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Some Thanksgiving leftovers tin spoil faster than others depending on what they are and how they're stored. Getty Images
  • Thanksgiving leftovers can pose the risk of exposing people to foodborne illnesses if they aren't prepared or stored properly.
  • People have a habit of leaving the food out on the buffet table long after the meal is finished. If turkey, stuffing, or gravy is left out at room temperature (xl to 140°F) for over two hours it may no longer be rubber to eat.
  • Bacteria prospers at this temperature, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.
  • When stored properly in a refrigerator, turkey leftovers generally stay adept for iii to 4 days.

For many people, enjoying leftovers in the days following Thanksgiving is as integral a office of the beloved holiday as football and family tension.

Some may warm those leftovers on a plate, while others may only pile turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole onto a Hawaiian gyre for the almost Thanksgiving sandwich you tin can imagine.

Either way, those leftovers are getting eaten.

Unfortunately, as succulent every bit those leftovers gustation going downward, your memories of them won't exist quite so grand if they current of air up coming correct support.

"If one gets bacterial food poisoning from food that was handled or stored improperly, they tin experience symptoms as soon as a few hours after consumption," said registered dietitian Bonnie Cramp of Maple Holistics.

Which foods y'all save, how you shop them, and for how long can make a large difference in whether or not the items you plan to gobble after the Thanksgiving may pose a potential health risk.

Here's what to go along in mind earlier you lot fill your plate with all that leftover Thanksgiving goodness.

Jamie Bacharach is a licensed medical acupuncturist and nutritional consultant for Acupuncture Jerusalem who has all-encompassing experience helping her patients deal with foodborne illnesses.

She said that some of the biggest culprits of foodborne affliction on your vacation tabular array include:

  • Mashed potatoes. When left at room temperature for also long, mashed potatoes or whatever cooked potatoes tin develop botulism due to the leaner nowadays. When baked in foil, this becomes even more likely. The bacteria may be so overwhelming that even reheating potatoes at a loftier temperature will not sufficiently kill it off.
  • Stuffing. Considering it's prone to the evolution of pathogenic bacteria, stuffing can testify dangerous to savor as a leftover. Stuffing often doesn't give off a visual sign or smell of deterioration, but it can still make its consumers ill.
  • Turkey. Raw poultry is a hotbed of bacteria that tin can itself evidence dangerous also as contaminate other foods it comes into contact with. Even when sufficiently cooked, poultry presents certain dangers, particularly when dealing with a turkey that has been left out to develop bacteria for hours on Thanksgiving Day.

When information technology comes to Thanksgiving leftovers, people have a habit of leaving the food out on the buffet tabular array for far likewise long before storing information technology away. That's considering anybody likes to continue grazing, even long afterward the meal has ended.

But this is one error that could pb to a lot of hurting.

"If any turkey, stuffing, or gravy was left out at room temperature (40 to 140°F) for over ii hours, say goodbye to your vacation souvenir," said Cramp. "Bacteria prospers at this temperature, increasing the gamble of foodborne illness."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) backs her up, urging consumers to "refrigerate leftovers at 40°F or colder equally soon every bit possible and within two hours of grooming to prevent food poisoning."

If you want those leftovers for later enjoyment, forget Aunt Mildred barking at you nigh coming back for thirds and commencement storing your food items abroad as shortly every bit you finish your first circular.

When yous do pack those leftovers up, Balk recommends portioning them out into smaller serving sizes for storage "to avoid a buildup of bacteria from growing."

And because you want to ensure all food items are cooled prior to putting them in the refrigerator, since sealing warm nutrient and putting it in a cool environment can promote moisture and bacterial growth, she suggests placing turkey in shallow containers with a tight cover for quicker cooling.

Bacharach said that another big mistake people make is overloading their fridge when they exercise store their leftovers.

"A family unit fridge may never be every bit full as information technology is later a Thanksgiving dinner, but what people don't recognize is that when a fridge is also overloaded, the temperature of the fridge drops," Bacharach said.

That ways the nutrient y'all thought y'all stored properly could exist spoiling within the confines of your refrigerator, with bacteria reproducing and just waiting for a hazard to brand yous sick.

"Larn to recognize when your fridge is non operating at its total capacity," Bacharach advised. "And adjust your food storage accordingly."

So, allow's say y'all were smart and got all your leftovers stored away properly, with plenty of fridge room to spare. That doesn't mean y'all can savour those leftovers indefinitely.

Food still spoils eventually, even when properly stored.

"Bear in mind that turkey leftovers stay good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge," Balk explained.

Information technology's a timeline that'southward generally a safe bet for all your other Thanksgiving favorites as well.

"If you lot plan to eat them longer, then consider freezing them, every bit they tin safely final in the freezer 2 to 6 months," Balk added.

While we know that sandwich we mentioned earlier sounds delicious — a flake of Thanksgiving in every seize with teeth — keep in mind that eating leftovers direct from the fridge increases your risk of contracting a foodborne disease.

"Undercooked nutrient or under heated leftovers take not been hit with a sufficient amount of heat in order to kill threatening leaner that develops and persists," said Bacharach. "Eating leftovers common cold, or eating your food raw or undercooked the kickoff time around, are sure ways to increase the risks that leftover food volition crusade problems when eaten."

To reduce those risks, she suggests cooking all foods to at least 150°F. This will "avoid the danger zone of 40 to 140 degrees for cooking as divers by the USDA."

Sometimes you tin can exercise everything correct, or at least call up you're doing everything right, and foodborne leaner volition withal go an issue.

If you begin experiencing whatever signs of stomach upset, Bacharach says you should throw out the foods you doubtable may have made y'all sick immediately.

"It is advisable to brainstorm consuming foods which tin naturally counteract the effects of the disease," Bacharach explained. "This includes ginger, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and warming properties, and greenish onions, which are loftier in antibacterial and antimicrobial content."

These, she explained, tin can be brewed into a tea and sipped while symptoms persist.

"Drink enough of water in lodge to replenish your fluids and keep you well hydrated while you lot are suffering from your disease, as aridity is a adventure."

And if you do feel like eating, she suggests keeping your meals low-cal.

"Your system is being taxed plenty trying to fight through food poisoning, it doesn't need the added task of digesting new, challenging foods," she said.

When in doubt, don't hesitate to seek medical advice and throw any remaining leftovers out.