Foods safety: The best Ingredient for Thanksgiving leftovers

Now that the Thanksgiving dinners are over, what are you doing with the leftovers?

These are some of the questions you might ask yourself as you start planning the day after the feast and want to avoid food waste. Don’t stress! You can keep your loved ones safe and enjoy leftovers by following these food safety steps:

Remember the 2-hour Rule: Never leave perishable food out at room temperature over two hours or one hour if the temperature is above 90 F. Bacteria that can cause foodborne illness will start to grow to dangerous levels between 40 F and 140 F. This temperature range is called the "Danger Zone.”

Refrigerate or Freeze: Leftover turkey should be carved and divided into smaller pieces and placed in shallow containers for rapid cooling. Cover foods to retain moisture and prevent them from picking up odors from other foods. Use refrigerated leftovers within four days or freeze them for longer storage. When frozen under 0 F, leftovers will remain safe indefinitely, but the quality may change over time. That means you should eat or freeze by Monday.

Reheat to 165 F: Leftovers should always be reheated to 165 F as measured with a food thermometer. Leftovers can be reheated in a conventional oven, microwave, or on the stovetop. To reheat in a microwave, stir, cover, and rotate fully cooked food for even heating.

Leftover makeover: If you followed all the above steps, MyPlate.gov can help with unique, yummy ways to makeover your leftovers and avoid food waste.

Is the turkey still in the freezer? Some of the best deals for the purchase of a turkey come in November so some may have an extra bird in the freezer. health officials say turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely but cook them within one year for the best quality.

For more information, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or email MPHotline@usda.gov to reach a food safety expert or chat live at ask.usda.gov from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. The Meat and Poultry Hotline will also be open on Thanksgiving Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time.