Talking Turkey; Thanksgiving Safety Tips

ZANESVILLE, OH – Thanksgiving is just days away, but are you truly ready for turkey day? Misty Harmon, a Perry County OSU Extension Office Educator, gave some helpful tips on how to prepare your turkey.

Harmon said if you already have your turkey the next step is making sure the bird has enough time to dethaw from the freezer.

“You want to think that for every 4 to 5 pounds a turkey has, it needs 24 hours to thaw out,” Harmon said. “Depending on how big your turkey is will depend on how many days ahead you’ll need to get it into the refrigerator.”

Harmon said the next, and most important, step is properly handling the turkey.  It’s recommended to have a clean working space and hands so there is no contamination. 

“It is not recommended that you wash your turkey,” Harmon said. “Some older recipes call for people to wash the turkey. The research actually shows that it spreads around bacteria that could be on the turkey.”

The most important step is temperature checking your turkey as it cooks.  The best places to check to make sure your turkey is properly cooked are the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing, and the innermost part of the thigh. If your turkey reaches a temperature of 165 degrees, then it is safe to eat. After the dinner is all said and done, Harmon says to only leave your food out for around 2 hours.

“After everything is ready for the feast, now it’s time to keep an eye on the clock,” Harmon said. “That food shouldn’t sit out for more than 2 hours out of the oven or crockpot.”

For more information on food safety for Thanksgiving, you can head to foodsafety.gov.