Thanksgiving Food Safety
The CDC suggests thawing turkeys in the refrigerator because it is set to a safe temperature for defrosting. The reason is this: as meat begins to defrost, bacteria that is present can begin to multiply. The "danger zone" for bacteria is between 40 and 140 degrees F. When thawing turkey in the refrigerator set at 40 degrees F or below, you should allow about 24 hours to defrost every 5 pounds. A 17-pound turkey will take about 3.5 days to thaw in the refrigerator. Experts say the microwave is another option, but many aren’t big enough to fit a Thanksgiving turkey. You can also thaw your bird under cold water. Submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water in a leak-proof plastic bag to prevent cross-contamination. Allow 30 minutes per pound, and change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Keep vegetables, fruits, and cleaning products away from raw meat and poultry.
Holiday Food Safety Success Kit National Turkey Federation Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Estimates of Foodborne Illness in the United States” United States Department of Agriculture, "Let’s Talk Turkey" United States Department of Agriculture, "Cleanliness Helps Prevent Foodborne Illness" Illinois Department of Public Health, "Food Safety Fact Sheet - Critical Temperatures for Food Service" Partnership for Food Safety Education, "Thanksgiving Food Safety" Center for Food Safety, "Thanksgiving traditions for a changing climate" Partnership for Food Safety Education, "Least Wanted Foodborne Pathogens" Phys.org, "Stuffing the turkey and other Thanksgiving food-safety mistakes" Home Food Safety, "Most Common Foodborne Pathogens" Image Courtesy of David Bullock | Dreamstime Image Courtesy of Stephanie Frey | Dreamstime Image Courtesy of Donald Joski | Dreamstime Image Courtesy of Szabolcs Szekeres | Dreamstime Image Courtesy of Brent Reeves | Dreamstime Image Courtesy of Ruben Gutierrez | Dreamstime Image Courtesy of Marcin Pawinski | Dreamstime Image Courtesy of Kelpfish | Dreamstime