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Original poster

Turkey: to eat or not to eat after 9 days?

259 replies

TobleroneWrestling · 04/01/2025 12:37

Is it safe to eat a turkey, cooked on Boxing Day, allowed to cool and then kept in a cold fridge since? It looks and smells fine but it is almost 9 days since it was cooked. It seems a shame to waste it if it is safe to eat.

I know some people would eat it without considering it an issue and some people would run screaming for the hills rather than eat it!

But can anyone tell me please if it is safe to eat from an actual food safety knowledge point of view?

OP posts:
Original poster
TobleroneWrestling · 04/01/2025 12:57

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 04/01/2025 12:47

Doesn't your fridge smell awful?! Loosely covered cooked meat is going to be pretty whiffy after several days, surely.

It really, really doesn't smell. It was cooked properly and the fridge runs cold, especially as we have a chilly house. It just smells like cooked turkey allowed to go cold. If it ponged or looked off then of course I wouldn't even be considering it.

OP posts:
Riapia · 04/01/2025 12:57

None of those that are advising against eating it have ever been starving.
If it’s a choice between death by malnutrition and the risk of death caused by your last meal choose the latter option.

HurdyGurdy19 · 04/01/2025 12:58

We had a three bird roast from the butcher for Christmas Day. It was cooked Christmas Eve for ease of carving once it was cold.

I had a sandwich from the leftovers two days ago. No problems. It looks and smells fine, but I think even I would hesitate to eat any of it now (there's still some left in the fridge as I can't quite bring myself to throw it, even though I know I should!)

I don't go with best before, or use by dates, in general, preferring to use my eyes and nose. Never had food poisoning in the house as a result of it

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WhatWillYouHaveTallulah · 04/01/2025 13:00

What I do OP is the day after Boxing Day, I take any meat off the bones, that's important to do asap I think.

Dispose of the bones, divide up the 'nicer' meat for another meal or recipe, take the less nice bits for soup ( using the drippings/ broth from cooking), and any less nice bits gets chopped for a Xmas din for my cats.

That's a shame your expensive, free-range turkey had to be pitched.
It's a fair bit of work, but it's worth it as Turkey comes but once a year, in our house anyway!

ThejoyofNC · 04/01/2025 13:00

Absolutely not a chance in hell. If you didn't want to waste it then you shouldn't have left it for 9 days.

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 04/01/2025 13:01

Nope. Absolutely not!

Onlyvisiting · 04/01/2025 13:02

I'll eat cooked meat (cooked at home) for 5-7 days, depending what it is. Ie a whole uncarved joint or eg half a bird will keep longer than if you have cut it all up.
But 9 days would be pushing it, even for me!
I mean, if it looks and smells fine and not discoloured at all I bet I could chuck it in a curry ir something and cook it hard and be fine. But I don't have a sensitive stomach and have never had food poisoning so I more blasé than most!
I'd never risk feeding it to someone else though

smallsilvercloud · 04/01/2025 13:02

No I wouldn't eat it, I wouldn't risk any left over meat not eaten within 3 days.

leafybrew · 04/01/2025 13:02

It really, really doesn't smell. It was cooked properly and the fridge runs cold, especially as we have a chilly house. It just smells like cooked turkey allowed to go cold. If it ponged or looked off then of course I wouldn't even be considering it.

You obviously want to eat it despite the overwhelming majority of posters telling you 'no way' - so just go for it!!!

Come back in 48 hours and say how you feel. You might be just fine. Personally - I wouldn't have cooked chicken or turkey after more than 5 days in the fridge.

Turophilic · 04/01/2025 13:03

Riapia · 04/01/2025 12:57

None of those that are advising against eating it have ever been starving.
If it’s a choice between death by malnutrition and the risk of death caused by your last meal choose the latter option.

I’m going to take a punt on this, but I don’t think the OP is facing a choice between famine and eating 9 day old turkey. Lidl is open today.

OP, I’ve said Hell No twice but in all honesty my DP would probably put it in a sandwich. On the other hand, he gets food poisoning at least once a year so his judgement sucks.

Food poisoning is far too horrible to risk for the sake of a butty.

Original poster
TobleroneWrestling · 04/01/2025 13:04

OfMiceandWomen · 04/01/2025 12:57

Is there a reason why you didn’t eat it or freeze after a couple a days

Yes, unexpected family events. It was cooked a day late because of that - not to waste it, as Boxing Day was the Use By date - and then there has not been the opportunity to eat it since, unfortunately. I didn't even think to freeze it.

OP posts:
littleluncheon · 04/01/2025 13:04

If you are really struggling financially and this is the difference between eating or not eating then it might be worth risking it.

Otherwise no, just chuck it and get some fresh food?

LoafofSellotape · 04/01/2025 13:04

Absolutely not and if smell was the way that food poisoning is detected then no one would ever get it!

Proteinbananas · 04/01/2025 13:05

Riapia · 04/01/2025 12:57

None of those that are advising against eating it have ever been starving.
If it’s a choice between death by malnutrition and the risk of death caused by your last meal choose the latter option.

To be fair, the op bought a turkey from Waitrose. There doesn't appear to be any suggestion or indication that she is starving...

There's no way I'd eat that op. Definitely not worth the risk.

MummytoE · 04/01/2025 13:06

Could be a good way to lose a few Christmas pounds ...

BobbyBiscuits · 04/01/2025 13:06

Definitely not. Bin it. Three days, four at a push. Surely it must smell funky?

justasking111 · 04/01/2025 13:08

My friend ate a cold slice off the turkey on day five. Ended up in hospital on a drip for a couple of days she was so dehydrated from D&V.

And she's anal about hygiene, bleaching everything in sight daily. You could eat off her floors.

Dearg · 04/01/2025 13:08

I wouldn’t eat it. My Labrador would , but even that would be discouraged due to potential aftermath .

Haaaaappyyynewyear · 04/01/2025 13:09

I’m pretty easy going with use by dates etc but I would not eat cooked meat 9 days later!

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 04/01/2025 13:09

I'll buck the trend - I'd eat it.
Finished our last bits of Christmas turkey a few days ago.
Haven't died yet.

2025already · 04/01/2025 13:10

No gross.

I once ate some pate and I knew I was risking it and I was ill so I always think of that when I am deciding.

paulyispoorly · 04/01/2025 13:10

My 18 year old gannet ate some left over turkey I didn't realise was still in the fridge the other day - I told him it was going to make him ill but he's been fine

BreatheAndFocus · 04/01/2025 13:12

Why on earth would you eat it??? A relative ate some chicken in far less mad circumstances and almost died. Why the actual -&#- would you risk it?

I reckon this is a joke. Not very funny though.

KnoblesseOblige · 04/01/2025 13:13

I would want to eat it... I'd have a little devil on one shoulder, whispering in my ear seductively "Go on.. Do it... Just heat it up with some coarse seasalt and a big knob of butter, tuck it gently into a soft warm fresh breadbun... It would be so thick and tasty...you wouldnt have to bother cooking then...Plus you paid £879 a kilo for it, go onnn. Do ittt....."

But. But. I've learnt from bitter and indeed explosive experience, that the devil is to be IGNORED and the food is to be BINNED and the greed should be reined in.

It hurts, I know, I'm sorry, but there'll be other turkeys and other warm meaty leftovers ❤️

FreebieWallopFridge · 04/01/2025 13:14

I’m the definition of relaxed in this regard. That bird would be in the bin by now with no contemplation of eating it.

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