Lucky you, with leftover cooked turkey! That means you made sure to have enough for everyone to have a great meal (and hopefully some next-day sandwiches) and STILL had extra. Smart. I always plan to make a larger turkey than necessary. There are so many recipes to make with leftover cooked turkey, from split pea soup to hash; it’s a great planned leftover! These are the best ways to freeze turkey to preserve freshness, texture, and flavor.

Cooked turkey freezes very well. You can freeze it in slices, cubes, or whole pieces. You can freeze it in large quantities, or for easier and faster defrosting, freeze it in bags or containers with the amount you think you will need for a particular recipe, like a turkey pot pie.

And, if you’re planning ahead, you might also want to know How to Safely Defrost Turkey, How to Brine a Turkey Breast, How to Carve Turkey, and what to do with all of those turkey leftovers! And yes, you can also freeze leftover cranberry sauce and leftover gravy for up to 6 months.

How to Freeze Leftover Turkey: Clear step-by-step directions with photos on the best way to freeze cooked turkey so you can enjoy turkey dinners well after the holidays!

How to Freeze Turkey Parts

Before freezing, you will want to carve your turkey. The carcass of a whole turkey will take up way too much room in your freezer and doesn’t lend itself to pulling out of the freezer and reheating in batches as needed. Use the turkey carcass, skin, and any scraps to make turkey stock.

If you have some leftover turkey pieces, such as whole legs, drumsticks, wings, or thighs, that you want to freeze on the bone, just make sure to wrap them very well in plastic wrap. Then, slide them into a freezer-proof zip-top bag, press out any excess air, label the bag, and freeze. I prefer bags for this as it’s easier to press out extra air. But do make sure to wrap them tightly first — and get thicker plastic wrap specially designed for the freezer if you are a regular freezer of food!

How to Freeze Cooked Turkey

1. Slice the meat: Slice the meat from the bones. You can dice the meat if you like if you know you are planning to use it in a recipe that calls for cubes of cooked turkey.

2. Chill the turkey: Place the turkey on a parchment or foil-covered baking sheet in a single layer. Transfer to the freezer for 1 hour until the turkey is quite chilled and firm. This will allow the slices or cubes to stay separate when you freeze them in a bag or container. Or, tightly wrap whole pieces of turkey in layers of plastic wrap to create a bundle.

3. Label: Label a freezer-proof bag or freezer-safe container with the kind of turkey you are freezing (dark meat, sliced, cubed) and the date. Use a permanent marker like a Sharpie.

4. Put turkey in container and freeze: Transfer the turkey to the labeled freezer-proof bag or airtight container. If using a bag, press out any excess air. Put the turkey in your freezer and freeze for up to 6 months.

The Best Container to Freeze Leftover Turkey

I like to use freezer-proof zipper top bags when freezing turkey because you can really press out all of the excess air before sealing them. Zipper-top bag packages marked specifically for the freezer are thicker than regular bags and definitely better for freezing. Also, consider reusable freezer-proof bags.

If you want to use a freezer-proof container, that’s fine. You want to make sure the turkey is pretty well packed in, reducing the amount of air in the container, which can cause freezer burn.

If you have a vacuum sealer, this is a great place to use it!

Whatever container you use, definitely make sure to label it with a permanent marker. Write the kind of turkey you are freezing (e.g., breast meat), the date you are freezing it, and if you like, the amount in the container (e.g., 4 cups turkey or 1 pound turkey). This will help you keep track of the time. We don’t want to end up eating leftover turkey from five years ago.

How Long to Freeze Turkey

Leftover cooked turkey freezes well for up to 6 months if properly handled, packed, and frozen within 3 days of the original preparation. However, I like to try and use it within 3 months for the best flavor and texture and to avoid the possibility of freezer burn.

How Do You Defrost (or Thaw) Frozen Cooked Turkey Safely?

The best way to thaw cooked turkey is to place the bag or container in the fridge for at least 1 day; up to 2 days for larger quantities.

You can also defrost turkey in the microwave if the container is small enough to rotate on the carousel tray, which will allow it to defrost safely and evenly. Every microwave is different, so you should check your defrost setting to make sure you are doing it correctly. Some microwaves let you plan your defrosting according to weight, while others have more specific settings.

If you are using the turkey in a soup, stew, or casserole, you might not have to defrost it first. Read the recipe and see if it makes sense to add it while still frozen. This will also possibly help keep it moist and juicy. If it is heating up in a chili, for instance, the liquid and other ingredients will help moisten the turkey as it defrosts and heats through.

More Turkey Cooking Tips

• How Long to Cook a Turkey
• How to Carve a Turkey
• How to Brine a Turkey Breast
• 15 Leftover Turkey Recipes