November: Thanksgiving Turkey Tips

By: Lisa Franzen-Castle, RD, PhD, Nutrition Specialist UNL Panhandle Research & Extension Center Author E-mail: [email protected]

As Thanksgiving approaches, planning and How do you know when it’s done? A preparing for the holiday dinner can result in whole turkey is safe when cooked to a anxiety and questions. minimum internal temperature of 165 What kind of turkey degrees Fahrenheit, as measured with a should I buy? Should I food thermometer. Insert a food buy a frozen or fresh thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey? How do I store thigh, not touching bone to measure the my turkey? A few simple temperature. steps will ease holiday fears and ensure a delicious and a safe meal for Carving and food safety. Worried about food family and friends. The following tips may help you safety when carving and serving prepare a successful and safe holiday meal. turkey this Thanksgiving? It’s best to let the turkey rest for 20 minutes Thanksgiving Turkey Tips: before carving to allow juices to set, and it will carve easier. Use a clean Plan ahead. Cut down on holiday cutting board that has a well to catch anxiety and stress by planning juices. Remove stuffing from the ahead. Plan the menu two to three turkey cavity. Make sure the knife is weeks before the holiday. sharp before you start carving. Shopping early will ease the countdown tension for your Storing your Thanksgiving leftovers. It’s important Thanksgiving meal. to store leftover turkey in shallow containers and put them in the refrigerator or freezer within two Fresh or Frozen? That is one of the Thanksgiving hours. Use cooked leftover turkey, turkey questions. There is no difference in quality stuffing and gravy within three to between a fresh or frozen turkey. four days. Cooked turkey keeps You can buy a frozen turkey in for three to four months in the advance and take advantage of freezer. Reheat leftovers special sales. Fresh turkeys thoroughly to 165 degrees Fahrenheit and bring provide convenience because they gravy to a boil before serving. don’t require thawing, but they have shorter shelf lives. Before buying, make sure Who you gonna call? The USDA Meat and Poultry there is enough space in the refrigerator or freezer. Hotline can answer food safety questions on weekdays year-round. This toll-free When to buy the bird. A whole frozen turkey takes service provides answers to about 24 hours per four to five questions about the safe storage, pounds to thaw in the refrigerator. handling, and preparation of meat, Purchase a frozen turkey as far in poultry, and egg products. It’s advance as necessary to safely staffed by food safety specialists thaw it in the refrigerator. If with backgrounds in home buying fresh, purchase it only one economics, nutrition, and food to two days before the meal and technology. Call the hotline at: 1-888-674-6854 or keep it refrigerated. send an Email to: [email protected].

Additional Resources & Links: Sources: · Thanksgiving tips and time-saving ideas. Includes tips on cooking a turkey the day 1. United Sates Department of Agriculture before, traveling with holiday foods, recipes, (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service how to prepare gravy, when to start thawing a (FSIS). 2010. Seasonal Food Safety: turkey, cooking meats other than turkey, safety Countdown to the Thanksgiving Holiday. tips if you want to fry a turkey, online games for Accessed at: kids and MUCH MORE. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Countdo http://food.unl.edu/web/safety/thanksgiving- wn_to_the_Holiday/index.asp. food-prep 2. Partnership for Food Safety Education. 2012. · 4-Day Throw Away Campaign and App. Food Safety: The Turkey. Accessed at: Learn more about leftover safety and how to http://www.holidayfoodsafety.org/index.php/foo protect yourself and your family from bad d-safety/turkey leftovers. http://www.4daythrowaway.org/ 3. Albrecht, J. 2008. Food Safety for Families: · Food Safety for Families. Holiday food safety Let’s Talk Turkey. UNL Extension. Accessed newsletter. http://go.unl.edu/7fo at: http://food.unl.edu/c/document_library/get_file? · Food Safety for Families. Let’s talk turkey. uuid=4c40101a-cdcc-4ed1-8fee- http://go.unl.edu/0jd 14cf9ad89b96&groupId=4089449&.pdf.

· Let’s talk about thawing a turkey. This is a Updated: October 2012 YouTube video posted by USDA Food Safety that gives step-by-step instructions for safely Scan this QR Code with your thawing your turkey. smartphone or other electronic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCostombq device to go directly to R4 Thanksgiving tips page on the food.unl.edu website. · Holiday Food Safety Success Kit. Find tips on food safety, shopping organizers and checklists, and menus and recipe ideas for the holidays. http://www.holidayfoodsafety.org/