Thanksgiving Food Safety
Courtney Carter
/ Categories: WELLNESS, 2024

Thanksgiving Food Safety

As you pull together the menu for next week’s Thanksgiving meal, it's crucial to prioritize food safety to ensure a memorable and illness-free celebration. Proper handling, preparation, and storage techniques will help ensure a worry-free feast that gets remembered for all the right reasons.

Here’s what you need to know:

Thawing

Proper thawing is essential for food safety. The safest method is to thaw your turkey in the refrigerator.

  • Thaw your turkey in the refrigerator.

    • Keep your turkey in its original wrapping and place it in a container before putting it in the refrigerator to prevent turkey juice from dripping on other food.

    • Allow about 24 hours of thawing for each 4 to 5 pounds of turkey.

    • A turkey thawed in the refrigerator can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days before cooking.

  • Thaw your turkey in cold water.

    • Be sure your turkey is in a leakproof plastic bag before you place it in the sink.

      • The bag will prevent the turkey juice from spreading in the kitchen.

      • The bag also will prevent the turkey from absorbing water, which could make your cooked turkey runny.

    • Completely cover your turkey with cold tap water.

    • Change the water every 30 minutes.

    • Allow about 30 minutes of thawing for each pound of turkey.

    • A turkey thawed in cold water must be cooked immediately after thawing.

  • Thaw your turkey in the microwave.

    • Follow the microwave manufacturer’s instructions for thawing your turkey.

    • A turkey thawed in the microwave must be cooked immediately after thawing.

Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter. A turkey must thaw at a safe temperature. When a turkey stays out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, its temperature becomes unsafe even if the center is still frozen. Germs can grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.

Get more information about thawing turkeys.

Preparation

Contrary to popular belief, washing your turkey before cooking is not recommended. This practice can spread bacteria up to three feet away, increasing the risk of cross-contamination.

Instead, focus on proper cooking to eliminate harmful pathogens.

Cooking

To ensure your turkey is thoroughly cooked:

  • Set your oven temperature to at least 325°F.

  • Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature in three locations: the innermost part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing, and the thickest part of the breast.

  • The turkey is safe to eat when all three locations reach 165°F.

Cross-Contamination Prevention

Avoid spreading bacteria by using separate cutting boards, plates, and utensils for raw turkey and ready-to-eat foods.

Clean and sanitize all surfaces that have come in contact with raw poultry, including countertops, sinks, and utensils.

Stuffing Safety

For optimal safety, cook stuffing separately in a baking dish rather than inside the turkey.

If you choose to stuff your turkey, follow these guidelines:

  • Prepare wet and dry ingredients separately and refrigerate until ready to use.

  • Mix ingredients just before filling the turkey cavity.

  • Stuff the turkey loosely, using about 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound.

  • Cook the stuffed turkey immediately in an oven set no lower than 325°F.

Leftover Management

Proper handling of leftovers is crucial to prevent foodborne illness:

  • Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking.

  • Store food in shallow containers to promote rapid cooling.

  • Consume refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days.

  • For longer storage, freeze leftovers in airtight containers or freezer bags.

Additional Safety Tips

  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before, during, and after food preparation.

  • Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of all dishes, including casseroles and reheated items.

  • Keep hot foods hot (above 140°F) and cold foods cold (below 40°F) to avoid the "danger zone" where bacteria multiply rapidly.

  • If you're unsure about the safety of a food item, remember the adage: "When in doubt, throw it out.”

By following these guidelines, you can feel confident you’re sharing a savory and savory meal for all your guests.  

For additional tips on preparing and roasting a turkey—including a roasting time calculator—visit the FDA Turkey Basics website.

 

Russell Carrier is the nutrition and dinning kitchen manager at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center

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COVID-19 in Pets

News of COVID-19 spreading to animals is causing understandable concern for pet owners, especially those who love their pets like family. While the virus is thought to have originated in animals, there is currently no evidence that pets can spread COVID-19 to humans. There is some evidence that people can spread it to their pets and pets can spread it to each other.

The good news is that the risk of spreading COVID-19 to pets still seems relatively low. Only a handful of confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been identified in animals worldwide. Nonetheless, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with their veterinary colleagues to learn more. In the meantime, it makes sense to adapt the people-centered recommendations for our furry friends.

Here's a pet-specific refresher to help further decrease the already low odds that your pet will become infected.

  • Just like people, cats and dogs should decrease their movement outside the home. So if you usually let your dog or cat roam in ways that could bring them into contact with other people or animals, it would be best to discontinue that practice for as long as human restrictions are in place.
  • When you take your dog for a walk, keep him or her leashed and keep at least 6 feet from others whenever possible. (Dogs cannot wear masks comfortably as humans can, so remaining distant is even more important for them.)
  • If someone in the house is ill, they should be isolated from both other people and animals in a "sick room," if possible. The ill person should wear a mask when near the pet and others and avoid direct contact, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, sleeping in the same location, and sharing food or bedding.
  • To keep pets and themselves safe, people should wash their hands before and after handling or caring for their pets, just as they would after having come in contact with another person or a surface that a person could have touched.
  • If your pet becomes ill with COVID-19 symptoms—including coughing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, lethargy, sneezing, nasal discharge, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever—call your veterinarian, who will advise regarding testing and care and determine whether your state's public health veterinarian should be notified.

More information about protecting your pets from COVID-19, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html.

Donna Barron, RN, is the infection preventionist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

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