(Undated) — Some people can find a forgotten frozen turkey in the back of the freezer and they wonder if it’s still safe to eat.
Meredith Carothers with the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline says it’s safe to keep your turkey in the freezer because food-borne illness bacteria don’t grow there, but the quality might diminish depending on how long it’s been frozen. She says the hotline’s record for the longest a frozen turkey stayed in the freezer and was then eaten was five years. She says the consumer said the bird was still delicious. You can ask more questions by calling 888-MP-Hotline or go online to ask at usda.gov. They will be available Thanksgiving day.
