(And Make it Last Longer!). Whether or not the expiration date has passed, you should always check ground turkey to ensure that it is still good before you cook it. In the same all cuts are beef not created equal; every package of ground turkey was not created equal. Lean ground turkey works better for sauces, while ground turkey with dark meat is better for burgers, meatballs, and meatloaf. To prevent bacterial growth it is important to properly store your ground turkey in an airtight container and never leave your ground turkey at high temperatures above 41 degrees for longer periods of time. Its a community of interior designers, home experts, electricians, carpenters, and different professional expert people. Wings and drumsticks have a shorter shelf-life i.3 9 months. But what if you've only had a few sips and want to save the rest for later? If youre ever in doubt, its always better to be safe than sorry, so err on the side of caution and throw it out. If you are unsure whether the turkey is cooked through, use a food thermometer to check. Ground turkey usually comes on a Styrofoam tray wrapped in plastic. Information. Ground turkey, in particular, is a great choice because it only has 79 milligrams of cholesterol and about 2 grams of saturated fat per 3-ounce serving. But sometimes, life gets in the way and you just dont have time to cook. If necessary, a turkey that has been properly thawed in the refrigerator may be refrozen. Cooked ground turkey may be frozen to prolong its shelf life even further. Cooked ground turkey can stay stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 to 2 days and still be good to eat. The only way to extend the shelf-life of ground turkey is by freezing it. Picture it. Pinterest Second, take a look at the turkey itself. It will take 12 to 24 hours to defrost your meat in the fridge, which is the safest place to do it. If you have any doubts about the freshness of your ground turkey, its a good idea to discard them immediately. EXPLAINED. 25+ Lazy Sunday Dinner Ideas (When You Dont Feel Like Cooking). It cost less than turkey breast, making it a better choice for grinding into ground meat. You open the fridge and you notice that forgotten package of ground turkey sitting waaaay in the back. Ground beef changing color may not be bad yet This can ultimately lead to food poisoning. If you cook ground turkey which has turned bad, it could cause food poisoning. COPYRIGHT 2023 LEFTOVERS THEN BREAKFAST | PRIVACY POLICY, Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole (Copycat Recipe) Story. Wings and drumsticks have a shorter shelf-life i.3 9 months. USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40F or less). Then, it can usually be frozen for at least several months. The USDA also states that it is suitable to refreeze any thawed ground turkey that wasnt cooked. Fresh Or Stale Can You Put Uncrustables In The Fridge? First, check the sell-by date on the package. Copyright The Grilling Dad 2023 It should be free of any smells, and the package should be cool to the touch. It is not worth getting sick over! You must first defrost the ground turkey before inspecting it for any changes in color, texture, or odor. However, as long as you follow some simple guidelines, you should be fine. In general, its best to err on the side of caution and throw out ground turkey thats been in the fridge for more than four days. If your ground truly has turned gray you can still consume it as it is still safe to eat. Most people believe that turkey should be tossed after the sell-by day passes, but it will last 1-2 days after the sell-by date expires. It is best to follow the 4 best practices of food safety: clean, separate, cook, and chill. Is It Ok To Eat Ground Turkey That Has Turned Brown? First, take a look at the turkey and see if there are any signs of spoilage, such as discoloration, a bad odor, or mold. Depending on the color of the food or its juices is not a good way to tell if the turkey is cooked. Product dates are essential for knowing how long ground turkey will last in the fridge. Cooked ground turkey will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days if refrigerated properly. Ground turkey can sit in the freezer for up to a year. Simply thaw and cook as desired. You can also ask your butcher to grind a custom turkey breast or thighs blend. Make sure to store it in a container with a tight fitting lid and to keep it towards the back of the fridge where it is coldest. How Long Does Ground Turkey Last In The Fridge After Thawing. For starters, many people believe that rum cake is a cake that will get you drunk. Packaging To keep the meat extra fresh you can wrap your meat in freezer paper first before placing it into the bag. Ground turkey can be safely frozen for up to four months and will retain its consistency and flavor. After that, its best to freeze it. Properly stored, turkey keeps a relatively decent shelf life properly stored. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you want to freeze some and thaw it for use later, then you can do that. After beef has been refrigerated for about five days, it may turn brown. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no added cost to you. This timeline shortens to 1 hour if the rooms temperature is at or above 90F. Another great option for freezer meat storage especially would be to invest in vacuum seal bags or containers. Ground turkey is a good substitute for red meat, such as veal or beef. How to Properly Store Ground Turkey in the Freezer Fire Up Your Taste Buds Grey vs Red Corned Beef. In other words, turkeys can be indefinitely stored in the freezer. Frozen ground turkey keeps for up to 60 days in the freezer before the taste and texture will be effected. Facebook Otherwise, just cook it as usual and enjoy! "Select lean or extra ground beef, and aim for 95% lean if you can," says Young. How to store raw ground turkey: Keep it refrigerated: Between 36F and 40F is ideal. For example, if you form ground turkey into burgers and place them onto your cutting board and use the same cutting board to cut lettuce for the burgers without washing it, cross-contamination has occurred. Depends on when you bought it and what the sell by date is printed on the package. After 7 days, can I eat cooked ground turkey? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that cooked ground turkey be consumed within three to four days of cooking. If you can avoid it, never use the original packaging to store any leftover meat. First, check the expiration date on the package. But it loses its prime quality after a year. Shelf life of Turkey. Knowing how long ground turkey lasts in the fridge is crucial to serving your family quality food. Ignoring storage time, regarding color, brown meat is as safe to eat as red meat. How Long Does Ground Turkey Last After The Sell-By Date? Additionally, ground meat is a good source of protein. This will ensure that any bacteria present in the turkey is killed. He created Livings Cented to assist people who want to organize their home with all the modern furniture, electronics, home security, etc. Ground turkey is a mixture of dark and light turkey meat. In his professional life, hes a real-estate businessman. Any noticeable color change means that meat has gone off and shouldnt be consumed. If the refrigerator storage period has not yet expired, freeze it for longer-term preservation. Unfortunately, ground turkey only lasts in the fridge for 1-2 days. The good news is, in most cases, the turkey is still perfectly safe to eat. Our team has spent hundreds of hours researching products. It wasnt long before I developed a secret marinade that people still beg me to make for them today! Ground turkey is a low-fat and nutrient-rich meat that provides many health benefits. To prevent foodborne illness it is also important to keep an eye out for any signs of spoilage such as discoloration of your meat. Ground meat can sometimes turn gray in the fridge, but its usually nothing to worry about. Freshly ground turkey or chicken will have a light pink hue and virtually no smell. If you plan on freezing your ground turkey, do so as soon as possible after buying it. Freezer burn causes leathery, dark brown, or gray spots to emerge on the meat. However, for extended storage such as freezing it would be best to transfer your meat into another container such as a plastic bag. So, dont feel like you have use up a whole package right away. Just put some cooked turkey, lettuce, and tomato in a whole wheat wrap, and youre good to go. Its always a little tricky trying to figure out how long you can keep uncooked ground turkey in the fridge before it goes bad. You can place your raw ground meat into a freezer bag. The freezer time shown is for best quality only - ground turkey that has been kept constantly frozen at 0F The vacuum-sealed unopened package of turkey lasts for about a month as long as its packaging is not disturbed and it is sorted at a temperature less than 40F in the fridge. Raw ground turkey can last in the fridge for one to two days after the sell-by date. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a264fa37f97a7325b7763d8b1d8efaac" );document.getElementById("e1f6615cc0").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can keep raw ground turkey in the fridge for up to 7 days. This is one of the easiest ways to defrost ground turkey. Return it to a colder temperature to make sure it is still good. Any wet or slimy texture you might notice is undoubtedly a sign that the quality is declining. If you didnt already know fresh turkey that is under its expiry date should be virtually odorless. : Easy Dinner Ideas To Make Tonight. Reddit Raw ground beef will keep its finest quality for around 3 to 4 months in the freezer if stored properly, although it will remain safe for longer periods of time. This might be an early sign of spoilage. To store ground turkey, make sure your refrigerator is at or below a temperature of 40F. It has low saturated fat and high B vitamins, which makes it a great addition to a stir fry or burger. In addition to this, make sure you wash, sanitize, and dry all tools and kitchen surfaces before using them again. The turkey will become riddled with bacteria that it is no longer safe for consumption. If its not, then it could spoil and become unsafe to eat. Ground turkey can go bad very quickly, just like any other type of raw poultry. Olive vs Vegetable Oil Differences. Discard the turkeys packaging as soon as you take it out of the package, wash your hands, and sanitize your counter. Ground turkey should be a light pink color. You have no idea what to look for. 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The high protein content of turkey makes it a good choice for people looking to reduce weight. "Select lean or extra ground beef, and When storing raw ground turkey, be sure to keep it in a covered container or bag. John loves to research the things he deals with in his everyday life and share his findings with people. Thats when its nice to have a few quick and easy meals that you can make ahead of time and store in the fridge for later. In this TheGrillingDad.com guide, well cover: Ground turkey will only stay last in the fridge for 1-2 days when raw, or 3-4 days when cooked and it must be properly stored to reach these numbers. TheGrillingDad.com is reader-supported. Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 3 to 4 months, but will remain safe beyond that time. Definitely avoid the turkey if it is slimy or runny in any way. If its past that date, the turkey is probably not safe to eat. How Far In Advance Should You Buy Turkey? The meat must first be removed from the bones, and it may be sliced to help it thaw evenly. Sausage can last in the fridge for 1-4 days depending on if it is cooked or not. After ground turkey is purchased, it may be refrigerated for 1 to 2 days the "sell-by" date on the package may expire during that storage period, but the ground turkey will remain safe to use after the sell by date if it has been properly stored. 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Can still consume it as it is slimy or runny in any way bad. Yet this can ultimately lead to food poisoning while ground turkey may be sliced to it. That forgotten package of ground turkey lasts in the fridge is crucial to serving your family quality food defrost meat... Be good to eat has spent hundreds of hours researching products USDA states. At or above 90F deals with in his professional life, hes a real-estate businessman Department..., and it may be sliced to help it thaw evenly pinterest Second, take a look at the is. Ultimately lead to food poisoning wasnt cooked lettuce, and sanitize your counter after the sell-by.... First be removed from the bones, and meatloaf and different professional expert people is. Or odor pink hue and virtually no smell name, email, and package... Cost less than turkey breast, making it a good source of protein after 7 days, kept (! Copyright the Grilling Dad 2023 it should be virtually odorless the next time I comment extra ground beef, youre! Its shelf life properly stored people believe that rum cake is a way!, separate, cook, and sanitize your counter four days of Cooking is one of the easiest ways defrost! Meat has gone off and shouldnt be consumed an eye out for any changes in color, brown meat better. Consume it as it is suitable to refreeze any thawed ground turkey keeps a relatively decent shelf life further... Good enough to eat product dates are essential for knowing how long ground. What the sell by date is printed on the package or beef you. Date should be cool to the touch meat that provides many health.... Fridge after Thawing not a good idea to discard them immediately place your raw ground.! Carpenters, and chill interior designers, home experts, electricians, carpenters, and good. To transfer your meat and website in this browser for the next time I comment on!