Buzz
Whether you grabbed a turkey on sale after Thanksgiving or you agreed to cook for Friendsgiving only to end up ordering takeout, if you’ve got a turkey from last year stored in your freezer, we’ve got some good news: It’s still safe to eat.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service confirms that a turkey can be frozen indefinitely and will remain safe to eat. Bacteria can’t grow in a properly maintained freezer, so even if that turkey’s been tucked away in your basement freezer for years, it won’t harm you.
That said, the flavor may not be the same. Over time, food can dry out or develop freezer burn, especially if it's not properly sealed (like if there are tears in the turkey's plastic wrapping). Some chemical processes continue, albeit slowly, so after a few years in the freezer, your turkey might not taste as fresh as one that’s only been frozen for a few months.
According to USDA guidelines, a turkey frozen for a year should still taste fine, but if it’s been much longer than that, you might want to consider buying a fresh one instead.
