Tips for Preparing and Cooking Turkey Safely This Thanksgiving

Nov 21, 2025
By Farms.com

Top Food Safety Rules for a Safe Thanksgiving Meal

Thanksgiving festivities often revolve around a long-awaited holiday meal, but with the rush of preparing multiple dishes, food safety can easily slip through the cracks. A few simple precautions can help ensure your celebration remains both delicious and safe.

Preparation

Start with good habits before you even begin cooking. Be mindful with perishable foods such as meat, poultry, and dairy, refrigerate or freeze them as soon as you get home. Store raw poultry and meat away from ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination.

Before handling ingredients, wash your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Sanitize countertops, utensils, and cutting boards that come into contact with raw items.

Do not rinse your turkey, as doing so can spread bacteria across your sink and kitchen surfaces.

Thawing the Turkey

Thawing safely is essential. The refrigerator method is best: allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey, placing it in a tray to catch any drips. If you’re pressed for time, submerge the turkey in cold water, replacing the water every 30 minutes.

Figure about 30 minutes of thawing per pound. Never thaw your turkey on the counter where bacteria multiply quickly between 40° and 140°F.

Cooking and Serving

When cooking, rely on a food thermometer. The turkey must reach 165°F in its thickest portions. Stuffing cooked inside the bird should also reach 165°F. Keep hot dishes at or above 140°F and cold foods below 40°F and avoid leaving food out for over two hours.

Leftovers

Store leftovers promptly in shallow containers and enjoy them within four days. Reheat all foods to 165°F and refrigerate cream-based desserts promptly to prevent spoilage.

Photo Credit: pixabay-kiberstalker

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm