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Check out these top ten Tip Tuesday cooking safety tips for Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving is only a couple of days away. Are you ready for the return of a traditional Turkey Day gathering? Is your bird prepared? Thankfully we are here for you with some quick tips on how to make sure that Thanksgiving feast will have the most delicious turkey on the table! And as an Emergency Response Company, we at RMC would like you to be roasting and boasting that bird as safely as possible this holiday!

      Tip Time

  1. Purchase the right size and weight turkey for your party

Count on each person eating about 1-1.5 lbs per person.

  1. Defrosting

Turkey takes about 24 hours per 5lbs to defrost in the refrigerator. If you don’t have enough time for this, do not panic. For the sake of time, it is totally safe to thaw your turkey by submerging it in cold water. Be sure to do so while the turkey is still in its packaging and plan to do this for about 7-8 hours. CDC recommends changing the water out for new cold water every 30 minutes during this process for food safety purposes. Remember: Do not defrost on the counter and do not defrost under hot water!!

  1. Soak in marinade for at least 24 hours.

The marinade is typically going to be a mix of salt, pepper, sugar, and other desired herbs. Although in some recipes it is used as a dry rub, the marinade is usually mixed in with water or stock. Find a recipe that contains the best flavors for you and your guests and make sure to get your marinade in every crease of the turkey.

  1. When it is time to cook, keep the stuffing on the side.

Cooking the stuffing inside of the turkey may be the tradition, but it actually leaves the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Additionally, a stuffed turkey will take longer to fully cook. This has a tendency to dry out the “white meat”.

  1. Style Points

It’s not necessary to tie your turkey up, but there are rumors that doing so helps cook the turkey more evenly. To achieve this, spread and tuck the wings under its body. Then tie the legs up and together.

  1. Pre-oven prep

Completely dry your turkey then rub butter or oil ALL over it before placing it in the oven. We recommend also placing tabs of butter under the skin so it melts directly onto the meat as it cooks.

  1. Cooking time

The USDA recommends 15 minutes per pound in a 325 ° oven for a fully defrosted bird. Please make sure that your smoke detector is fully functional in advance in case there is an emergency (but we hope there’s not).

  1. To baste or not to baste? That tis the question

While it’s more common to hear about basting your turkey throughout your cooking process, it is rumored that the more you open the oven, the more you actually dry your bird out from the temperature fluctuations. This is your call, but as long as you oiled, buttered, and marinaded your turkey, you should be good to go.

  1. The final numbers are in:

The magic number we’re looking for to consider our bird done is 165 ° F. Insert an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the turkey around the thigh and avoid the bone for the most accurate read.

  1. Finally, let it rest.

Cover your turkey with foil and let it rest for at least 15 to 20 minutes before carving. Allow room for some of the heat to escape, you do not want the bird to steam under the foil.

      Carving Time

That’s it, it’s time to cut it up and dig in! Hopefully these tips lead to your turkey safely and successfully being the center of attention Thanksgiving evening. We recommend looking up different recipes that would fit your tastes preferences and to follow the basic guidelines that we have provided. Happy cooking and good luck! And don’t forget to take a moment to give thanks to all.

Need tips for keeping your kids table entertained while you’re cooking? Check out our 5 Family-Friendly Fall Crafts blog here!

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