# Is this turkey dead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236 "2006-10-12T19:43:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/1 "2006-10-12T19:43:08Z")
Canadian Thanksgiving was this past weekend and I roasted a turkey. Now, I’ve been veg for quite a few years and I’m just starting to foray into the whole “eating meat” kinda thing - so, how long does a roasted turkey last in the fridge? I roasted it on Sunday - is it dead now? Tomorrow? Next week? I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/2 "2006-10-12T19:46:55Z")
(Pet Shop Owner): No it isn’t! It’s resting! ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/3 "2006-10-12T19:50:41Z")
[It should be ok for 3-4 days.](http://www.ehow.com/how_9542_store-leftover-turkey.html) So throw it out or freeze it today. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/4 "2006-10-12T20:09:21Z")
I’d still make soup out of it, but I wouldn’t wait until the weekend, myself. And that would be a shame, to lose all of that stock. Get to cooking! ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/5 "2006-10-12T20:50:33Z")
Yah - I think I’ll turf it. I have no idea and not much inclination to make soup. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/6 "2006-10-12T20:58:32Z")
One hopes it was dead before it was cooked, you evil woman. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/7 "2006-10-12T21:20:33Z")
[QUOTE=Tengu] One hopes it was dead before it was cooked, you evil woman. [/QUOTE] If it wasn’t, she gets points for freshness and ingenuity. I don’t think I could pluck a turkey and get it into the oven while it was still live. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/8 "2006-10-12T21:38:42Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] Yah - I think I’ll turf it. I have no idea and not much inclination to make soup. [/QUOTE] Turkey frame soup – there’s a recipe in the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. It couldn’t be easier and it’s yummy. Basically, you cover the remains of the bird with water in a large pot, simmer, strain it, add some canned tomatoes, fresh veggies and pasta, and that’s it. “Remains” means everything, bones and all. I usually do this in the pan that I roasted the bird in. My kids even like it, and they’re not soup lovers. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/9 "2006-10-12T23:24:53Z")
Hell, salvage the breasts for sandwiches and dump the rest!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/10 "2006-10-12T23:45:36Z")
[QUOTE=ouryL] Hell, salvage the breasts for sandwiches and dump the rest!! 😉 [/QUOTE] The breasts are long gone - there’s just sort of “bits” left. Not even a leg or a wing. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/11 "2006-10-13T05:29:54Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] (Pet Shop Owner): No it isn’t! It’s resting! [/QUOTE] “It’s joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-turkey-dead/376236/12 "2006-10-13T08:15:03Z")
Freeze or reheat; just kill the bacteria. I often leave a of stock/chili/whatever on the stove for days at a time, just being sure I bring it to a boil at least once a day while it’s unrefridged.