Tips on How to Prepare a Safe, Enjoyable Thanksgiving Meal

As we prepare to celebrate and give thanks with friends and family this Thanksgiving, remember a few simple steps when preparing your meal to prevent food poisoning and enjoy a safe and happy feast:

• Carefully wash your hands often, and always before cooking or cleaning. Always wash them again after touching raw meat.
• Clean dishes and utensils that have had any contact with raw meat, poultry, fish, or eggs.
• Use a thermometer when cooking. Cook beef to at least 160°F, poultry to at least 180°F, and fish to at least 140°F.
• DO NOT place cooked meat or fish back onto the same plate or container that held the raw meat, unless the container has been completely washed.
• Promptly refrigerate any food you will not be eating. Keep the refrigerator set to around 40°F and your freezer at or below 0°F. DO NOT eat meat, poultry, or fish that has been refrigerated uncooked for longer than 1 to 2 days.
• Cook frozen foods for the full time recommended on the package.
• DO NOT use outdated foods, packaged food with a broken seal, or cans that are bulging or have a dent.
• DO NOT use foods that have an unusual odor or a spoiled taste.

If other people may have eaten the food that made you sick, let them know. If you think the food was contaminated when you bought it from a store or restaurant, tell the store and your local health department.

Read more about food poisoning and prevention on our online Health Library.