The end of November might mean that Thanksgiving Day is over, but that doesn't mean the enjoyment of the food that comes with the American holiday has to be. If you're looking to spend the last weekend of the month snacking on Thanksgiving leftovers, you can − with some precautions.
Monday, Dec. 1, is likely the last day Thanksgiving leftovers will be safe to eat, according to FoodSafety.gov, an online food safety resource maintained by several federal government agencies. After four days, most food stored in the fridge begins to develop spoilage bacteria, which causes food to develop a bad smell or taste. However, leftovers that are stored in the freezer are good for several months, some even lasting through spring.
Generally, if food items are refrigerated within two hours of coming out of the oven or refrigerator, they should be good to consume safely. For those hoping to make the fall food last just a bit longer, here's what you need to know about keeping it edible.
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Turkey and trimming leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days, according to FoodSafety.gov. That means meat stored on Thanksgiving is good through Monday, the first day of December.
