Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with friends and family and celebrate what we are thankful for. While some aspects of this year’s celebrations may differ due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s still a time to put safety first to ensure a happy and healthy holiday for all.

Everyone can contribute to improving safety during Thanksgiving. This season, learn more about food safety tips by continuing reading!

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands is one the easiest ways to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and foodborne illnesses! Wash hands with warm water and soap for a minimum of 20 seconds and rise under clean water. Be sure to scrub in between your fingers, under your nails, and your wrists.

If you are unable to use soap and water, you may use hand sanitizer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to ensure effectiveness.

Use Proper Thawing Methods

However you choose to prepare food for Thanksgiving, ensure you are using proper thawing techniques.

According to food safety lawyers at The Lange Law Firm, PLLC, “you have a couple options for safely thawing your bird.” They continue:

If you plan to thaw your turkey in the refrigerator, make some room and book his stay in advance. If you plan to thaw your turkey in the sink with the cold water thawing method, you will need to set aside about 30 minutes per pound to ensure proper thawing. If you plan to thaw your turkey using the microwave method, defer to your microwave oven’s manufacturer instructions as each unit varies.

Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter; this is the safest way to breed bacteria!

Sanitize Regularly

Foodborne bacteria can lurk in many places, including your hands, knives, thermometers, cutting boards and in packaging! Prevent the spread of serious bacteria, such as E.coli and salmonella, by sanitizing or washing all items that come into contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs.

When grocery shopping, keep these items separate from the rest of your groceries and make a designated area in your refrigerator to prevent cross contamination.

Enjoying the Holidays

The holiday season is a great time to come together and celebrate with loved ones, even if we celebrate virtually. In the current climate of a global pandemic, Thanksgiving in 2020 will be different. But one thing we can make sure stays the same is putting the health and safety of our friends and family first. This Thanksgiving, utilize these three tips to keep your Thanksgiving food safe!