For example, an unstuffed 12 to 16 pound turkey will generally take 3 to 4 hours to reach 180 degrees, while a stuffed turkey of the same weight will take about an hour longer. Remove the stuffing from the bird immediately after cooking. Remember the two-hour rule. Serve the bird within two hours, remove the meat from the bones and refrigerate or freeze the leftovers immediately. Use stuffing and gravy within one or two days and leftover turkey within three or four days.
Leftovers are a holiday bonus, because they make follow-up meals a snap.
It's safest to reheat leftovers to 165 degrees and gravy to a boil before serving. Be creative with your leftover turkey. 231-9629 Click here for a printable pdf version of this graphic . Click here for a printable pdf version of this graphic . Click here for a printable pdf version of this graphic .