Throughout this post, we’ll address the issue of “How long can you leave the ground turkey in the fridge?” and discuss the best way to determine whether ground turkey has gone bad.
After it has been cooked, how long can ground turkey stay in the fridge? Cooked ground turkey can keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and for up to 4 months in the freezer if stored properly.
What is the best way to know whether raw ground turkey is bad? The most effective method is to smell and visually inspect the ground turkey: symptoms of rotten ground turkey include a sour smell, a dull colour, and a slimy texture; reject any ground turkey that has an odd smell or seems to be slippery.
How Long Can You Leave the Ground Turkey in the Fridge?
If ground turkey is kept properly, it will survive for 1-2 days beyond the sell-by date. If the ground turkey has been sitting out for more than 2 hours at temperatures that are inside the danger zone, i.e., between 40°F and 140°F, the meat should be discarded.
Unless refrigerated, cooked ground turkey will keep for 3–4 days in the refrigerator if kept properly. Prepared ground turkey may be frozen to increase its shelf life by up to four months.
If you want to store ground turkey for a longer period of time, freeze it when the refrigerator storage time has not yet expired. Keep the ground turkey in its original container until you’re ready to use it to ensure that it has the longest shelf life possible.
If frozen ground turkey is kept at a constant temperature of 0°F, it will survive an endless amount of time. However, for the finest quality, it is advised that you use it within 3–4 months after purchasing it.
How Long Do Leftovers Last?
All perishable items, whether opened or prepared, must be destroyed after seven days in the refrigerator. Some things go rotten before they’ve been in the fridge for seven days. It is preferable to freeze any leftovers if you want to keep them for a long time.
| Category | Food | Refrigerator(40 °F or below) | Freezer(0 °F or below) |
| Salads | Egg, chicken, ham, tuna, & macaroni salads | 3-5 days | Does not freeze well |
| Hot dogs | Opened packageUnopened package | 1 week 2 weeks | 1-2 months 1-2 months |
| Lunchmeat | Opened package or deli-sliced Unopened package | 3-5 days 2 weeks | 1-2 months 1-2 months |
| Bacon and sausage | Raw bacon Raw sausage made from chicken, turkey, pork, and beef | 7 days 1-2 days | 1 month1-2 months |
| Hamburger and other ground meats | Raw hamburger, ground beef, turkey, veal, pork, lamb, and mixtures of them | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Raw beef, veal, lamb, and pork | Steaks ChopsRoasts | 3-5 days 3-5 days 3-5 days | 6-12 months 4-6 months 4-12 months |
| Raw poultry | Chicken or turkey, whole chicken or turkey, pieces | 1-2 days 1-2 days | 1 year 9 months |
| Soups and stews leftovers | Vegetable or meat addedCooked meat or poultry Chicken nuggets or patties Pizza | 3-4 days 3-4 days 3-4 days 3-4 days | 2-3 months 2-6 months 1-3 months 1-2 months |
How to store ground turkey in the freezer?
Raw ground turkey should be frozen within two days after purchase if it is not cooked beforehand. It is inevitable that the ground meat’s quality will decline over time.
As a result, frozen ground turkey should be used within 3–4 months after being frozen. Keep ground turkey in its original container if possible; otherwise, wrap it in aluminium foil and place it in a freezer bag. That’s all there is to it.
Ground turkey that has been thawed may only be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. This only applies if the ground turkey was thawed overnight in the refrigerator before using it in the recipe. Ground turkey that has been thawed quickly, such as in the microwave or under running cold water, should be cooked as soon as possible after being thawed.
How to tell If the ground turkey has gone bad?
Ground turkey that develops grey or green coloured patches or spots across the surface of the meat is considered to be poor. Because of microbial development, bad turkey flesh feels slippery when it is touched. Ground turkey that has been spoiled has a strong rotting scent that cannot be ignored, allowing you to detect when the flesh has gone bad.
How to refrigerate raw turkey?
Temperature
The temperature of the refrigerator is really vital in order to keep the turkey fresh. It is best to keep turkey in the refrigerator at a temperature below 4°F so that germs don’t grow on it.
Check for the best-by date
Keep track of the best-by date on the turkey’s plastic wrapping, which is printed on the package. The turkey will only be edible for another 2-3 days after this date. As long as the turkey is still sealed in its original packaging, the best-by or sell-by date will serve as an indication of how long it will last on the shelf.
Shelf-life of thawed turkey
If the turkey is kept packed in its original packaging and has been thawed, it may be stored for an additional 2 days after being cooked. This is equally true for the turkey parts as well as the ground turkey meat. If the turkey seems to be rotten or smells bad, throw it away.
Store in the meat drawer
Keep the turkey in the refrigerator’s meat drawer until ready to use. If your refrigerator does not have one, you must put it on a tray and set it at the rear of the lowest shelf. As a result of the fact that it is the coldest region of the refrigerator,
Conclusion
Our solution to the issue of “how long can cooked ground turkey stay in the fridge?” and how to detect whether the ground turkey is bad can be found in this post.
