/FDA chart lists gravy and meat broth at 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator, so gravy made on Thursday should be used or frozen by Saturday, November 28. Frozen gravy keeps its best quality for 2 to 3 months. Bring gravies and sauces to a rolling boil when you reheat them.
Can you freeze Thanksgiving leftovers?
Yes, and freezing before the fridge window closes is how to keep them longer. Food kept at 0 degrees F stays safe indefinitely, so freezer times are about quality: cooked poultry pieces about 4 months, covered in gravy about 6 months, soups and stews 2 to 3 months, and cooked ham 1 to 2 months. Hard-cooked eggs do not freeze well and keep for about a week in the fridge. Reheat everything to 165 degrees F.
Do not use smell or taste to decide: harmful bacteria usually cannot be detected that way. When in doubt, throw it out. Try the leftovers safe-until date calculator → Related: how much food to cook and roasting time calculator.
Sources: USDA/FDA Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart (March 2018); USDA FSIS, Leftovers and Food Safety; FoodSafety.gov cold food storage chart. Verified October 9, 2026.
