Preheat leftovers to 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the microwave, then keep them hot in a slow cooker. Learn more at https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/Can-you-reheat-leftovers-in-a-slow-cooker#:~:text=Reheating%20leftovers%20in%20a%20slow,stays%20at%20140%20%C2%B0F. #NCRFoodSafety

This week, many Americans will gather together with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving. When the fun is done, you may be left with more turkey than you anticipated. If you are looking for healthy ways to serve leftover turkey, nutritionists offer some ideas that align with the Dietary Guidelines. MyPlate Kitchen recipes have been developed […]

Divide hot foods into shallow containers for faster cooling. Learn more at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/leftovers-and-food-safety #NCRFoodSafety

Have you heard the saying that a meal can be better when it’s reheated and served the next day?  As long as we follow a few food safety steps, those ‘planned overs’ will be both healthy and delicious. Cook Food Safely.  The first step in having safe ‘planned overs’ is cooking the food safely.  If […]

No one wants to have to have holiday time overshadowed by a foodborne illness, especially after the Thanksgiving day feast.  There are some easy steps to keeping the ‘happy’ in holidays: Keep food out of the Danger Zone: Bacteria grow rapidly between the temperatures of 40°F and 140°F.  That is what is referred to as […]

Stuffing is a big favorite around the Thanksgiving holiday.  Although it is delicious, covered with gravy, and mixed with slices of moist turkey, this side dish can also be dangerous.  Because moist, warm stuffing is an excellent medium for bacterial growth, it’s important to handle it safely and cook it to a safe minimum internal […]

Thanksgiving Day is full of togetherness, giving thanks, lots of food, and some turkey deep frying horror stories.  From homes burning down to turkeys skyrocketing into the air, safely preparing and frying a turkey doesn’t have to be dangerous.  To avoid becoming one of these Thanksgiving Day horror stories, and to make sure you fry […]

Households will soon be preparing for Thanksgiving Day.  While most people will sit down to a roasted turkey, there are also options for deep-frying a turkey and, for those running behind, you can place a still-frozen turkey in the oven and still end up with a meal that you will enjoy.  Following are tips on […]

Are you interested in brining a turkey, but aren’t quite sure how to do it safely?  USDA is at your service!  Though brining may sound like something only done commercially or by a certified chef, it’s quite simple with the right strategy —that means following safe food preparation steps. Brining simply means to soak your […]

Many families purchase a frozen Thanksgiving turkey, and getting the turkey to the table involves “The Big Thaw.”  Turkeys must be kept at a safe temperature during “the big thaw.”  While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely.  However, as soon as it begins to thaw, bacteria present before freezing can begin to grow again.  Turkey must […]