Thanksgiving shouldn’t be spent with food poisoning

Americans typically enjoy a delicious meal on Thanksgiving Day, with family and friends – either in person or virtually. Taking the necessary steps toward safe food handling and sanitation, will help protect those feasting this year. To make sure theThanksgiving meal is prepared safely, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), are offering food safety advice to reduce foodborne illness, including on Thanksgiving Day. “Our data shows that consumers can reduce their likelihood of foodborne illness, by focusing on good hand hygiene and other food safety practices,” said Dr. Mindy Brashears, USDA’s Under-Secretary for Food Safety. “As home chefs nationwide, prepare their Thanksgiving meals, proper handwashing and avoiding cross-contamination in the kitchen, are critical to keeping your loved ones safe.” The first step to safe food preparation is to clean. In recent USDA observational research, participants did not even attempt to wash their hands, or did not wash their hands sufficiently, about 95 percent of the time before, and during, meal preparation. Handwashing is recommended to control the spread of germs, especially before, during and after preparing food (especially after touching raw meat or poultry). Frozen turkeys should never be thawed on the counter or in hot water, and must not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. The best method to thaw the turkey is in the refrigerator, since this allows slow, safe thawing. When thawing turkey in the refrigerator, allow about 24 hours, for every five pounds of turkey. Once thawed, it can remain safe in the fridge for one to two days. Other safe thawing methods include a cold-water bath or the microwave. If useing either of these thawing methods, the turkey should be cookied immediately after it is thawed. If using the cold-water method, allow 30 minutes per pound and submerge the turkey in its original wrapping, to avoid cross-contamination. If thawing in the microwave, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when defrosting the turkey. In a recent study, the USDA found 60 percent of kitchen sinks were contaminated with germs, after participants washed or rinsed poultry. To avoid this cross-contamination risk, do not wash the turkey. But if the turkey is washed, fully clean and sanitize the sink. Rub down surfaces – including the sink, cutting boards, and counter tops – with soap and hot water, then sanitize them with a cleaning solution to remove any residual germs. A homemade solution can be used, consisting of one tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach in one gallon of water. Let air dry. Although many choose to stuff the turkey, the USDA does not recommend doing so for optimal safety. Instead, cook stuffing outside the turkey cavity to reduce cross-contamination risk. This will also allow the turkey to cook quicker. A whole turkey is safe when cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, as measured by a food thermometer in three parts: the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing and the innermost part of the thigh. Even if the turkey has a pop-up temperature indicator, a food thermometer should be used to check that the bird has reached at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit in those three places. If planning to cook a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey, check the temperature with the food thermometer at the thickest part the breast. All previously cooked side dishes should be reheated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, as measured by a food thermometer. To make sure food stays safe to eat through the weekend, all perishable items should be refrigerated within two hours of when they finished cooking. After two hours, perishable food will be in the Danger Zone (40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit), which is when bacteria can multiply quickly and cause the food to become unsafe. If foods have been left out for more than two hours, they should be discarded. Store leftovers in small, shallow containers in the refrigerator until the Monday after Thanksgiving Day, or in the freezer for later use. Shallow containers help cool leftovers quicker than storing them in large containers. Reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. For advice about how to safely prepare the turkey and all other menu items this Thanksgiving Day, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, at 1-888- 674-6854, or chat live with a food safety expert, at ask.usda.gov, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. For last-minute help on Thanksgiving Day, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Eastern Time.