9 tips to prepare your turkey properly

Sharing tips with others is always a great way to help out and make someone's day. Sharing valuable tips is even better. If you are searching for some extra tips on surviving your turkey-infested holiday, you have come to the right place!

Why Are Precautions Required When Cooking Turkey for the Holidays?

There are a few things to consider while preparing a turkey for any occasion. When preparing your turkey, it is critical to be aware of food safety rules and reasonable food handling procedures. Food poisoning is a dangerous condition that, in certain situations, can result in severe sickness.

Check out the following to prevent illness from occurring:

Wash hands frequently with warm soapy water before touching raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs; after contact with animal products such as dairy products or eggs; after using the bathroom; after handling pets; after changing diapers; before preparing foods such as chopping vegetables etc.

Tips for a Turkey-Friendly meal

Family, friends, and food are all important during the holidays. For many people, that means eating turkey. If you're part of those people, I have some tips to help make your holiday a little easier.

1. Thaw your turkey safely

Thawing your turkey safely is essential for planning your holiday feast. There are many ways to defrost a frozen turkey, but they should all be done in the fridge or cold water. Never leave a turkey out on the counter—it will take longer to defrost, and there's an increased risk of bacterial contamination. How long it takes depends on how big or small your bird is; check its packaging for specific instructions.

2. Cook it thoroughly

The first step in cooking a turkey to perfection is to make sure it is thoroughly cooked. You should cook the bird to an internal minimum temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer. Inserting the thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast should ensure that your turkey will be thoroughly cooked and safe for consumption.

3. Be careful of cross-contamination

The danger of cross-contamination is real and should be taken seriously when preparing your Thanksgiving feast. Cross-contamination occurs when harmful bacteria are transferred from one surface to another, often through human contact. For example, you could transfer dangerous E. coli from your cutting board to a serving platter by simply touching it with your hands (or fumbling around in the turkey carcass). Luckily, there are several ways you can prevent cross-contamination so you can enjoy your holiday without worrying about getting sick or passing along germs:

• Wash hands after handling raw meat products such as poultry, beef and fish.
• After utilizing raw meat products, clean any surfaces that come into contact with them right away.
• Clean utensils used to prepare or serve raw meat immediately after use.

4. Clean up properly

The turkey is cooked and on the table. Now it's time to clean up! Don't forget about your sink, as you will want to wash your hands thoroughly before leaving the kitchen.

You should also clean and disinfect surfaces used during preparation and cooking, especially if you're using a raw turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. This includes cutting boards, countertops—anything that may have come into contact with raw poultry juices (or other ingredients) or drippings. If you're not sure how well your dishwasher washes off bacteria, consider washing by hand instead as an added precautionary measure against foodborne illness.

In addition to washing all of these things down with hot soapy water (and maybe even rinsing in bleach), don't forget your fridge! Wipe down any surfaces within reach of food storage containers or other perishable goods inside the refrigerator; they may have gotten splattered during cooking or prep work earlier in the day. And don't forget about pets: make sure they stay away from any leftover scraps lying around outside on counters or sinks for later consumption by an animal who can't wait until after Thanksgiving dinner is over before eating again!

5. Keep food at the right temperature

Raw meats should be kept below 5 degrees Celsius, and cooked meats above 60 degrees Celsius as a general rule. To make sure your food is at the proper temperature, it's best to use a meat thermometer. This handy tool lets you know when your food has reached the right temperature for consumption. You should also avoid leaving any foods out for longer than two hours (or one hour if it's hot weather), as bacteria can multiply in these conditions.

6. Don't let your guests bring food that might not be safe

If you have visitors bringing a dish, don't be scared to inquire about what they are carrying. If they say that it's a casserole or something like that, don't worry too much—but if they say that it's something with raw meat or eggs (like lasagna), you should mention the risk of salmonella and make sure that they are aware of the need for proper preparation before cooking. If your guests insist on bringing this kind of dish anyway, offer to help them make their dish safe by using fresh ingredients and ensuring proper preparation.

7. Understand how to store leftovers properly

Leftovers can indeed be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for future use. When reheating leftovers, make sure to bring them back to room temperature first, then heat them according to the package or recipe instructions. If you're not planning to eat your leftover turkey within 2 hours of coming out of the oven, store it in an airtight container to prevent moisture loss and freezer burn. If you feel like throwing away your Thanksgiving leftovers after three days, do so by putting them into a sealed bag and then placing that bag into another sealed bag before disposing of it.

8. Keep an eye on your pets

For families who no longer reside in the same town or state and may not see each other for many months, the traditional holiday season is a much-anticipated time to catch up, it may be stressful for pets. Consider the following factors in mind to ensure your pet has a safe and pleasurable holiday:

• Keep them away from the kitchen when food is being prepared. You don't want to risk any accidents or injuries.
• Don't feed them any food that has been designed for human consumption (such as turkey). If you do accidentally give your dog or cat something, they shouldn't have, contact your vet immediately!
• Keep pets away from the trash—this includes all leftover bones from the turkey carcass, which can lead to choking if swallowed. If you feel that your pet ate anything they shouldn't have while you weren't paying attention (or worse yet—if they're acting strangely), contact your vet immediately!

9. Know when to reach out and ask for help if you're unsure of something

It can be easy to think that you know everything about food safety. After all, you're an expert on the topic already, right? But when it comes time for the holidays, and your family is coming over for a big meal, it helps to remember that no one is perfect, and there will always be some things that are difficult to anticipate or predict.

In fact, I've had more than one person tell me that they wished they had reached out for help when cooking their first turkey because they were worried about undercooking or overcooking it. To avoid feeling stressed during such an important meal (and potentially ruining your holiday), make sure you ask someone who might know if something seems off or strange—even if it makes them think you're silly!

Note: The holiday season may be pretty stressful, and food poisoning may just be the icing on the cake. But these tips should help you prevent the worst—and give your family the gift of a happy and healthy holiday season.

Is Turkey a Chicken?

While similar to chicken and other poultry in many ways, Turkey has a few key differences that set it apart. One significant distinction between turkey and chicken meat is that turkey flesh is darker than chicken meat, ranging from light pink to dark red depending on the breed and how it was raised.

Turkey also has a denser texture than chicken because of its higher fat content. Another notable difference between these two types of poultry is their size: turkeys are much larger than chickens!

As you've probably guessed by now, both birds are considered white meat (they have less fat than red meat). Both turkeys and chickens belong to the same general family of food called Galliformes, which also includes guinea fowl, grouse, common quail, etc.

Now that we've talked about how to cook a turkey safely let's move on to some tips for having a safe and enjoyable holiday.

First of all, make sure you have plenty of food and drinks on hand, so no one goes hungry or thirsty. It may also be beneficial to put together a game plan for when different family members arrive. That way, everyone knows what they need to do, and there won't be any confusion or conflict. Finally, don't forget the decorations! A festive atmosphere can really help get everyone in the mood for the holidays. By following these simple tips, you can keep your holiday safe and fun for everyone.