Poultry may be left in the refrigerator up to 2 days after thawed or purchased fresh. Remove poultry from brine. Discard brine after use. When stuffing poultry, brine the poultry first. Cook immediately after stuffing.
Basting When basting poultry at home, always use clean utensils to avoid cross-contamination.
For safety and doneness, the internal temperature should be checked with a food thermometer. Storing Leftovers Remove any stuffing and cut whole or large pieces of poultry into small pieces. Refrigerate leftovers in shallow containers within 2 hours of cooking. Use leftover poultry and stuffing within 3 to 4 days, or freeze these foods. It is staffed by home economists, registered dietitians, and food technologists weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time, year round.