How long do turkey parts last?
Turkey parts keep for 1 to 2 days in the fridge, up to 9 months in the freezer. USDA lists 3 kinds of turkey parts; the first is shown here and all are in the table below.
breast halves, bone-in
No guideline
1 to 2 days
from the package date
9 months
best quality within
All kinds of turkey parts, side by side
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| breast halves, bone-in | no guideline | 1 to 2 days | no guideline | 9 months |
| breast halves, boneless | no guideline | 1 to 2 days | no guideline | 9 months |
| legs or thighs | no guideline | 1 to 2 days | no guideline | 9 months |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
How to tell turkey parts have gone bad
General signs for poultry: fresh, the group USDA lists turkey parts under.
- Slimy, tacky or sticky texture on the skin or flesh
- Strong sour, sulfur-like or ammonia smell
- Grey tint spreading across the whole surface, not just one spot
- Packaging that is puffy, leaking or torn
- Sticky residue left behind on a cutting board after rinsing
More on poultry: fresh. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Keep raw poultry in the coldest part of the fridge on a tray to catch any drips, and cook or freeze it within a day or two of purchase. Freeze in its original packaging or an airtight bag if you cannot use it in time. Thaw in the fridge or in cold water, never on the counter.
More in poultry: fresh
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). Times assume a fridge at 40 F (4 C) and a freezer at 0 F (-18 C). How we decode the data.