Holiday Food Safety

How do you properly thaw out a frozen turkey?

There are three ways to thaw a turkey:

• in the refrigerator
• in cold water
• in the microwave oven.

In a 40 degree refrigerator it takes 24 hours to thaw five pounds of turkey.

• A 5-10 pound turkey takes 1-2 days
• A 10-15 pound turkey takes 2-3 days
• A 15-20 pound turkey takes 3-4 days

In a microwave oven follow the manufacturers instructions. Cook the turkey immediately after thawing. The microwave may cause some areas of the turkey to begin to cook. Cold water thawing requires 30 minutes per pound to thaw. Keep the turkey in a leak proof bag to prevent it from getting water logged and ruining the meat. Change the cold water every 30 minutes. If you thaw out your turkey on the kitchen counter, on the back porch, or in the garage you are risking you and your family to a severe case of food poisoning, which would ruin your holiday festivities.

Is it safe to cook a stuffed turkey?

Yes, it is safe to cook a turkey with your favorite stuffing if you follow these guidelines:

• The stuffing should be moist since heat destroys bacteria more quickly in a moist environment.
• Do not stuff the turkey tightly. Pack the stuffing in lightly.
• The turkey should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The stuffed cavity can harbor food borne pathogens that could begin to grow on the stuffing so it is important that the stuffing also be cooked to the 165 degree temperature.

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