Thanksgiving Disaster?
We’ve all been in the kitchen on Thanksgiving morning (or just witnessed it from the couch in front of the football game): the frantic cooking frenzy that turns frozen turkeys into roasted wonders, hard potatoes into creamy goodness and cold squash into warm, fresh pies. And though we love every minute of it, Thanksgiving could easily turn disastrous by unheeding some basic safety precautions.
Food safety aside, there are plenty of ways to make a mess of this yearly feast, and Safety At Home has offered some great guidelines for the cooks:
- Keep the cooking range and oven area free of clutter.
- Do not cook while holding a child in one arm.
- Never put a glass casserole or lid over a stove burner (it can explode).
- Never put water on a grease fire.
- Make sure all cooking appliances contain a UL (safety standard) mark.
- Don’t use a turkey fryer (they’re dangerous and unhealthy).
- Keep work surfaces clean (especially when poultry is involved).
- Don’t stuff the turkey. This can prevent even cooking.
- Thaw the turkey per its instructions.
- Call for help: USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is there to help: 1.888.MPHOLTLINE.
Let’s keep the Thanksgiving tradition alive, and fill it with things to be thankful for, not mishaps to regret. Have a great one!