How long does turkey last?

Checked 25 Oct 20267 official publishers, 11 sources

Whole turkey: 1-2 days in the fridge and 12 months in the freezer for best quality.

Storage times for turkey by state and place
StateCounter / pantryFridge 40 °FFreezer 0 °F
Whole turkey 2 hours max CDC 1-2 days safety FDA FoodKeeper Extension Extension 12 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension FDA Extension Extension
Turkey parts (breast, legs, thighs) 2 hours max CDC 1-2 days safety FDA FoodKeeper FoodKeeper FoodKeeper Extension Extension 9 months best quality FoodKeeper FoodKeeper FoodKeeper Extension FDA Extension Sources disagree: 12 months Extension
Ground turkey 2 hours max CDC 1-2 days safety FDA FoodKeeper Extension 3-4 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension FDA
Cooked turkey Not stated Not stated 4-6 months best quality Extension
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStateCounter / pantryFridgeFreezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Whole turkey-1-2 days12 months
Nebraska ExtensionWhole turkeyNot recommended1-2 days1 year
FDA 2018Whole turkey-1-2 days1 year
NDSU ExtensionWhole turkey-1-2 days1 year
University of Illinois ExtensionWhole turkey--12 months
CDC 2025Whole turkey2 hours--
Nebraska ExtensionTurkey parts (breast, legs, thighs)Not recommended1-2 days9 months
FDA 2018Turkey parts (breast, legs, thighs)-1-2 days9 months
NDSU ExtensionTurkey parts (breast, legs, thighs)-1-2 days9 months
University of Illinois ExtensionTurkey parts (breast, legs, thighs)--12 months
CDC 2025Turkey parts (breast, legs, thighs)2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Turkey parts (breast, legs, thighs)-1-2 days9 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Turkey parts (breast, legs, thighs)-1-2 days9 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Turkey parts (breast, legs, thighs)-1-2 days9 months
Nebraska ExtensionGround turkeyNot recommended1-2 days3-4 months
FDA 2018Ground turkey-1-2 days3-4 months
CDC 2025Ground turkey2 hours--
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Ground turkey-1-2 days3-4 months
University of Illinois ExtensionCooked turkey--4-6 months

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • “A large frozen item like a turkey requires at least a day (24 hours) for every 5 pounds of weight.” Extension
  • “Poultry: Chicken, Duck, and Turkey For best quality, double wrap.” Extension
  • “All poultry, including ground chicken and turkey 165°F” CDC

What the sources say

Raw turkey has a short refrigerator life whatever the cut: FoodKeeper gives 1 to 2 days for a whole bird, for bone-in and boneless breast halves, for legs or thighs, and for ground turkey.178910

The FDA storage chart, the Nebraska Extension chart and the NDSU Extension food storage guide put whole turkey and turkey parts in the same rows as chicken, and all three also give 1 to 2 days in the fridge.324

Frozen, a whole turkey gets 1 year in those three charts and 12 months in FoodKeeper.3241

Turkey parts get 9 months in FoodKeeper and in the FDA, Nebraska and NDSU charts, while the University of Illinois Extension lists 12 months for whole or cut up chicken, duck and turkey, so for parts the sources disagree and the shorter time comes first.7893245

Ground turkey has the shortest freezer time, 3 to 4 months, in FoodKeeper and in the FDA chart, which lists it with ground veal, pork and lamb, and in the Nebraska chart, whose row also covers ground beef and stew meat.1032

For cooked turkey, the Illinois freezer chart gives 4 to 6 months for top quality at 0 °F under its heading for chicken, duck and turkey, and it advises double wrapping poultry for best quality.5

Nebraska Extension marks whole turkey, turkey pieces and ground turkey as not safe at room temperature.2

Thawing a frozen turkey in the refrigerator takes advance planning: the National Center for Home Food Preservation says a large item like a turkey needs at least a day, or 24 hours, for every 5 pounds of weight.11

CDC gives 165 °F as the safe internal temperature for all poultry, including ground chicken and turkey.6

Rules that apply here

The 2-hour ruleFreezing and refreezingThawing safelyFridge and freezer temperature
Raw chickenCooked chickenGround beef

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 114: Turkey, whole. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Turkey, whole. DOP_Refrigerate: 1-2 Days; DOP_Freeze: 12 Months
  2. Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Chicken or turkey, whole Not safe 1 to 2 days 1 yearChicken or turkey, pieces Not safe 1 to 2 days 9 monthsGround beef, turkey, veal, pork or lamb, stew meat Not safe 1 to 2 days 3 to 4 months
  3. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Chicken or turkey, whole 1 - 2 days 1 yearChicken or turkey, parts 1 - 2 days 9 monthsGround turkey, veal, pork, lamb 1 - 2 days 3 - 4 months
  4. 1 • FN579 • Food Storage GuideNDSU Extension. NDSU Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25. chicken or turkey, whole 1 to 2 days 1 yearchicken or turkey, pieces 1 to 2 days 9 months
  5. Freezer Storage | Food Safety | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Whole or cut up 12 monthsCooked Poultry 4 to 6 monthsPoultry: Chicken, Duck, and Turkey For best quality, double wrap.
  6. Preventing Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Never leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°F).All poultry, including ground chicken and turkey 165°F
  7. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 119: Turkey parts, breast halves, bone-in. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Turkey parts, breast halves, bone-in. DOP_Refrigerate: 1-2 Days; DOP_Freeze: 9 Months
  8. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 120: Turkey parts, breast halves, boneless. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Turkey parts, breast halves, boneless. DOP_Refrigerate: 1-2 Days; DOP_Freeze: 9 Months
  9. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 121: Turkey parts, legs or thighs. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Turkey parts, legs or thighs. DOP_Refrigerate: 1-2 Days; DOP_Freeze: 9 Months
  10. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 115: Ground turkey or chicken. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Ground turkey or chicken. DOP_Refrigerate: 1-2 Days; DOP_Freeze: 3-4 Months
  11. Thawing and Preparing Foods for Serving - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. A large frozen item like a turkey requires at least a day (24 hours) for every 5 pounds of weight.