Careful: The Last Day to Eat Your Thanksgiving Leftovers Is Today
How's your fridge looking? If it's STILL a game of Tetris . . . tonight's meal should probably be a THANKSGIVING LEFTOVER BUFFET.
It's been four days since Thanksgiving, so . . . technically . . . TODAY is the last day to eat your leftovers before they go bad.
Some people might live dangerously and push them a few more days . . . especially with food prices these days. But experts don't recommend it. You won't just get sick of eating it . . . you could get sick, for real.
According to the USDA, turkey, stuffing, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, gravy, and pumpkin pie can all be stored in the fridge for three to four days.
If you don't want to waste the food you have, most leftovers can last a few months in the freezer. So get them in there ASAP.
There's one Thanksgiving staple that WILL survive in the fridge a little longer though. Homemade cranberry sauce lasts a week to ten days. And the canned stuff can last up to two weeks in the fridge.
Now, I know a LOT of old-schoolers . . . mom, I'm looking at you . . . will scoff at the four-day warning, but remember: The "smell-test" isn't 100% reliable. Thanksgiving dishes spoil faster than other leftovers because the food sits out in the danger zone longer than a typical meal.
Just be careful . . . and don't push anything with meat and dairy. Which is basically EVERYTHING, unless you're vegan.
(USA Today / Food Safety / USDA)
(Of course, some families struggle getting kids to eat Thanksgiving leftovers, again. Here are some clever ways to repurpose any remaining leftovers . . . including mashed potato pizza and turkey lasagna.)
Originally posted on December 1st, 2025