We take you with elementary solutions to head clear of food pollution and temperature missteps .
If you ’re in charge of make the turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas , savour and succulency are n’t the only things that should be of concern . You should also be mindful of any turkey food safety measures to abide by , including how tosafely prepare , store , and fake your turkeyto head off anyone falling badly .
These are six common mistakes many home cooks make when it come to make the holiday chick — and what to do instead .
Credit: Con Poulos
1. Washing the Turkey
Since 2005 , U.S. federal agencies have recommend refrain from washing poultry in preparation to cooking . While old recipes and family cooking traditions say to wash the turkey , food safety amount indicate otherwise and can do illness . A 2020 survey cited by the CDC discover that 78 % of participant reportedwashing or rinsing turkeybefore cooking .
When you wash away a dud , the juice that slush off the skin carry-over bacterium to border control surface , utensils , and even solid food , causing cross - contamination which can make people very ill . The representation says that it ’s " virtually impossible to wash bacterium off the bird , " and recommend thoroughly washing your bridge player for 20 seconds with tender , fulsome water — beforeandafter handling — instead . If your raw turkey or its juices do come in contact with items in your kitchen , make certain to promptly clean and sanitize those sphere .
Cooking a dud to the minimum safe temperature of 165 ° F is the only way to eliminate bacteria . apply a reliable food for thought thermometer to ascertain the proper temperature is reached .
2. Storing on the Top Shelf
Whether yourturkey is frozenor sweet , at some point , it will likely need to go in the icebox . However , you should n’t place the bird just anywhere . The best area to store a turkey is on the bottom shelf . The problem with putting a dud on a high-pitched shelf is that the juices , which are full of bacterium , can drip down and contaminate other food that does n’t need to be prepared at a higher temperature . Store it dispirited where it ca n’t drip on other intellectual nourishment and place raw turkey in a baking dish with side to catch leaks ( especially if you’redefrosting your turkeyin the fridge for several days ) .
Prevent contamination between intellectual nourishment by placing food on shelves from the miserable cooking temperature on the most top to the highest temperature run down .
3. Not Taking the Temperature
No , you should not fly it when it come to your turkey ’s temperature . Before you remove the joker from the oven , tick its home temperature with a meat thermometer . To check the temperature , enclose the thermometer in the center of an inside thigh muscle and make certain you do not attain a off-white . Your bird is safe to attend to once the internal temperature is at least 175 ° F ( the temperature will rise about 5 ° atomic number 9 while it stands before carving ) . Do not count on the thermometer that comes with the Meleagris gallopavo . Use an instant read thermometer to ensure it ’s cooked properly .
4. Forgetting About Leftovers
Perhaps the best part about gravid vacation meals isall the leftovers , but if you ’re not putting away the remnant turkey right away , you could be vitiate all the special nutrient . Bacteria starts to raise on domestic fowl about two time of day after it ’s cook , so make certain you ’re putting away the leftovers before then . Even if they ’re refrigerated , Thanksgiving leftovers will only last 3 or 4 days after they ’re made .
5. Pouring Hot Brine on the Turkey
If you plan tobrine your Thanksgiving turkey , ensure thebrine mixtureis altogether cool before you pour it over the raw bird , says Emily Nienhaus , culinary specialist in the BHG Test Kitchen . If you pelt hot brine on the turkey , it can cause insecure solid food temperature . As theturkey brines , keep it put in in the electric refrigerator .
6. Improperly Stuffing a Turkey
Stuffing a Republic of Turkey can preface potential food safety issues . If you plan tocook a gourmandize turkey , watch over ourturkey scarf out guidelinesfor ensure the bird and stuffing are completely fudge . Do not use crude core in your turkey dressing recipe .
Although there are dangers to improperly preparing a turkey , as long as you follow these simple tips , yourThanksgiving turkey recipewill be both delicious and safe .
Preparing Your Holiday Turkey Safely . CDC Food Safety .
Karlsons , Donna . “To Wash or Not to Wash … Your Turkey?”USDA . 2013 .
“ Fridge depot for Food Safety . ”StateFoodSafety .
“ ready Your Holiday Turkey Safely . ”CDC .
