Can You Freeze Cooked Turkey?
Turkeys are mostly cooked for roast dinner parties, Christmas parties, or other such gatherings. You must be cooking the meat for your guests at home. But these occasions lead to a lot of leftovers, and you cannot decide what to do with them. While some foods can be frozen, some cannot. But the question is, can you freeze cooked turkey?
Yes, you can freeze cooked turkey. Turkey is one of those meats that freezes exceptionally well, whether you freeze them raw or cooked. Freezing increases the shelf life of your cooked turkey, and saves food wastage.
But when freezing turkey, there are a lot of other questions that strike the mind- Does turkey freeze well? How to freeze the meat? How to defrost frozen meat? And many more. But you know we have answers to all of them! Read on to know more about freezing cooked turkey. I am sure you will have no doubts left after you reach the end of this article!
Does Cooked Turkey Freeze Well?
Yes, cooked turkey freezes wonderfully if you follow all the freezing instructions carefully. You are advised to freeze turkey in slices or strips for more effective results. Freezing in smaller pieces will help you to defrost and use them easily in the future.
You can also just freeze the cooked turkey or add other spices to it before freezing, both of them will freeze equally well. Freezing is the best way to preserve your cooked turkey for longer, and this way you can have a long time supply of ready-to-eat turkey at your home.
How To Freeze Cooked Turkey?
Cooked turkey can be utilized in various other meals, including stews and curries. So freezing them means you are storing a lot of recipes for later use. But how to freeze cooked turkey? Do not worry, we have a detailed freezing guide for you to freeze your cooked turkey effectively in your home freezer.
Check out the steps listed below to freeze your cooked turkey:
- Allow your cooked turkey to cool completely before you freeze it. This is a very important step because adequate cooling will protect the turkey from freezer burns and maintain the temperature of the freezer. You can let your turkey cool faster by placing it on an elevated griddle or something similar.
- Cut the cooked turkey into slices or strips. You can also chop it before cooking, whatever suits you best. Cutting them into smaller pieces will help you control the quantity when the turkey is later defrosted and added to other dishes. This will also avoid food wastage, as you will only be using the required slices of turkey.
- Take adequate sheets of foil paper and carefully arrange the turkey slices or strips in them. It is best if you use 2-3 slices per wrap. This might take some time but will keep the turkey fresh in the freezer. Wrap the turkey pieces tightly to prevent air from contacting the meat while they are frozen.
- Transfer the wrapped turkeys into freezer-safe bags. Squeeze out as much air as possible and seal the bags tightly. Label and date the bags. Lay the bags flat in the freezer. You can stack the bags one upon the other but do not put any heavy objects on top of the bags. And your cooked turkey is ready to freeze.
Tips To Freeze Turkey That You Cannot Miss!
Now that you know how to freeze the cooked turkey easily at home, check out the below-mentioned tips for the best results.
- When you intend to freeze cooked turkey, it is best to freeze them as soon as they cool down. While you can store cooked turkey in the refrigerator for 3 days, freezing them immediately will protect the texture and flavor for longer.
- You can freeze turkey in many forms- slices, strips, or minced. You can even freeze turkey cooked into stews, soups, broth, or curries. The meat will freeze effectively in any way, you only have to seal it tightly.
- Pouring a thin layer of gravy over the cooked turkey before freezing it is another excellent method for keeping the meat juicy and fresh for longer. However, this is only suitable if you have specific usage of the meat later.
How Long Can You Freeze Cooked Turkey?
You can freeze your cooked turkey for about 4 months in the freezer. Freezing properly will help the cooked meat retain its moisture, texture, and flavor when you defrost it later. It is best to consume the frozen cooked turkey within the first 3 months for the best flavor. This is because it is occasionally observed that the turkey meat might turn a little dry the longer you keep it frozen.
How To Defrost Cooked Turkey?
The steps for defrosting the cooked turkey are very easy. In fact, there is only one step that you need to abide by while defrosting the meat, and that is to remove the cooked turkey from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator overnight for defrosting.
Allowing the meat to thaw slowly in the refrigerator is the best way, never attempt to that the meat directly at room temperature. Once the cooked turkey has defrosted completely, you can use it in your favorite recipe.
Can You Refreeze Cooked Turkey?
While it is technically possible to refreeze the cooked turkey that has been defrosted safely in the refrigerator, but not advised to do so. This is because refreezing the cooked meat will lead to texture alterations, as the freezing and defrosting processes will change the moisture level of the meat. Therefore, it is best if you avoid freezing the cooked meat again.
Summing it up, that was all about freezing cooked turkey. Now you know the best methods to freeze the meat effectively at your home. Tell us in the comments what you liked the most about this post, and what else could have been added. We would love to hear from you!