Have a pound of ground turkey in your fridge? Here’s everything you need to know to prepare it safely, plus five recipes to try for easy ground turkey meals.
Ground turkey vs. ground beef: What’s the difference?
People tend to use ground turkey or ground beef interchangeably in recipes, and they contain similar fat and calories when you’re comparing beef vs. turkey with the same fat content. (For instance, beef that’s 85 percent lean/15 percent fat has 218 calories and 24 grams of protein, while comparable turkey is 219 calories and 21 grams of protein.) Nutrient-wise, these ground meats are relatively similar—beef has iron, selenium, and zinc, and turkey is higher in potassium and phosphorus.
What’s a safe ground turkey temperature?
You never want to serve ground turkey (or ground chicken) rare. A safe ground turkey temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the USDA. You should use an instant-read thermometer to measure the temperature. Also make sure the meat is cooked completely—the ground turkey should be brown throughout, without any spots of pink.
How long does ground turkey last in the fridge?
Ground turkey doesn’t have a very long shelf life in the fridge—only one to two days refrigerated, or three to four months in the freezer, according to FoodSafety.gov.
Meals to Make with Ground Turkey
RELATED: 10 Easy Ground Turkey Recipes
