Keystone Health is reminding residents to follow proper food safety guidelines when preparing turkey this Thanksgiving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 48 million foodborne illnesses occur in the United States each year, and improperly prepared poultry is among the most common causes.
To ensure safe cooking, both the turkey and the stuffing must reach a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. The temperature should be measured at the thickest part of the bird and the center of the stuffing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises against cooking stuffing inside the turkey, as it can be difficult to ensure both the stuffing and meat reach safe temperatures simultaneously.
Keystone Health shared a resource from the USDA offering thawing and cooking calculators, temperature measurement instructions, and a free food safety hotline to assist holiday cooks. The complete guide is available at fsis.usda.gov.
Photo obtained from Keystone Health
