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City of Darien, IL
11/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/21/2024 17:17
Turkey Preparation and Cooking Safety
Are you in charge of preparing the Turkey for Thanksgiving this year? Let's review some food preparation safety tips from FoodSafety.gov to keep everyone healthy and happy over the holidays:
- Store your turkey in the freezer until you are ready to thaw it or, if you have a fresh whole turkey, it can be stored in the refrigerator until its use by date.
- Be sure to leave enough time to thaw your turkey safely using one of the methods found here.
- Raw turkey and its juice can contaminate anything they touch. Be sure to handle your turkey correctly to prevent harmful germs from spreading to your food, family, and friends. Wash your hands, use a separate cutting board for raw turkey, and wash all tools and surfaces thoroughly before preparing the next item.Learn more.
- It's safest to cook stuffing in a casserole dish instead of inside your turkey. Cooking stuffing in a casserole dish makes it easy to be sure the stuffing is fully cooked. If you do cook stuffing in the turkey, put the stuffing in the turkey just before cooking and ensure that the stuffing's center reaches 165°F.
- To roast a turkey in your oven, set the oven temperature to at least 325°F (163°C). Place the completely thawed turkey in a roasting pan that is 2 to 2-1/2 inches deep. Cooking times depend on the weight of the turkey and whether it is stuffed. Use a food thermometer to make sure the turkey has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Find more tips to safely prepare your Thanksgiving meal here.