How soon can i refrigerate after cooking turkey?

It's important to refrigerate your cooked turkey as soon as possible to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Here's the recommended timeline:

* Ideally: Refrigerate your cooked turkey within 2 hours of taking it off the heat.

* Maximum: You can safely refrigerate it within 4 hours if it's been kept in a temperature of 90°F or below.

Here's why quick cooling is crucial:

* Danger Zone: Bacteria multiply rapidly in the "danger zone," between 40°F and 140°F.

* Food Safety: Refrigerating your cooked turkey quickly helps slow down bacterial growth and ensures food safety.

Tips for quick cooling:

* Divide into smaller containers: This allows for faster cooling.

* Shallow containers: This exposes more surface area for quicker cooling.

* Ice bath: Submerge the container in an ice bath to accelerate cooling.

Remember, it's better to err on the side of caution and refrigerate your cooked turkey as soon as possible!