While a fork is good to use to check the big bird for tenderness, a food thermometer is what you need to ensure it’s fully cooked.
Since food is a common feature for most holiday celebrations, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services wants to make sure the food is prepared and cooked properly.

Even though Kentucky has some of the best and safest suppliers and processors of food found anywhere in the world, each year some Kentucky families may experience illness from their Thanksgiving meal. Many Thanksgivings include the traditional foods, and most are safe, but the Cabinet for Health and Family Services wants to remind Thanksgiving cooks to follow some general food safety precautions.

“Many food-borne illnesses in Kentucky may be attributed to improperly handled foods in our homes,” said Guy F. Delius, assistant director, Division of Public Health Protection and Safety. “There are some simple and easy food safety practices we can do in our own homes to minimize the occurrence of food poisoning.”

“While it’s important to handle foods in the home safely all the time, it’s especially important to take extra care during the holidays, because families are preparing more food than usual and more family members may be helping in the kitchen,” Delius said.

Anita Travis, Food Safety Branch Manager said, “Food is often made in other family members’ homes and transported to the meal site, and people often eat the leftovers for days; so it's very important to make sure these foods are handled properly.”

Tips for handling food safely

• When dealing with poultry, make sure it is not undercooked and do not let raw poultry or meat juices touch any other foods.
• Cooks should wash their hands frequently when handling food, and sanitize utensils such as knives, and items like cutting boards so that food is not cross contaminated.
• Wash food including fruits and vegetables before preparing it.
• Food should be promptly refrigerated.

Health Officials also underscore the importance of washing hands often and thoroughly.  Unclean hands are often the source of food contamination.  Always wash your hands prior to preparing foods.  Make sure to wash your hands after handling raw meats and produce.  Use soap, warm water and dry your hands with clean paper towels.  In addition, there are other guidelines below to keep food safe.

Guidelines for Thawing a Turkey

Thaw turkey in one of three ways: in a refrigerator with the temperature at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or less, allowing 3-4 days for thawing; under cool running water at a temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit or less; or in the microwave oven followed by immediate cooking.   
  
Guidelines for Preparing Turkey and Stuffing

If cooking in a conventional oven, cook at 325 degrees Fahrenheit with no interruptions in the cooking process until the internal temperature of the meat reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.  If cooking in a microwave oven, cook until the internal temperature reaches 190 degrees Fahrenheit.  A meat temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit should be maintained until the turkey is served or the meat should be immediately sliced and refrigerated on shallow platters so that rapid cooling will occur.
    
It is not possible to cool a whole cooked turkey in an ordinary freezer or refrigerator within a few hours. Any undercooked juices, stuffing or meat in the thickest part of the turkey may result in bacterial growth over extended cool down time, such as overnight or for longer than four hours.
    
Platters should not be stacked on each other since proper air circulation is necessary to facilitate cooling. A turkey should be thoroughly cooked and rapidly cooled. A metal stemmed, dial-type thermometer placed in the thickest part of the thigh or breast should be used to measure the turkey’s internal temperature. It is best to cook the turkey and stuffing separately. If they are prepared together, the turkey should not be stuffed until immediately before cooking.

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