TURKEY SAFETY TIPS

With Thanksgiving almost here, millions of Americans will soon be preparing turkeys, but here is something to keep in mind...last year fifteen people in the Wiregrass were burned while frying turkeys. Regardless of how you cook it, there are tips you need to know, to make sure you don`t get injured or sick due to carelessness. News 18`s spoke to a local Health Official, and she gave us some tips for safety. Shelia Andreasen said, "Thanksgiving dinner requires a lot of preparation, from stuffing to sweet potatoes, nothing seems simple, but a majority of the work goes into the turkey, which makes it easy to forget the small and simple but important steps for safe and proper preparation." Shelia is the local 4-H Coordinator, and has trained students in poultry for fifteen years. She says there are a lot of people who don`t know how to properly prepare the turkey. Every year people across the nation get sick from handling poultry and turkey improperly during the Holiday Season. Anderson gives us tips to make sure it doesn`t happen to us. First of all, she says there are three ways to thaw out the frozen turkey properly. Thaw in the refrigerator, water or microwave. Next comes the cooking....the USDA recommends preheating the oven to 325 degrees, placing the turkey on a pan or rack and cooking until the entire turkey has reached 180 degrees, or 3-5 hours. And, last but not least, do not store leftovers in the refrigerator more than 3 to 4 days. These simple tips could prevent a nightmare involving bacteria and food poisioning, and ensure you and your family a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. For any questions you may log onto the USDA Meat & Poultry website at www.fsisdotusda.gov.