10 Tips for a Clean, Safe Thanksgiving

Food-borne illnesses are always an issue in the kitchen. Thanksgiving seems rife with food-poisoning possibilities, so here are some tips to keep your family and friends healthy and happy.

1. Always wash your hands

Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling food of any kind. Remember to wash them every time you touch raw poultry-and I mean every time.

2. Remove Innards Right Away

If your turkey is fresh, remove the innards right away and rinse out the cavity with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. Keep it refrigerated until you are ready to stuff it.

3. Defrost in the Refrigerator

If your turkey is frozen, defrost it in the refrigerator not on the kitchen counter (or the bathtub). Give it at least a day defrosting to be ready to cook. We've all heard the stories about showing up for dinner to find the host defrosting the turkey with a hairdryer. Don't let it happen to you.

4. Never Pre-stuff

Never pre-stuff the turkey. The bread will absorb the moisture in the cavity and will become contaminated. It won't taste bad but you'll find out about it later.

5. Cover Cuts and/or Sores

If you have any cuts or sores on your hands, make sure they are completely covered. Be careful stuffing the turkey as there are often sharp bone ends and you can easily cut yourself.

6. Cutting Board

If you can, have a cutting board which you only use for poultry. Be sure to wash the board thoroughly with soapy water the instant your are finished with it. Letting it sit on the counter, while you do another task, increases the chance that you or someone helping out in the kitchen will put some other food on it thereby transferring bacteria.

7. Knife

Same rule goes for knives. If the knife is sitting on the counter, chances are someone has already used it. Unless you take a knife straight from the drawer, wash it.

8. Clean Up

Clean up as you go. This gives you more working space and you are less likely to put food on a plate or bowl that has been in contact with raw poultry.

9. Promptly Refrigerate

Once dinner is over, make sure the leftover meat, stuffing, and the carcass are promptly refrigerated. Never put cooked meat on a platter that held the raw poultry. The turkey will last for a few days in the refrigerator, but the stuffing should be used the next day, if possible.

10. Dishes and Counter Tops

Use a cloth that is designated for dishes and counter tops only. Nothing makes me gag faster than watching someone take a dishcloth and wipe up a spill from the kitchen floor. If someone helping out in your kitchen does this, replace it with a clean one right away.

Follow these 10 tips and everybody will still be smiling the day after Thanksgiving.

Difficulty level: Easy