Simply forward, People will take pleasure in Thanksgiving with household and associates. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic remains to be top-of-mind, the U.S. Division of Agriculture reminds us all that it’s additionally necessary to maintain household and associates protected from foodborne sickness this Thanksgiving.
By following the information beneath, you’ll reduce the probabilities of having a go to from foodborne sickness — an unwelcome customer — at your desk this Thanksgiving.
Clear and sanitize
At all times wash your palms earlier than getting ready and dealing with meals. Handwashing helps to stop the unfold of germs. Current USDA observational analysis confirmed that 95% of members did not correctly wash their palms earlier than handing meals. Make certain to comply with the steps to wash your palms correctly.
Clear and sanitize any surfaces that may contact meals reminiscent of tabletops, kitchen counters, stoves, sinks, and many others.
Keep away from cross-contamination
In a current examine, USDA discovered 60% of kitchen sinks had been contaminated with germs after members washed or rinsed poultry. USDA advises towards washing your turkey; nevertheless, in case you do wash your turkey within the sink, it should be totally cleaned and sanitized afterwards. To scrub, rubdown surfaces — together with the sink, slicing boards and counter tops — with cleaning soap and sizzling water, after which sanitize them with a cleansing answer to take away any residual germs. You should use a do-it-yourself answer of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach in a single gallon of water. Let the surfaces air dry. You’ll want to use separate slicing boards—one for meat and one other for greens and fruit.
Thaw the turkey safely
By no means thaw a turkey on a counter or in sizzling water. USDA recommends thawing a turkey in a fridge since this permits for sluggish and protected thawing. The turkey will want about 24 hours for each 4 to 5 kilos of turkey. After thawing, it’s protected to retailer within the fridge for one to 2 days. Turkey will also be thawed in a cold-water tub or microwave; nevertheless, it should be cooked instantly after it has thawed utilizing these strategies. If utilizing the cold-water technique, enable half-hour per pound and submerge the turkey in its authentic wrapping to keep away from cross-contamination. It’s protected to cook dinner a turkey from its frozen state; nevertheless, it can take a minimum of 50% longer to totally thaw. Lastly, by no means go away a uncooked turkey out at room temperature for greater than two hours.
Prepare dinner totally
Make certain your turkey reaches an inner temperature of 165 levels Fahrenheit. Use a meals thermometer to measure the inner temperature in three elements: the thickest a part of the breast, the innermost a part of the wing and the innermost a part of the thigh. USDA recommends utilizing a meals thermometer even when the turkey has a pop-up temperature indicator to make sure it has reached 165 F within the three beforehand acknowledged locations. When cooking a turkey breast as a substitute of an entire turkey, verify the temperature with the meals thermometer to make sure it reaches 165 F on the thickest half the breast. All beforehand cooked facet dishes ought to be reheated to 165 F.
Stuffing your turkey
USDA doesn’t suggest stuffing your turkey as a result of it may be a breeding floor for micro organism if not ready fastidiously. Nonetheless, in case you plan to stuff your turkey, please preserve the next in thoughts:
- The moist and dry elements for the stuffing ought to be ready individually from one another and refrigerated till prepared to make use of.
- Stuff the turkey loosely — about ¾-cup of stuffing per pound.
- Instantly place the stuffed, uncooked turkey in an oven set no decrease than 325 F.
- A stuffed turkey will take longer to cook dinner. As soon as it has completed cooking, place a meals thermometer within the middle of the stuffing to make sure it has reached a protected inner temperature of 165 F.
- Let the cooked turkey stand 20 minutes earlier than eradicating the stuffing.
For extra info on turkey stuffing, go to Turkey Fundamentals: Stuffing.
The 2-hour rule
All perishable meals should be refrigerated inside two hours of being cooked, or one hour if the temperature is 90 F or above. After two hours, perishable meals will enter the “Hazard Zone” (between 40 F and 140 F), which is the place micro organism can multiply rapidly and trigger the meals to turn into unsafe. Discard all meals which have been unnoticed for greater than two hours.
Leftovers
After the meal (however inside the two-hour rule), separate bigger portions of leftovers in small shallow containers and place them within the fridge. Thanksgiving leftovers are safely saved in a fridge for as much as 4 days. Within the freezer, leftovers could be safely frozen indefinitely however will preserve highest quality for 2 to 6 months. Reheat leftovers to an inner temperature of 165 F. Examine the inner temperature of the meals in a number of locations with a meals thermometer after permitting a resting time.
For Thanksgiving meals security questions, name the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), e mail MPHotline@usda.gov or chat dwell at ask.usda.gov from 9 a.m. to five p.m. CST, Monday by means of Friday. Do you will have any last-minute turkey day questions? The Meat and Poultry Hotline might be open on Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. CST.
