Follow these Thanksgiving Day safety tips to have a great holiday.
As Thanksgiving Day is around the corner, we figure that many of you are busy making preparations. The highlight of each Thanksgiving Day is, without a doubt, the roasted turkey. However, this is not the only item on the menu, and many of you are probably planning quite a feast.
Naturally, this usually means a high amount of time spent in the kitchen, perusing the cookbook, chopping, and frying. We know that it’s one of the busiest days of the year, but we want to remind you about how to play it safe when cooking.
First of all, don’t forget about hygiene. After you’re finished preparing the turkey or another type of meat-based dishes, always remember to wash your hands and all kitchen utensils which came into contact with the meat. Salmonella is no laughing matter, so you must very careful when handling poultry.
The second thing you should keep in mind is cooking over an open flame. Before starting the over, please remove any loose clothing from its vicinity. After placing the pots and pans on the stove, please turn the handles towards the wall. That way you make sure that your kids cannot reach them if they decide to visit the kitchen.
Another great Thanksgiving Day cooking safety tip you should keep in mind is related to using the turkey fryer. Everybody likes a deep-fried turkey, but do keep in mind that most turkey fryers are temperamental and potentially hazardous.
As a result, please refrain from using these cooking devices inside the house or in the garage. Instead, take the turkey fryer outside in order to finish cooking your meals. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby in case something goes wrong.
On the subject of fire extinguishers, it would be a good idea to check your kitchen’s fire detector and to keep a fire extinguisher nearby. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, during this time of the year, approximately 1,300 are reported.
Getting back to the turkey, please be sure to follow your turkey recipe to the letter. The main issue when cooking this type of poultry is that you can’t tell for certain if the interior is cooked. For this purpose, we recommend you buy a meat thermometer. It cost only $10, and it will tell you if the meat is thoroughly cooked or not.
Have a safe Thanksgiving Day with your family and friends.
Image source: Flickr