Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips
Date: November 24, 2022
The 4 steps to food safety — clean, separate, cook, and chill — are important at every meal. Especially, at Thanksgiving, as many gather together to share meals with friends, family, and loved ones.
Clean – When preparing food use clean hands, cutting boards, utensils, and countertops. Wash fruits and vegetables before cutting. Handwashing is the first step to avoiding foodborne illness. Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling food.
Separate – Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs to ready-to-eat foods. Use separate utensils and cutting boards for raw meat, poultry, and seafood than those used for produce, bread, and other foods that won’t be cooked. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends against washing raw poultry due to the risk of splashing bacteria throughout your kitchen. Clean and sanitize everything that comes into contact with the turkey before and after cooking.
Thaw Safely – When thawing a frozen turkey in a refrigerator, allow 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds and cook within 1-2 days. For cold water thawing, allow 30 minutes per pound of turkey. Submerge the turkey in its original wrapping to avoid cross-contamination. Change the water every 30 minutes until thawed and cook immediately. Cooking a completely frozen turkey is safe but takes 50% longer to cook.
Cook Thoroughly – Turkey is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Insert a food thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing, and the innermost part of the thigh to check its internal temperature – even if the turkey has a pop-up temperature indicator.
Chill Promptly – Don’t leave food sitting out too long! Bacteria multiply fastest between 40°F and 140°F. Chilling food properly is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Chill leftovers within 2 hours.
Questions? Call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline: 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). Open 10 am – 6 pm (EST) Monday through Friday, and 8 am – 2 pm Thanksgiving Day. Have a safe & happy Thanksgiving!