USDA Says It’s Time to Toss the Turkey
Don't even think about nuking those week-old potatoes in the microwave one last time.
At this point, no leftovers you stored in the refrigerator after Thanksgiving are still good to eat. Nope, not even that cornbread stuffing that your grandmother is famous for. The only leftovers that are still healthy enough for consumption are those that went into the freezer.
That's according to the USDA who says that leftovers should have been stored in the freezer no later than Monday (Nov. 26).
Anything else is off limits and should be tossed in the trash. Unless of course a nasty case of listeria doesn't scare you. The Center for Disease Control says that bacteria can grow on leftover food if your refrigerator isn't cold enough and can cause Listeriosis. This illness is most harmful to newborns, adults over 65, women who are pregnant, and those with weakened immune systems.
If you're not sure of the temperature of your refrigerator, or if you just want to play it safe, leftovers should not be consumed four days after they were prepared. I'd like to give a shout out to my grandmother who freezes everything. Normally this is done for company coming over, but now I know that the double fudge cake I'm shoveling in my face is safe to eat... You know, 16 hours later when it finally thaws...