With festive family feasts being planned for Thanksgiving, it's important to be mindful of how to prepare and store food to avoid any unpleasant encounters with food poisoning.
While any food has the potential to carry bacteria, certain foods are more likely to be the culprits behind food poisoning. The proper preparation and storage of food can greatly reduce the chances of illness.
When preparing a turkey, it is important to follow the instructions for thawing and then to bake the turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 165. A common practice is to leave uneaten food out for guests to munch on throughout the day but this is ill-advised. Any leftovers need to be immediately stored in the refrigerator. Gravy, especially, needs to be immediately refrigerated as gravy is a favorite spot for bacteria to grow. Any dishes with eggs or oysters also need to be properly prepared and refrigerated.
A common misconception is that food poisoning symptoms appear within hours of eating the contaminated food but symptoms can appear up to 72 hours later. So it's important to take note of any foods consumed to be able to communicate that to your healthcare provider if you end up requiring medical care.
With a little forethought and preparation, you can avoid foodborne illness crashing your Thanksgiving feast this year.
