When I get asked “Can you freeze leftover turkey?” the answer is always yes! With families all over the country having smaller Thanksgivings this year, it is likely that you will have some leftover turkey. I’ve used this method to freeze both my Turkey Breast recipe and my Roast Turkey – it works great for both! These simple and easy steps make it possible to keep turkey on hand for lots of great recipes. There is no need to get sick of turkey. Freeze your left overs and use them a month from now in leftover turkey recipes.
How to Freeze Leftover Turkey
Freezing turkey to have for later recipes is really simple. The key to is to flash freeze it in a single layer so you are able to pull out just one cup at a time in the future. Step 1: Cut the turkey into bite sized pieces. I suggest that you freeze leftovers as soon as possible so you can get the maximum life span from them. Step 2: Spread the turkey into a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Step 3: Freeze the cut up turkey for 1 hour. This flash freezing is an important step. It will keep the turkey from clumping together when stored in the freezer. This way they freeze as individual pieces. Step 4: Transfer the frozen turkey to a plastic bag. That’s it! Now you can store the bag of frozen turkey in the freezer for up to three months.
Leftover Turkey Recipes
If you are wondering what to do with leftover turkey after freezing it, I suggest some of these leftover turkey recipes (and I will have more coming next week).
Turkey Noodle CasseroleTurkey Noodle SoupBacon Turkey Ranch SlidersBacon Brie Turkey Grilled Cheese
With any soup or casserole recipe, you can add it to the recipe directly from the freezer. Just add a little more cooking time.
