Leftovers are one of the best parts of Thanksgiving, but once the meal is over, they need to be safely stored,” food safety expert Lester Schonberger said.

Your Thanksgiving dinner should not sit out for longer than two hours. Make sure to refrigerate leftovers at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder within this time period to prevent food poisoning, FoodSafety.gov advises. The website also suggests slicing up the turkey into small quantities before putting them in the fridge, so it cools faster.