# How long can you keep a fresh turkey in the fridge? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2008, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124 "2008-10-09T05:17:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/1 "2008-10-09T05:17:03Z")
Thanksgiving is coming up this weekend (Canuck, not Murican), and Mrs Piper has found a store that sells fresh turkeys. How long can you keep a fresh turkey in the fridge? we want to have the meal on Sunday. if we leave off buying it too long, the turkeys will all be sold. but if we buy it too early, will it go bad? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/2 "2008-10-09T05:31:06Z")
That depends. Does the turkey have anything to eat? ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/3 "2008-10-09T05:38:09Z")
The USDA says 1-2 days ([scroll down to the bottom](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Refrigeration_&_Food_Safety/index.asp#13)). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/4 "2008-10-09T15:13:07Z")
It may not go bad, but it will probably be seriously misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/5 "2008-10-11T02:28:38Z")
> [@Hunter\_Hawk](#): > > The USDA says 1-2 days ([scroll down to the bottom](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Refrigeration_&_Food_Safety/index.asp#13)). thanks very much. I went out and bought our nice’n’fresh Thanksgiving turkey today, which we’ll cook tomorrow, since we’re busy with something else on Thanksgiving Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/6 "2008-10-11T02:29:51Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > That depends. Does the turkey have anything to eat? [QUOTE=Chefguy] It may not go bad, but it will probably be seriously misunderstood. [/QUOTE] You know, we really need a :groan: smiley on these boards. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/7 "2008-10-12T09:18:45Z")
the turkey is no longer fresh. [burp] ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/8 "2008-10-12T14:24:14Z")
Happy Thanksgiving! Our ex-pat dinner is always held at a friends’ house. It includes several Pakistani co-workers of friend’s husband. I get turkey and tandoori, always an excellent day. And I’m taking Saskatoon pie and Butter tarts! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/9 "2008-10-12T15:06:23Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > Happy Thanksgiving! Our ex-pat dinner is always held at a friends’ house. It includes several Pakistani co-workers of friend’s husband. I get turkey and tandoori, always an excellent day. And I’m taking Saskatoon pie and Butter tarts! Wasn’t there a song about Saskatoon? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/10 "2008-10-12T15:11:54Z")
[Found it!](http://music.yahoo.com/Sonny-James/A-Little-Bit-South-Of-Saskatoon/lyrics/633541) ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/11 "2008-10-12T20:00:38Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > [Found it!](http://music.yahoo.com/Sonny-James/A-Little-Bit-South-Of-Saskatoon/lyrics/633541) I thought you were going to come up with “Running back to Saskatoon” by the Guess Who… I’m impressed! Saskatoon pie is made from [Saskatoon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon_berry) berries. Delicious. Also known as Shad or Service berries, or June berries if I’m to believe this Wiki link. I canned them this summer while I was at Mom’s in Alberta, and my sister brought me some from Yellowknife as well. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/12 "2008-10-12T20:09:44Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > I thought you were going to come up with “Running back to Saskatoon” by the Guess Who… I’m impressed! > > Saskatoon pie is made from [Saskatoon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon_berry) berries. Delicious. Also known as Shad or Service berries, or June berries if I’m to believe this Wiki link. I canned them this summer while I was at Mom’s in Alberta, and my sister brought me some from Yellowknife as well. That’s what I thought it would be as well - I’ve never heard of “A Little Bit South of Saskatoon” before. Nor have I ever heard them called anything but Saskatoon berries, or even just “saskatoons.” 😕 Have you heard people call them Shad or Service berries, Ginger? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-keep-a-fresh-turkey-in-the-fridge/467124/13 "2008-10-12T20:13:52Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > I get turkey and tandoori, always an excellent day. is that tandoori turkey, or turkey and tandoori chicken? either way, sounds great - have fun.