Let's talk turkey: turkey safety guidelines
HOW MUCH TURKEY?
Whole turkey: 1 pound per person or 1.5 pounds per person if you want leftovers
Boneless breast of turkey: .5 pound per person
Breast of turkey: .75 pound per person
Prestuffed frozen turkey*: 1.25 pounds per person – keep frozen until ready to cook
FRESH TURKEY
A fresh turkey should be purchased 1–2 days before cooking. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not
recommend purchasing a fresh pre-stuffed turkey.
COOKING A FROZEN TURKEY
Cooking a frozen turkey is safe and is even USDA-approved. The cooking time will take at least 50% longer than for a fully thawed turkey. After 3 hours the cavity should be thawed enough to remove the bag of giblets and the neck. Cook the turkey without the giblets and neck in the cavity. Cook giblets and neck separately.
THAWING THE TURKEY
The best ways to safely thaw your turkey is in the refrigerator or in cold water. Keep the turkey in its original wrapper and place on a tray or pan to catch any liquids that may leak. DO NOT thaw poultry and other meat at room temperature.
Thawing time in refrigerator (40 F or below)
Allow 24 hours per 4 pounds of a whole turkey. Keep the turkey refrigerated for only 1–2 days after thawing. A turkey properly thawed in the refrigerator may be refrozen.
4-12 pounds 1-3 days
12-16 pounds 3-4 days
16-20 pounds 4-5 days
20-24 pounds 5-6 days
Thawing time in cold water
Allow 30 minutes per pound of a whole turkey. Submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes to maintain cold temperature. Cook the turkey immediately after thawing. Do not refreeze the turkey.
4-12 pounds 2-6 hours
12-16 pounds 6-8 hours
16-20 pounds 8-10 hours
20-24 pounds 10-12 hours
Don’t wash the turkey
According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking is not recommended. Pathogens in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. Failure to clean these contaminated areas can lead to foodborne illness. Cooking to the right temperature kills the pathogens, so washing meat before cooking is
not necessary.
TO STUFF OR NOT TO STUFF?
Stuffing the turkey means it takes longer to cook, and there’s a greater risk of uneven cooking. The USDA recommends cooking the stuffing separately in a baking dish, which also gives it a nice crispy top.
However, if you choose to stuff your turkey, stuff loosely for optimum safety. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, since heat destroys pathogens more rapidly in a moist environment. NEVER stuff the turkey in advance. The stuffing may promote the rapid growth of harmful pathogens. Place the turkey immediately after stuffing in a preheated oven
and cook.
Turkey roasting
Use the following chart for the time to cook your turkey. The times are for fresh or thawed turkey in a 235 F oven.
*Remove giblets and neck from cavity.
The times are approximate, and doneness should always be checked with a food thermometer. Do not depend on a pop-up thermometer alone!
Always place the food thermometer tip in the thickest part of the thigh away from the bone. The dark meat of the turkey thigh takes longer to cook than any other part.
The minimum internal temperature should reach 165°F for the turkey and the stuffing. All turkey meat, including any that remains pink, is safe to eat as soon as all parts reach at least 165°F.
Allow the turkey to rest 15 to 20 minutes before carving to allow the juices to set.
STORING LEFTOVERS
Put all perishable leftover foods into shallow containers and place in the refrigerator or freezer within two hours. The quicker leftovers cool, the less time they spend in the food “danger zone” of 40-135 degrees F.
Storage in the fridge: Cut leftover turkey into small pieces; refrigerate stuffing and turkey separately in shallow containers. Refrigerate potatoes, gravy and vegetables in shallow containers. The cooked
leftovers are safe for three to four days in the
refrigerator and can be frozen for longer storage.
Prompt storage helps prevent pathogens that cause foodborne illness from growing on leftover. These pathogens can’t be smelled or tasted. Food left out more than two hours should be discarded; one hour in temperate above 90 degrees.
REHEATING TURKEY
Cooked turkey may be eaten cold or reheated. Reheat turkey and leftovers to an internal
temperature of 165°F. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature. To keep the turkey moist, add a little broth or water and cover.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Your local University of Wyoming Extension Office, www.uwyo.edu/uwe.
www.foodsafety.gov
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline,
1-888-674-6854
www.AskKaren.gov