With today (November 23rd) being Thanksgiving, the most signature dish is the turkey.
But for it to be safe to eat, you’ll need to make sure it’s cooked properly.
The US Department of Agriculture says if you use an oven, it shouldn’t be set any lower that 325 degrees before allowing the turkey to cook.
You’ll want to make sure the turkey is completely thawed before cooking it.
Also, although it may be popular, the USDA recommends not cooking stuffing inside turkey because it could contaminate the stuffing and not kill the natural bacteria on the bird.
FoodSafety.gov says if you do cook your stuffing in a turkey, make sure you don’t remove it until the turkey has been out for 20 minutes if you’re using an oven and make sure it’s above 165 degrees so bacteria can be killed.
For your turkey, it isn’t cooked until it’s also reached 165 degrees.
To make sure it’s done, use a thermometer and check the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing, and the innermost part of the thigh.
The USDA also always recommends washing hands often to not spread germs from the turkey or any other food that could contaminate.
We’ll have another story about how to chill your leftovers and when you should throw them away.
