It’s perfectly fine to freeze cooked turkey, you just have to know how to do it properly.

Cooking a whole turkey is a small undertaking. The sheer size of even the smallest birds typically means a long cooking time and often a lot of preparation in advance when wet or dry brining the turkey. Even if you choose to roast a turkey leg or just the breast, this can result in more meat than your family can consume at once. You won’t let your hard work (and your perfect meal) go to waste, but cooked turkey will only last three to four days in the fridge.

So what should you do with leftover cooked turkey? Life in the South consulted two renowned chefs to get to the bottom of this important cooking mystery: Grant Carnes, Executive Chef at the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, and Victoria Shore, Executive Chef at the Thompson Savannah, who both agree that it’s OK to freeze cooked turkey .

Read on to learn her insights and best practices for freezing cooked turkey.

Can you freeze cooked turkey?

Cooked turkey can be frozen, but Carnes warns, “The texture will be somewhat grainy when used.”

Shore also advises, “However, you should always let it cool to at least room temperature before freezing – for food safety and the safety of your freezer.” Placing hot food in a freezer full of cold, frozen items will affect the temperature the freezer and other items inside. That’s why it’s important to wait until any leftovers have cooled before storing them.

How long does cooked turkey last in the freezer?

Shore says she’s had the turkey in the freezer for six months, but admits it’s best eaten within three months “to ensure it’s not too dry or structurally compromised.” The United States Department of Agriculture confirms that cooked turkey can be frozen for three to four months, but notes that the meat is technically safe indefinitely, as the length of time is merely a guideline for the best quality.

Best Practices for Freezing Cooked Turkey

• Vacuum packaging: According to Carnes, vacuum packing cooked turkey before putting it in the freezer is the way to go because this pro step “sufficiently reduces the chance of freezer burn.” He also suggests packaging the meat in small quantities so it can be used as needed, “instead of having to pull out a half-eaten bird.” This method also shortens the defrosting time, which we’ll talk about a little later.
• Freezer bags: Shore agrees that vacuum sealing is the best method for freezing cooked turkey, but she understands that not all home cooks may have this specialized equipment. The chef at Thompson Savannah says you can instead place pieces of turkey in a thin layer in a freezer bag and squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.

“Thin layers are key because they make defrosting much quicker,” explains Shore, adding that she prefers this method because “I can easily pick out the pieces I need to thaw quickly rather than dealing with one unwieldy piece “Having to fight around frozen material.” Bits.”

How to defrost cooked turkey

The best method for defrosting cooked turkey is: Time. “Thaw in the refrigerator overnight,” advises Shore. But Shore says if you’re looking for something quicker, you can pan-fry or grill white meat slices from frozen, while dark meat pieces can be shredded into chunks before adding to a stew or pot pie filling.

What to Make with Frozen Cooked Turkey

Like Shore, Chef Carnes likes to use leftover turkey for pot pies because the vegetables and gravy keep the turkey juicy.

• Dark meat: According to Chef Shore, you can also use leftover dark turkey meat in stews where you would use pork (like pozole) or in a Cajun gumbo. “The texture is robust enough to withstand a little more cooking, and the flavor is neutral enough to let your other ingredients take center stage,” explains Shore.
• White meat: Her white meat advice might make you hungry for lunch: Slice leftover white meat slices and combine them with mayonnaise, curry powder, diced green apples, golden raisins, and diced celery for a new twist on chicken salad. Shore likes to serve this turkey salad in a wrap with lots of crisp lettuce for added texture.