Thanksgiving Cooking Safety Tips

November 14, 2022 — Health & Safety Tips, Resources

Thanksgiving marks the official start of the Holiday Season, and it is just around the corner!

Everyone is looking forward to Thanksgiving since it is a wonderful time to gather with family and friends, travel to visit loved ones and enjoy delicious food. However, the holidays also bring with them some unwanted injuries and accidents, so it’s always important to keep safety top of mind.

At Physicians Premier, we are thankful for our staff and the communities we serve, so we are always finding ways to keep you and your loved ones healthy and safe in whatever you do, whether you are tackling your friends and family at the annual football game, cooking a feast, or carving a turkey.

If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year, consider these important Thanksgiving cooking safety tips.

Turkey safety

Handle the star of the evening with extreme care!

If your turkey is frozen, it’s best if you thaw it in the fridge as per USDA recommendation. If you are running short on time, you can use the microwave or cold water.
If you are purchasing a fresh turkey, be sure to keep it in the refrigerator and wait until the last possible moment before cooking it.
To prevent the spread of illnesses and infections, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water before handling food.
To avoid contamination, be sure to keep the uncooked turkey separate from other foods.
Avoid foodborne illnesses by fully cooking your turkey. A temperature of 165°F is ideal.

Cooking safety

This season is well known to be the cause of home cooking fires. But the good news is, this can be avoided by observing some simple Thanksgiving cooking safety tips.

When cooking, avoid wearing dangling sleeves and loose-fitting clothing to prevent your clothes from catching fire.
Keep kids and pets away from sharp kitchen utensils, including knives.
Do not leave your stove unattended.
Ensure that your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are in good working condition.
Maintain a clean kitchen, as grease build-up can easily trigger a fire.
Keep items such as pot holders, kitchen towels, wooden utensils, and oven mitts away from heat sources.
Check the stovetop and the oven before going to bed to make sure that everything is turned off.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Physicians Premier! It’s true that burns and cuts can happen to the best of chefs, and that most injuries can be taken care of at home. However, if you or your loved one gets seriously hurt, know that your Cibolo, TX emergency room and all Physicians Premier facilities are open 24/7 through the Thanksgiving holiday.

Sources:

”Preparing Your Holiday Turkey Safely,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/holiday-turkey.html
“Keep your Thanksgiving Full of Turkey and Free from Foodborne Illness,” U.S. Department of Agriculture, https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/11/17/keep-your-thanksgiving-full-turkey-and-free-foodborne-illness
“Red Cross offers 10 Thanksgiving cooking safety tips,” American Red Cross, https://www.redcross.org/local/south-carolina/about-us/news-and-events/press-releases/red-cross-offers-10-thanksgiving-cooking-safety-tips.html