With the holiday season fast approaching, it is important to prepare safe and enjoyable meals especially when serving turkey. Here are a few important food safety tips to keep in mind when preparing meals or eating holiday leftovers to help reduce the chance of foodborne illness for you and your family.

Fresh or Frozen?

Fresh Turkeys

• Allow one pound of turkey per person
• Buy your turkey only 1 to 2 days before you plan to cook it.
• Keep it stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook it. Place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak.
• If pre-stuffed turkeys are not handled properly, harmful bacteria that may be in the stuffing can multiply very quickly.

Frozen Turkeys

• Allow one pound of turkey per person.
• Keep frozen until you are ready to thaw it.
• Turkeys can be kept frozen in the freezer indefinitely; however, cook within 1 year for best quality.
• Thaw turkeys by following the instructions on the frozen turkey package.

Follow these tips during the Holidays and at all times to help reduce the chance of foodborne illness for you and your family:

• Cook whole turkeys to at least 165ºF. While on the subject of cooking temperatures, remember to cook ground beef, including meatloaf, to an internal temperature of at least 160ºF.
• Thaw food in the refrigerator or microwave, not on the kitchen counter. Also, marinate foods in the refrigerator.
• Refrigerate or freeze perishables, ready-to-eat foods, and leftovers within two hours of purchasing or preparation.
• Do not eat cooked or perishable foods that have been kept in the refrigerator more than two to three days.
• Wash your hands with hot, soapy water before and after preparing food. Be sure to wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and playing with pets.
• Reheat sauces, marinades, soups, and gravy to a rolling boil. Heat other leftovers thoroughly to a minimum internal temperature of 165ºF.
• When in doubt (about the way a food looks or smells) throw it out.

For more information about foodborne illness and other food safety tips for the holidays, visit A Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety Risks, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, or The Partnership for Food Safety Education.

For more detailed information on how to safely thaw and prepare a turkey, visit “Poultry Preparation” – a Fact Sheet for consumers from the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).