Preparing a Safe Holiday Meal
The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration that brings together family and friends, often to enjoy delicious meals. If you are preparing a traditional turkey feast, the following tips will help you enjoy a safe holiday dinner and will give you suggestions for what to do with your leftovers.
 
If you purchase your turkey frozen you will need to thaw your bird properly to minimize risk of foodborne illness.
  • You can thaw your frozen bird in the refrigerator. Allow about 24 hours per 5 pounds of turkey. (That means a 20-pound frozen turkey for Thanksgiving has to start defrosting the previous Sunday.)
  • Once thawed, you should only continue to refrigerate the turkey for another 1 or 2 days, so plan accordingly.
  • If you forget to thaw the turkey in time, don't worry; simply submerge the whole turkey in COLD water (using a leak-proof plastic bag is recommended), changing the water every 30 minutes. This will generally take 30 minutes defrosting time for each pound of frozen turkey.
Follow recipe instructions for turkey and stuffing cooking times and temperatures.
 
Be sure you use a meat thermometer stuck in the thickest part of the meat to ensure turkey reaches a temperature of 180 F. Even if the bird comes with a pop-up thermometer, check the temperature with a meat thermometer.
 
It is safest to cook stuffing separately. If you choose to cook it in the bird:
  • Stuff the bird loosely just before you put it in the oven (about ¾ cup of stuffing per pound of poultry).
  • Make sure that the center of the stuffing reaches 165°F, using a meat thermometer.
  • If the turkey is done before the stuffing is fully cooked, remove the stuffing and heat it on the stovetop to 165°F.
To store leftovers safely the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA recommends the following:
 
  • Remove the stuffing and cut the turkey off the bone. Wings and legs can be left whole.
  • Refrigerate stuffing and turkey separately in shallow containers within 2 hours of cooking.
It is also important to eat your leftovers in a timely manner

  • Leftover turkey, stuffing, and other cooked dishes will only stay safe to eat in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, so you may want to freeze any portions you can't finish by then.
  • Gravy lasts only 1-2 days in the refrigerator but can also be frozen and enjoyed at a later date.
  • In the freezer cooked turkey pieces stay safe to eat for 4 months while stuffing and gravy are safe to eat for 1 month.

Inadequate heating in the microwave or conventional oven can contribute to foodborne illness. All Thanksgiving leftovers should be reheated thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165 F.

  • Always bring gravy to a roiling boil before re-serving.
  • If you are reheating in the microwave oven, cover food and be sure to rotate the dish so it heats evenly.

 For more helpful tips and healthy holiday recipes, visit www.mealsmatter.org.  Meals Matter – www.mealsmatter.org – is a non-commercial website supported by Dairy Council of California, staffed by registered dietitians and dedicated to promoting healthy food choices for families.

 

   

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