Holiday Food Safety
Q: The Rawlins County Extension staff wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday!
A: As Thanksgiving approaches, cooking
the traditional turkey dinner gives rise to
anxieties and questions. Following a few
simple steps will not only ease your
holiday fears, but will ensure a delicious
and safe meal for you, your family, and
your friends.
A helpful guide for planning the amount of turkey needed to feed guests is to plan on one pound per person if you are purchasing a whole bird; one half pound per person if you are purchasing a boneless breast of turkey; three quarters of a pound of a turkey breast (bone in) or one and a quarter pounds per person if purchasing a pre-stuffed frozen turkey. Additional food safety considerations are needed for purchase of a pre-stuffed frozen turkey. The bird must be kept frozen until ready to cook.
Plan ahead when thawing! If you forgot to thaw your turkey or just don’t have room in the refrigerator, it is possible to submerge the turkey in cold water for thawing. The water must be changed every thirty minutes. Allow about thirty minutes of defrosting time per pound of turkey. Cook immediately after thawing.
If you choose to stuff your turkey, stuff loosely. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, since heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment. Place stuffed turkey in oven immediately. Use a food thermometer to check the temp of the turkey, making sure it reaches an internal temperature of one hundred sixty-five degrees. Insert the thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh and wing, as well as check the breast. The stuffing should also reach one hundred sixty-five degrees, whether it is cooked inside or separate from the turkey.
To store leftovers safely, cut the turkey into small pieces; refrigerate stuffing and turkey separately in shallow containers. Everything should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking. Use or freeze leftover turkey and stuffing within three to four days.
If you have food safety questions on Thanksgiving day, contact the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854. Happy Thanksgiving!