Holiday Turkey Tips

Latrell’s Holiday Turkey Tips

Live your best life! That is my motto. My name is Menia L. Chester, I am a chef, owner of Desserts by Latrell and Southern Jazz and Sweets.

Holiday season is right around the corner and meal planning is essential! As we prepare for the holiday season, there are many things that we must consider. One thing is the turkey! Purchasing a frozen turkey can be daunting, especially if you wait until the last minute. They can seemingly take such a long time to thaw! Let’s talk about how to properly thaw a turkey. The USDA recommends a couple of ways to thaw a turkey safely.

1. The refrigerator method. Please be sure to thaw it in a pan on the bottom shelf. Raw turkey/poultry juices dripping on your food is a no-go! Prevent uncooked juices from dripping onto other foods in the refrigerator by placing packaged meats on a separate tray or in a sealed container. Store raw meats away from the cooked meats, as well as away from fresh fruit and vegetables to prevent cross contamination. Allow one day for each 4 to 5 pounds of weight, so a 12 lb turkey should take about three days to completely thaw.

2. The cold water method. Just leave the t

urkey in its original wrapping and place it in a sink (or clean container) full of cold water. Be sure that the turkey is fully covered with water and that the water is cold so that the turkey stays at a safe temperature. Change the water every 30 minutes with fresh cold water. Allow 30 minutes of defrosting time per pound, so a 12 pound turkey will take 6 hours to thaw using this method.

Lastly, please do NOT thaw your turkey on the counter! Food safety is very important to keep your family from getting sick from improper food prep practices.

Other important tips:

Be sure to wash your hands, work surfaces and utensils that have been touched by raw meat with hot, soapy water. Be sure to disinfect the work surfaces as well. Always cook turkey/poultry to a minimum of 165°.