Tips for a safe Thanksgiving holiday

Thanksgiving is a time of year when we share the kitchen with family and friends – and enjoying yourself is an absolute must.

However, those not taking routine precautions during this busy holiday period are likely the ones who succumb to holiday-related injuries – so make sure you do not become one of these statistics.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), 2,000 fires occur on Thanksgiving every year. This results in an average of five deaths, 25 injuries, and $21 million in property loss each year. These fires occur most frequently in the afternoon hours from noon to 4 p.m. and unfortunately, smoke alarms were not present in 20 percent of Thanksgiving Day fires that occurred in occupied residential buildings.

USFA’s ‘Put a Freeze on Winter Fires’ provides tons of safety tips for you and your family this Thanksgiving. Some of their safe cooking tips are:

1) Make sure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area, and in every bedroom. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace them if they are 10 years old or older.

2) Keep a close watch on your cooking. You should never leave cooking food unattended.

3) Keep oven food packaging and other combustibles away from burners and heat sources.

4) Heat cooking oil slowly and watch it closely; it can ignite quickly.

5) Don’t wear loose sleeves while working over hot stove burners - they can melt, ignite or catch on handles of pots and pans spilling hot oil and other liquids.

6) Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three-feet around the stove and areas where hot foods or drinks are prepared or carried.

7) Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.

Of course, Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the turkey. And deep-fried turkey has become a favorite Thanksgiving tradition in many households. But if used improperly, an overloaded fryer can easily tip over and set an entire house ablaze. USFA offers the following helpful tips to backyard chefs who plan to deep-fry a turkey for Thanksgiving:

1) Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials.

2) Never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.

3) Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.

4) Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.

5) Never let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.

6) To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.

7) Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.

8) Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix, and water causes oil to spill over causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.

9) The National Turkey Federation (NTF) recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight.

10) Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department for help.

Another major cause for concern while cooking is bacteria. If frozen turkeys are thawed improperly or if fresh turkeys come pre-stuffed, bacteria can spread very quickly. Follow these four tips to help you safely prepare your next holiday turkey meal:

1) Thaw your turkey safely in the refrigerator in a container, in a leak-proof plastic bag in a sink of cold water (change the water every 30 minutes), or in the microwave, following the microwave oven manufacturer’s instructions.

2) Handle your turkey the correct way. Raw poultry can contaminate anything it touches with harmful bacteria. Follow the four steps to food safety—clean, separate, cook, and chill—to prevent the spread of bacteria to your food, family, and friends.

3) Cook stuffing thoroughly. Cooking stuffing separately from the turkey in a casserole dish makes it easy to be certain it is thoroughly cooked. If you cook stuffing in the turkey, put the stuffing in the turkey just before cooking. With either cooking method, use a food thermometer to make sure the stuffing’s center reaches 165°F. Bacteria can survive in stuffing that has not reached 165°F and may then cause food poisoning. If you cook stuffing in the turkey, wait 20 minutes after taking the bird out of the oven before removing the stuffing; this allows it to cook a little more.

4) Cook your turkey thoroughly. Set the oven temperature to at least 325°F. Place the completely thawed turkey in a roasting pan that is 2 to 2-1/2 inches deep. Cooking times will vary depending on the weight of the turkey. Use a food thermometer to make sure the turkey has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F. Check by inserting a food thermometer into the center of the stuffing and the thickest portions of the breast, thigh, and wing joint. Even if your turkey has a pop-up temperature indicator, you should still use a food thermometer to check that it is safely cooked. Let the turkey stand 20 minutes before removing all stuffing from the cavity and carving the meat.

5) Take care of the leftovers. The bacteria Clostridium Perfringens grows in cooked foods left at room temperature. It is the second most common bacterial cause of food poisoning. The major symptoms are vomiting and abdominal cramps within 6 to 24 hours after eating. Refrigerate leftovers at 40°F or colder as soon as possible and within two hours of preparation to prevent food poisoning. Slice or divide big cuts of meat, such as a roast turkey, into small quantities for refrigeration so they will cool quickly. Reheat all leftovers to at least 165°F before serving.

Thanksgiving is a time of food, fun, and fellowship with loved ones.

So as you sit down with family and friends this Thanksgiving, keep safety in mind to protect your loved ones during the holidays.