Women over 45–How long have you been cooking Turkey?
But still–Couldn’t we all use a few reminder safety tips?
Here’s a few precautionary Thanksgiving Turkey measures from the NSF International:
TURKEY PREPARATION SAFETY TIPS
1. Don’t let uncooked turkey sit at room temperature. Shop for a turkey last and get it home and refrigerated promptly. Bag the turkey separately and place it below other food in the refrigerator.
2. Don’t attempt to thaw a frozen turkey quickly by leaving it sit overnight on a kitchen counter. Use one of the following methods:
Option I – Place a covered turkey in a shallow pan on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator.
Option II – Completely submerge the turkey under a stream of cold (70°F) running water.
3. Never place the turkey directly on the counter; keep it on a platter or in a roaster. Clean and sanitize the counter and utensils after handling raw turkey.
4. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw turkey, using plenty of warm water and soap.
5. Use a thermometer to check for doneness, even if the turkey has a pop-up timer. It is best to check that the turkey has reached 165°F in multiple spots, including the thickest part of the thigh to ensure doneness.
6. If the bird is stuffed, also check the temperature of stuffing to ensure it, too, has reached 165 °F.
7. Wait to stuff the turkey until right before putting it in the oven. For those wanting to prepare stuffing ahead of time, the USDA recommends preparing separate dishes with the wet and dry ingredients and keeping them refrigerated, then mixing the ingredients together just before stuffing the turkey. As a reminder the stuffing should be cooked until it reaches at least 165° F at the center.
8. Once the temperature has reached 165 °F throughout the turkey, it should stand for at least 15-20 minutes before carving.
9. Refrigerate any leftovers immediately. Large portions should be separated into smaller containers and covered loosely to speed cooling.
Good article I only cook a turkey every 5 years or so and this article will help keep me reminded of some things I should do!
Been cooking turkey for way to long but always willing to listen to a few good tips.
@tisonlyme143
Good article I only cook a turkey every 5 years or so and this article will help keep me reminded of some things I should do!
I have only cooked a turkey one time and that was last Christmas, it was my mom’s last holiday with us. I had no clue what I was doing but I was so proud of myself that I cooked the entire dinner when I had never done any of those dishes before, esp the turkey. The family said that it was all good too.