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Community Corner

Holiday Bird Preparations: Fact or Custom

ST. CHARLES, Ill. – As the holidays approach, special family meals take center stage, and with them come many family traditions of how to prepare and present those meals. However, some customs may contradict today’s food safety recommendations.

“Our food system, and what we know about food safety, has changed drastically in the last few decades and that can impact traditional methods of cooking the holiday feast,” said Laura Lynn Barr, University of Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator, serving DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties. “We hear much debate this time of year about how to thaw, prep and stuff a turkey. Too often, misconceptions of recommended practices lead to people getting sick.”

The Truth about Thawing

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Thawing a turkey is done in many ways, but not all methods are safe. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirms that a package of frozen meat or poultry left thawing on the counter for more than two hours is not at a safe temperature.

“There is no bacterial growth in a frozen turkey, but it starts thawing from the outer layer first,” Barr explained. “Therefore, the outer layer is in the danger zone for an unacceptable amount of time. It is unsafe to thaw any meat at room temperature, but especially a large bird.”

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Barr said there are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave oven.

The USDA advises to allow approximately 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at 40 degree F or below, and a fully thawed turkey can remain in refrigerator 1 to 2 days before cooking it.  Be careful to contain juices from the thawing turkey so as not to cross-contaminate other foods and surfaces.

“It may seem simple, but this will take some planning,” Barr said. “For example, it will take at least 3 days for a 15-pound turkey to thaw in the refrigerator. Be sure to accurately schedule when to take out a frozen bird based on the cooking day.”

If thawing in cold tap water, water must be changed every 30 minutes until the product is completely thawed. Additionally, the product needs to be packaged in a waterproof container to prevent cross-contamination and an undesirable texture change in the meat, Barr said.

“The same 15-pound turkey would thaw in 7 hours in cold water, versus 3 to 4 days in a refrigerator,” she said. “But, the cold water method is more labor intensive, and you must always cook a cold water thawed turkey immediately.”

When using a microwave, the USDA advises to “follow microwave oven manufacturer's instructions for defrosting a turkey.” It also recommends cooking the thawed product immediately because some areas of the food may be warm and susceptible to bacteria growth.

“However, you choose to thaw, consider it a critical control point to ensure safety, taste and texture of your holiday meal,” Barr said.

The Proper Prep

In the past, families would start preparing their holiday birds much earlier in the food process. The bird was butchered, plucked, washed and cooked in the home, Barr said.

“Some consumers today wash poultry because the practice has been passed down through the generations,” she said. “However, running water in and over a turkey, or other poultry, is a waste of time, as it is cleaned in the packaging process.

“In fact, washing the bird at home actually increases the potential for food-borne illness, as it spreads salmonella and other pathogens in the sink and around the food preparation area. By cooking poultry thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, and maintaining that temperature for 15 seconds, you will destroy any bacteria.”

 

Stuffing Safety

There still remains the controversy about cooking holiday birds with or without stuffing.

"In support of optimal safety and consistent doneness, cooking the stuffing separately is the recommendation,” said Barr. “Following tradition, some cook the stuffing and turkey together. However, the turkey will reach doneness before the stuffing inside the bird. In this case, a probe food thermometer is essential to ensure stuffing has reached the proper internal temperature.”

If it has not maintained that internal temperature of 165 degrees F for 15 seconds, Barr said to keep cooking the turkey together with the stuffing until it does. Otherwise, the undercooked stuffing may likely contaminate the cooked meat, she said.

 

Critical Cooling

It also is critical to refrigerate potentially hazardous foods (PHFs) quickly after serving the meal. This includes meats, stuffing, casseroles, cooked grains and vegetables. The fastest bacterial growth occurs between 70 degrees F and 125 degrees F, which is close to room temperature, Barr said.

“So, if a PHF sits out for two hours, it is best to toss it,” she explained. “As the saying goes, ‘when in doubt, throw it out.’ As bacteria multiply, so does the risk of food-borne illness. The less time PHFs are in the danger zone, the safer the food for consumption.

“A good rule of thumb is to monitor time and temperature carefully to ensure food safety with each and every step.”

For more information on the University of Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness programs in your county, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/. University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs and research-based information to help Illinois residents improve their quality of life, develop skills and solve problems.

  

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