How Long Turkey Breast Lasts Inside The Freezer?

Thanksgiving dinners would not be complete without a delicious roasted turkey breast. After the holidays, leftover turkeys usually end up in freezers.

How long will a frozen turkey breast be considered safe to eat? We looked into this and came up with an answer.

A frozen turkey should be kept in a freezer for at least a year, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 

It is possible to keep turkey parts in the freezer for 9 months. For a cooked turkey, it can be kept in the freezer for up to 6 months for the best quality.

Now that the holiday season is just around the corner, authorities have given recommendations on how to properly store and handle turkey meat.

Continue reading if you want to learn how to properly store turkey to make sure your family’s health.

How Long Will A Turkey Breast Lasts Inside The Freezer?

Health is the most important consideration for most people. A lot of people are getting ready for the most wonderful time of the year again, the holiday season, which is imminent.

Thanksgiving Day is a time when a roasted turkey or turkey breast is present at dinner tables.

It is important to know how to store them properly to avoid food-related illnesses.

Aside from the usual hand washing before and after handling food, one should also put in mind how to keep the food fresh and safe to eat.

Meat products are used in the food industry to be preserved in a freezer.

Whole turkeys and turkey breasts are in high demand at this time of the year and grocery stores tend to stock up on their supply to meet the demand.

How sure are we that the turkey we purchased from the grocery store is safe to eat?

The turkeys should only be kept in the freezer for a year to guarantee their quality and freshness.

It is always better to be safe than sorry during the holiday season since no one wants to be sick. Thawing is a major part of securing the turkey’s overall quality.

Make sure to cook the turkey breast within 2 days after it has been frozen.

A lot has to be done to meet the standard set by the health authorities as to the proper storage and preparation of turkeys, as the whole process of securing the best quality of turkey meat does not only involve thawing.

The standard temperature needed to preserve the meat (at or below 0F), up to the cooking process is important to secure the sanitation of the preparation.

To fully understand the importance of proper food storage, especially with raw and uncooked turkey and turkey breasts, below are some related questions.

To improve your game in storing meat, you need to ask these questions.

How Can I Freeze a Raw Turkey?

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that the best way to store whole raw turkey in the freezer is to leave it in its original wrapping.

It is advisable to wrap turkey parts in freezer wraps or tightly sealed freezer bags before storing them. The package date for each bag should be put there as well.

Best Way to Freeze Cooked Turkey Breast

The best way to freeze turkey breasts is to wrap them in freezer wraps or tightly sealed freezer bags.

The package date needs to be indicated in each bag. Ensuring the quality and safety of the meat is what this is about.

How Long Will a Turkey Breast Take to Thaw in the Fridge?

The United States Department of Agriculture has guidelines for when to thaw a refrigerator.

The best way to thaw a turkey is in the refrigerator, but it depends on the turkey’s weight. The guidelines for refrigerator thawing can be found here.

• 4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 3 days
• 12 to 16 pounds — 3 to 4 days
• 16 to 20 pounds — 4 to 5 days
• 20 to 24 pounds —5 to 6 days

It seems that turkeys need a longer time to thaw. If you want to cook your turkey, you should thaw it more or less three days in advance.

Is It Possible to Leave a Whole Turkey out to Thaw Overnight?

It is not a good idea to leave a whole turkey out to thaw overnight.

According to published guidelines, turkeys can only be thawed in three ways: in the refrigerator, microwave oven, and in cold water.

Thawing, as part of the process of roasting or cooking turkey, should be done safely. You can not leave a turkey out to thaw overnight.

How to Tell If a Frozen Turkey Is Bad?

If the smell of the turkey is bad or the texture of the meat is slimy, it is probably not suitable for human consumption.

A bad smell, sour taste, and sticky texture are what acid meat always has. The color of the meat will show you that it is no longer safe to eat.

Conclusion

The recommended length of time for a turkey breast to last in the freezer is approximately 9 months. It’s possible to store a whole turkey for a year from packaging.

The guideline suggests that a cooked turkey can be kept in the freezer for up to 6 months.