With Thanksgiving coming Thursday, plenty of home cooks are getting their ingredients together for their holiday feast.
With that in mind, KVOE News recently spoke with Lyon County Extension Family and Community Wellness Agent Melody Garcia to discuss proper preparation safety and hygiene. Garcia says when it comes to the Thanksgiving turkey residents will need to start thawing it out a few days in advance rather than the night before as many individuals often do.
Garcia says there are several ways to defrost a turkey, however, she believes one of those is much more optimal than the others. She recommends placing the turkey in a refrigerator and letting it thaw over the course of several days based on the size and weight of the bird.
Garcia says another option is to place the turkey in a water bath, however, it will require constant cold water that must be changed out every 30 minutes or so.
She also says you can place it in the microwave, however, if you do so make sure you select defrost and do not put it on high power as it can cause the turkey to start cooking and potentially lead to food-borne illnesses at a later time.
Once you place the turkey in the oven, Garcia says it needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Cooks should use a meat thermometer to check their temperatures and not rely solely on the internal thermometer that comes with the bird.
When it comes to preparing the remainder of the meal, Garcia says residents need to be mindful of cross-contamination, clean as they go and be sure they have plenty of space to prepare all of the items they’re planning to serve.
For those planning to stuff their turkeys this year, Garcia says they will need to take more time to cook their bird to make sure all food is cooked thoroughly and safely.
