In anticipation of Thanksgiving, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging consumers to practice proper food safety — especially when thawing, prepping and cooking the star of the holiday: turkey.

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Thanksgiving Day is over and the race is on—not to score the best deals on Black Friday, but to eat the copious amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie before they go bad.

Here are safe ways to prepare, serve and store your Thanksgiving feast and leftovers, according to a doctor. You’ll be thankful you did.

How long turkey lasts after Thanksgiving The star protein will last four days in the fridge. In the freezer, it can last four months for best quality -- after that span it will dry out and lose flavor.

Thanksgiving is a day when food safety is crucial to avoid any unwanted illnesses. Here’s how to avoid seven common food safety mistakes.

FILE – A grill-roasted brined turkey is presented on a table in Concord, N.H. Turkey is the center of most Thanksgiving meals, but it’s important to handle raw poultry properly to avoid spreading bacteria that can send your guests home with an unwanted side of food poisoning.

Here's your Thanksgiving guide, including readers' favorite dishes, food safety and where to find meals on Thanksgiving.

If you stored the Thanksgiving meal in the fridge, Monday is the final day that most leftovers are safe to eat by.

We love our leftovers, too. But this food safety expert tells us how long each Thanksgiving dish can last in the refrigerator before it spoils.

You can keep most leftovers for up to four days in your fridge. Take a look at a more detailed guideline of what to do with Thanksgiving leftovers.