Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Pinterest
Edit Content
ABOUT AUTHOR
Alison Housten

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullam.

Contact Me
Email Address

contactus@EightyMPHMom.com

Holiday Food Safety Tips

turkey-cooking-tips

In the excitement of the holidays (and holiday meals), it is easy to get distracted and possibly not handle our foods in the safest way possible.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 80 percent of foodborne illnesses are linked to meat and poultry, so proper handling and cooking is essential.  NSF International (a nonprofit organization that is committed to protecting public health and safety by developing standards and certifying products against those standards) has some important and helpful information to keep you and your family safe this holiday season.

turkey-cooking-tips

NSF International recommends that you:

Don’t let uncooked turkey sit at room temperature. Don’t attempt to thaw a frozen turkey quickly by leaving it sit overnight on a kitchen counter. There are other ways to thaw a turkey, including:

  • Refrigerator Method: Keep the turkey in its original wrapper and place in a shallow pan on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator. It may take several days for a large turkey to thaw (plan for a thawing time of 4 – 5 hours per pound of turkey). A turkey that has been thawed in this way can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking.
  • Cold Water Thawing: Allow about 30 minutes per pound. Place the turkey in a leak-proof plastic bag and submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed.
  • Microwave Thawing: Since microwave oven performance varies, check your owner’s manual for the size turkey that will fit in your microwave oven, the minutes per pound and power level to use for thawing. Remove all outside wrapping and place the turkey on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices that may leak. Because some areas of the turkey may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving, a turkey thawed in the microwave must be cooked immediately.

Don’t wash your turkey. There’s no need to wash your turkey before your cook it. If you do, bacteria from raw poultry can splash onto worktops, dishes and other foods. Proper cooking will kill bacteria. If you choose to rinse your turkey, such as after brining, be very careful about splashing water and disinfect your sink and all other nearby surfaces thoroughly afterwards.

Never place an uncooked turkey directly on the counter – keep it in a roaster, or on a plastter.

Use a thermometer to check for doneness – even if the turkey has a pop-up thermometer. Make sure you check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing as well as the thickest part of the breast. When the temperature reaches 165° F at all three locations, the turkey should be done.

Don’t stuff it! For optimum safety, don’t stuff your turkey. It is best to put your stuffing in a casserole dish for cooking, as it can be difficult to cook stuffing evenly when it’s packed inside a turkey. If you must stuff, use only pre-cooked meats and vegetables in the stuffing mixture, pack the stuffing loosely, and cook the stuffing until it reaches at least 165° F at the center.

Refrigerate or freeze any leftovers right away.

Reheat before you eat (the right way!) Any pre-cooked dishes as well as leftovers need to be reheated to 165 degrees in order to kill any looming bacteria. Microwave ovens tend to heat food unevenly; keeping food loosely covered allows heat to better circulate throughout food. A food thermometer should be used. Make sure to check the temperature in multiple locations to make sure no cold spots are left. Refrigerated turkey, stuffing, and gravy should be eaten within 3 to 4 days.

washing hands

Don’t forget to wash your hands!! This isn’t an issue for me, as I am constantly washing my hands, but it is a good reminder when multi-tasking. Make sure guests that are in the kitchen also wash their hands. This can help prevent the passing of germs during cold and flu season.

Last but not leas – Sanitize your dishcloths or sponges on a regular basis, or use disposable cloths – A contaminated dishcloth can house millions of bacteria after a few hours of use. The kitchen dish rag /sponge is the germiest place in the home, according to the NSF International Germ Study. (Yuck!). Try using paper towels instead, when possible.

To help you with food safety this holiday season, I have a wonderful prize pack to give away!

PLUS TUPPERWARE!

THE GIVEAWAY:

One winner will receive a Holiday Prize Pack which includes:

  • (NSF Certified) Turkey Roasting Pan
  • (NSF Certified) Meat Thermometer
  • (NSF Certified) Tupperware
  • Matching Dishcloth and Kitchen Towel Set

***NOTE: DO NOT STUMBLE GIVEAWAYS!***

For first (and required) entry, tell me your best tip for cooking a holiday meal.

EXTRA ENTRIES {can be done only after initial entry above is done}:

Please leave links to your entries, where appropriate.
  • Follow @EightyMPHMom on Twitter and/or Google+ – 1 entry each
  • Subscribe to Eighty MPH Mom via email (MAKE SURE you verify!) and/or RSS feed (reader) – 1 entry each
  • Follow Eighty MPH Mom on Google Friend Connect, Fan Eighty MPH Mom on Facebook, and/or Networked Blogs – 1 entry each
  • Post/share this giveaway on your Facebook page (leave link in comment) – 1 entry
  • Comment on a recent{in the last month} non-giveaway post (up to three) – 1 entry each
  • Boost this Giveaway on Prizey– 1 entry {it may take a day or two for giveaway to show on Prizey. If it isn’t there yet, try later} 

Tweet this giveaway using the phrase below or retweet button above – 1 entry daily:

Win a Turkey Roasting Pan, Tupperware, Towels, More! @EightyMPHMom
https://eightymphmom.com ends 12/4

No purchase necessary. Open to residents of US.  ONE ENTRANT PER HOUSEHOLD/IP Address! Giveaway ends December 4th at 9:00 p.m. (PST).  I check all entries – cheating will not be tolerated.  Winner will be notified via email and needs to reply within 48 hours, or a new winner will be chosen. Please make sure you check your spam folder – I will not be responsible if you did not receive winning email notification. Winners name(s) will also be posted on Winners List immediately after drawing has occurred. Winners will be chosen using the “And the Winner is” plugin.  Screenshots of winners available by request.  **By entering this giveaway, you confirm that you have read and agree to my giveaway rules. Sponsor reserves the right to limit one prize per person/household (of this item/prize pack). Please allow 6-8 weeks for deliver of prize {though it is usually much sooner}. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.

Please see Eighty MPH Mom giveaway rules for further information.

*I will be receiving the same set as the prize above, free of charge, for posting this information and giveaway.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

571 Responses

  1. What our family does it the host makes the meat and everyone else brings the sides and dessert.

  2. My best tip for cooking period is to keep a sink full of hot sudsy water so you can wash up any used measuring cups, containers, pots and pans etc. immediately rather than have a huge job waiting after you’ve enjoyed a nice meal. It also helps to keep your hands clean as well!

  10. If someone asks what can they do to help, don’t be shy, ask them to make the veggie try, cut the pies, take the help, it will be fun.
    gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com

  12. Do it bits and pieces for the few days leading up to the holiday and if someone would like to contribute to helping accept the offer.

  17. My best tip is to write down everything you’re going to cook and the time needed, so you can work backwards from dinnertime and make sure everything will be ready at the same time.

  19. My best tip is to plan ahead and do as much as possible before company arrives. Fruits, veggies, and nuts can be chopped ahead of time. Some casseroles can be made a day or two before, then baked when the time comes.

  30. My best tip is if you are having company, ask each person to contribute a dish so you don’t have to do all the cooking yourself.

  31. My tip is prepare what you can the day before so there is less work the day you cook the turkey.
    Thanks!
    jackievillano at gmail dot com

  34. My best tip for the holidays is as follows: For anything going into the oven for baking/roasting, if it calls for putting a little oil on the bottom of your oven-safe ware (enough to coat), pour the oil in a bowl first, and mix your ingredients in the bowl with your seasonings instead.

  40. Make it a holiday affair – get the kids and husband to help! Setting the table, clean up, cooking – everyone pitches in.

  63. My best holiday meal cooking tip is to not make it too difficult or time consuming…you can do quick & easy recipes that are still delish, just search them out! The holidays are about family & togetherness, so make sure you leave plenty of time for those you love. 🙂

  68. My tip is to make sure your hands are clean and the area you are working at; at all times

    pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
    thanks

  72. Make a list of what you’re making, how long each will take and then write out your list in order of what gets cooked when.

  73. My best tip is to make desserts the day before, also the salads can be made the night before the dinner. I try to prepare as much as I can the day before the dinner. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. My sister comes early to help me on the holiday dinner!
    (Phyllis Dolen)

    Nannie reviews at gmail dot com

  81. My tip is to make sure you have everything on hand that you are going to need. There is nothing worse than having to run out and try to find an ingredient you forgot to buy.

  102. For multiple step holiday meals I do the hard parts the night before like all the dicing, chopping and pureeing or processing so that I only have to bake, fry or heat up the next day

  119. My tip for cooking a holiday meal is to work out the timing beforehand of when everything needs to be started or managed.
    blue65829 at aol dot com

  132. My best tip is to plan things out in advance! Better to take things slow and not rush. Thanks for hosting!

  140. Let Harris Teeter cook it! I actually prefer to bake and cook for my family but this year
    we are at my daughters in a small vacation condo. We are trying to keep it simple by
    ordering ahead of time the turkey and fixings. 🙂 Thanks

    Happy Thanksgiving gahome2mom/gmail/com

  161. My best tip is to do ANYthing you can ahead to take the stress off of party day. AND DELEGATE!

    thanks!

  171. Sometimes I like my turkey to just fall of the bone instead of doing the roasted. So the night before I put my oven on 500 degrees and cook it for 2-3 hours with the onions, carrots and celery. Turn off the stove and leave it in the covered roasted pan until right before dinner where i will reheat it some in the oven. So good. Make sure to put lots of pepper and butter on it too.

  178. following on gfc-becky davis (dutch girls favorite things)
    bdavisnc at gmail dot com
    becky watts-davis

  186. My best tip is to be fully rested before you start preparing your meal. If you are tired and stressed before you even start — it will only blow little things out of proportion and ruin your day and possibly the meal!
    crochet4hats[at]gmail[dot]com

  193. My biggest tip to is to prepare the dishes / casseroles in advance the night before so you are able to utilize your oven to the fullest amount of time you have. Just prepare the casseroles as per your recipe then stack them up in the fridge then you’re ready to pop them in the oven once your ham or turkey or both is finished.

  201. My tip is to get as much done ahead of time as you can– table settings, side dishes, etc. Then just focus on assembly. Plus if you can farm out side dishes to guests, do it!

    hmcnaron at gmail dotcom

  205. my best tip is this
    Make a list, shop a day or two before and relax! It’s no good to prepare holiday meals and not enjoy yourslef.

  208. My best tip is to clean up as you go so when everyone has finished eating and its all done you arent overwhelmed with a pile of dishes and pots & pans, I try to constantly keep everything cleaned, that includes the utensils and any dishes that you may have used in prep before hand, its much easier to clean up whats left than having to do it all at one time

    Thanks for the great giveaway

  221. “I follow this blog publicly via google friend connect
    Yidi Turman yidijia(at)gmail(dot)com”

  239. some dishes can be prepared in advance and refrigerated or frozen

    Thank you for hosting this giveaway

  248. My best tip is to make a list, fix whatever possible ahead and freeze it. And allow others to bring a side or dessert.

  293. required entry:there was 22 of us for Christmas eve last year…everyone brings their FAV side dish and /or snack or dessert

  312. My best tip is don’t drop the turkey. I did this one year and it skidded across the hall into the dining room, much to the surprise of the seated guests!

  318. I do prep cooking and baking over the course of three days so that it’s easier to bring it all together on Thanksgiving Day.

  321. My best tip is to relax and have fun with it. Stressing out over cooking holiday meals isn’t going to help. Take your time, have fun and everything will turn out just fine.

  329. My best tip is to get anything you can out the night before then get started early the next day so everything is done on time with plenty of time for dessert. =D

    othila1985@msn.com

  341. My best tip to wash as you go- it saves a ton of clean up time!

    jill.watkins (at) gmail.com

  348. My tip is to have everyone bring a tupperware dish or something for leftovers so that everyone can make a plate to take home and no one has to worry about returning dishes.

  365. Never underestimate when buying food for a feast! More is always better than running out of something.
    Awesome blog by the way and thanks for the giveaway!
    Would love, love, LOVE to win this!
    =]

  382. I always find things I can cook ahead so it’s not a total rush throughout the main day of cooking!

  383. My tip is to get the whole family involved in various aspects like chopping veggies, it makes it fun and stress free!

  390. My best tip for a holiday meal is to order it from Honeybaked Hams, inlcuding sides and desserts. Guests can also bring their fave dishes to make it a huge feast.

  394. Keep it Simple(KISS) and do not try to do too much. Also enlist guests to help with big meals-either in your kitchen or bringing a dish.

  396. Pre-make or prep everything you can in advance. Chop onions, celery; peel and chop carrots; toast bread cubes for dressing; bake pies and bread. Pull out all serving pieces, wash them and use post-its to label what goes in/on them so folks can help without asking what’s for what.

  406. If I have to cook my tip is to plan everything out ahead of time and shop early. Of course a better tip is to go out to eat or have it catered.

  407. Slow cookers to keep potatoes and sides warm until serving. Make earlier and keep warm

  408. My best tip is to put all the ingredients on the counter before you start…so you know that you really have all the necesarry ingredients!

  409. My best holiday meal cooking tip is to back time everything. Figure out when you want things done and figure out how long for prep time and cooking and count back to when you need to start. Keep in mind things like letting the meat rest after i comes out of the oven and transferring to serving dishes. Makes things so much easier.
    mrsloisannjones@aol.com

  412. My best tip is to make all the family favorites and introduce one new dish that you’ve been anxious to try. If it’s a hit, you can make it again. If it’s not, it doesn’t matter because they love everything else.

  422. I do my turkey in a large electric roaster (e.g. Nesco) so my oven is free for side dishes and pies

  424. My best cooking tip is to always check the temperature to be sure the food is thoroughly cooked, and also to clean up as you go along.

  429. The best advice I can offer is to do as much prep work the day or two before the meal. At my house, the day of the holiday gathering is just nuts. You have anywhere from 5 to 25 people in the kitchen looking. Its fun, if you prepare for it. Otherwise ….

    Merry Christmas to everyone here! May all of you have a great time with your family and with your friends.

  430. My best cooking tip is to prep a few items a day or two before. If you know you are going to need chopped onions and celery. It easy to chopped ahead and even enough to use another meal. Just store in a plastic container and its ready to use just a simple measure and your done.

    diane dot wortman at gmail dot com

  437. I have learned to clean up the mess when you make it = other wise it can get toooo messy…

    kadia3 at yahoo dot com

  438. Make good use of crockpot and other electric cookers. also make sure you do what you can the night before
    vmkids3 at msn dot com

  445. Assign people different tasks such as taking drink orders, setting up the dinner place, baking dessert, setting up appetizers, or checking the oven for the main course.

  450. when injecting a turkey, do not inject with numerous holes, use the same hole each time and inject all around. Insted of pulling all the way out, pull up till you just about to come out the turkey, but them turn it the opposite way and re-inject with the same hole. Keeps ALOT more flavor and juice in the turkey!

  460. Make something you are good at and buy he best quality food you can. Be prepared and do what you can early.
    Above all-RELAX and enjoy the company and the meal.
    spcale at yahoo dot com.

  469. My best tip is to make sure you have all your ingredients a couple days before so you don’t hit the rush. A lot yourself much time for cooking by waking early and cooking all day instead of waiting the last couple hours so you are rushing when everyone is there.
    cmarquez483(at)ymail(dot)com

  473. Have everyone to contribute to the feast. Be sure to assign items needed so as not to have everyone bring desserts.

  474. Plan the timing so that everything is done at the same time.
    lazybones344 at gmail dot com

  478. My best tip for cooking a holiday meal, is clean as you go or you will have a mess to clean at the end. sweepmorey at gmail dot com

  490. My best tip would be to have all the women in the family get together to make the different foods; with only one or two preparing the turkey (the same one or two that always do it). That way everyone knows what is going on and there is no cross contamination. And there are no men in the kitchen making more messes 😉

  491. my best tip is my teen daughters help with the cooking each person is in charge of making something so everything isnt just on me

  497. My best tip is to make sure you have a cooking schedule figured out so things are all getting done about the same time.

  520. My best tip is to make the turkey a day ahead, let it cool, then cut it up. The next day, just warm it.

  521. Be sure to read the recipe several times beforehand to make sure you have absolutely everything you need. There’s nothing like getting into making a recipe and having to make a trip to the store!

  534. My best hint is to wash up your dishes as you go along and then there is less dishes to wash after the meal

  539. One of my best tips is to prepare as much as possible the day before the holiday meal. That gives you more time the day of to do things. Thanks.

  542. Check for all ingredients ahead of time so you aren’t missing something at the time of preparation.

  545. I do as much as possible the day before Thanksgiving, then all I have to do is stuff and cook the turkey and make the gravy, almost all the side dishes and pies are already done.I love this giveaway! Thanks for having it.

  547. All I can think of, is make as many things the day before as possible. It’ll cut down the stress.
    michedt at yahoo . com

  552. Our best holiday meals happen when everyone contributes. Whether it is a side dish or doing the dishes after the meal we all feel more invested in making it a pleasant day.

ABOUT AUTHOR
Eighty Mph Mom
Lyric Spencer

I’m all about sharing great products, recipes, home decor, and parenting hacks for busy moms.

Popular Posts
ADVERTISEMENT

Get fresh updates
about my life in your inbox

SUBSCRIBE !
FOLLOW ME ON
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube