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Whether you’re trying to thaw your turkey or figure out if it’s done, AnswerLine is here for you!
As Thanksgiving approaches, the AnswerLine staff discussed some of our top food safety tips for Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas to help you have a safe Thanksgiving.
- Remember to put food away right after dinner. Leftovers should not remain at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. The clock starts to tick when you sit down to eat, so get the leftovers put away as soon as possible.
- If you need to prepare food ahead, consider preparing and freezing the food or measuring out ingredients that can be mixed together at the last minute. It is not a good idea to partially cook a dish one day and finish cooking the next day.
- If you really must stuff your turkey, remember to make the stuffing and place it inside the turkey just before putting the turkey in the oven. Resist the impulse to overstuff the turkey, just stuff it loosely so the inside of the turkey cooks correctly. Plan to use a food thermometer to check the temperature of the stuffing before taking the turkey out of the oven. The stuffing and turkey should each reach 165°F when it is ready.
- Leftovers should be used within 4 days. If you think you will not be able to eat all the leftovers within that time, freeze the extra food. Plan to package it in smaller packages so that you can enjoy an entire package at a meal. But, if you do have leftover leftovers, they can be safely refrozen as long as they have been handled safely. This video is funny and helpful!
- If you plan to make soup or some other large quantity of food from you leftovers, cool them quickly by setting the pan into a sink full of cold or ice water. Stir until the food cools. Then package in small, thin containers for rapid freezing.
If you have any questions, please call us at AnswerLine. We are available 9-noon and 1-4 Monday through Friday. In Iowa, call 1-800-262-3804; Minnesota, call 1-800-854-1678; South Dakota, call1-888-393-6336 or 515-296-5883 from anywhere else. If the lines are busy you can also email us answer@iastate.edu. We love to talk with folks about Thanksgiving or answer questions about anything else around the home.
Liz, Beth, and Jill
the AnswerLine staff
