Safety at Thanksgiving during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The holiday meal and its preparation is the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving celebration and safe food handling in the kitchen is very important! There are many more safety guidelines to keep in mind this year due to our current pandemic. It is wise to follow all state directed health measures this year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six Americans (48 million) will become ill from a food-borne illness this year. The following tips will help guard against food poisoning.
DO…
- DO ask all kitchen helpers to wash their hands using warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling food.
- DO keep turkey in its original wrapping, refrigerated until ready to cook.
- DO defrost a frozen turkey by refrigeration or cold running water.
- DO allow one day for every 4-5 pounds to defrost in the refrigerator. In a cold water bath, change the water every 30 minutes.
- DO use a meat thermometer to check if turkey is done. The turkey should cook until the internal temperature reaches a safe minimum of 165˚ F.
- DO store the turkey and stuffing separately.
- DO store leftover turkey in the refrigerator and use within 3-4 days.
- DO store leftover stuffing and gravy in the refrigerator and use within 1-2 days.
DON’T…
- DON’T defrost a turkey at room temperature. Bacteria can multiply to unsafe numbers on outer layers before inner layers have defrosted.
- DON’T leave an uncooked thawed turkey out of the refrigerator longer than two hours.
- DON’T rinse your turkey before cooking. Let the cooking process take care of the bacteria and avoid the risk of cross contamination.
- DON’T set your oven lower than 325˚ F.
- DON’T prepare food if you are sick or have a nose or eye infection.
- DON’T leave leftovers out on the counter longer than two hours.
- DON’T re-freeze a completely thawed uncooked turkey.
- DON’T stuff turkeys as it makes it difficult for the internal temperature to reach 165°F within a safe period of time. If you must stuff your turkey, stuff it lightly before cooking and leave room for the oven to cook the interior of the turkey and stuffing.
The Nebraska Regional Poison Center is a free community service to the public.
Call 1-800-222-1222 to speak directly with a Registered Nurse or Pharmacist 24/7/365.
