Thanksgiving Safety: Tips For 2020

11/11/2020 (Permalink)

There are a few new safety precautions households should take when preparing for Thanksgiving Day in 2020.

The Thanksgiving holiday may look a little different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you're still cooking a turkey dinner, we've put together this list of holiday & turkey safety tips to help ensure you have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving dinner in 2020.

1.  Be sure to practice proper food safety.

Handling poultry incorrectly is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness outbreaks. This phenomenon rises around the holiday season due to increased gatherings and cooking of large meals. You can prevent food poisoning by doing the following:

• Properly thaw your turkey. Thaw it by putting it in the refrigerator in a container, leaving it in a plastic bag in the sink with cold water, or in the microwave. Do not leave the turkey out to thaw on the counter. According to the CDC, if you leave a turkey out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, the temperature becomes unsafe and harbor bacterial growth.
• Keep cooking areas clean. Raw poultry can contaminate surfaces it touches with bacteria. Be sure to keep raw poultry away from other food items and clean the area you prepared it in afterwards.
• Cook the turkey completely through. Your turkey must reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees or higher to be safe to consume. Pick up a food thermometer so that you can accurately check the temperature of the turkey. To check for the safe minimum internal temperature, insert the food thermometer into the center of the stuffing as well as the thickest parts of the breast, thigh, and wing.
• Make sure the stuffing is cooked too! Bacteria from the raw poultry can survive in the stuffing when it is not brought to 165 degrees. Cooking stuffing separately from your turkey can help ensure it is safely cooked.
• Don't leave food cooking unattended. Thanksgiving is the peak day of the year for home cooking fires. Make sure someone is always in the kitchen, the cooking space is clear of flammable objects, and that a fire extinguisher is nearby.

2.  Follow turkey deep frying safety.

Accidents when using turkey fryers have become so common that the National Fire Protection Association actually advises against their use. If you still choose to go with the deep fryer, just be sure to follow these tips:

• Keep outdoor dryers more than far enough away from your home, deck, garage, or any other items.
• Be sure that the turkey is COMPLETELY thawed before putting it in the fryer.
• Make sure your fryer has temperature controls sot hat you can help avoid a fire.
• Have baking soda or a grease-rated fire extinguisher nearby in case of a fire. DO NOT put water on a Turkey grease fire.
• Wear oven mitts to protect your hands and arms from the hot oil.

3.  Practice proper COVID-19 safety on Thanksgiving Day.

As the world continues the fight against the Coronavirus, the CDC has released a list of considerations and recommendations for having a Thanksgiving gathering in 2020. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and kept many away from their family members, we still must consider how to modify our holiday plans to prevent the spread of the virus.

The CDC recommends the following for your Thanksgiving gathering during COVID-19:

• Celebrate virtually or only with members of your own household for the lowest risk of spreading the virus.
• Consider the levels of COVID-19 in your area or areas guests are coming from.
• Host an outdoor gathering if possible to reduce risk of spread.
• If having an indoor gathering, keep it small and open windows to increase ventilation.
• Have one person serve food so that everyone is not touching the same serving dishes or utensils.
• Try to practice social distancing: Stay 6 feet apart, wear masks, wash hands, don't share items, and follow local laws and regulations.
• Do not attend or host a Thanksgiving fathering if you or someone you know has symptoms, been diagnosed with COVID-19, or are in a high-risk group.

SERVPRO of Meriden wishes everyone in our community a safe and healthy Thanksgiving Day this year in 2020!