Keep Food Safe Blog 
Countdown to Thanksgiving: Buying the Holiday Turkey
What would Thanksgiving be without the turkey? Most of us plan our entire holiday dinner around the turkey. That’s a lot of pressure on one bird!
Here’s what you need to know when you go to the store to buy your holiday turkey.
Choosing Your Turkey
- Fresh or frozen? Buy a frozen turkey if you want to buy it well in advance of your meal, keep it frozen until you’re ready to thaw it. Turkeys can be kept frozen in the freezer indefinitely; however, cook within 1 year for best quality. Remember to allow time for thawing (see the Turkey Thawing Chart for details). Once thawed it is safe for two more days. Buy a fresh turkey no more than two days before cooking.
- Size? When selecting your turkey, allow 1 pound of turkey per person for fresh or frozen, 1¼ pound per person for frozen pre-stuffed.
- Hen or tom? Don’t worry about it! The designation of "hen" (female) or "tom" (male) turkey is optional on the label and is an indication of size. Toms are larger but both toms and hens should be equally tender. Turkeys of either sex that are less than 8 months of age are considered "young" turkeys.
- Do not buy fresh pre-stuffed turkeys. If not handled properly, any harmful bacteria that may be in the stuffing can multiply very quickly.
At the Store
- Select cold food last. Pick up the turkey and other perishable food items at the end of your shopping trip to ensure that they stay refrigerated until right before checkout.
- Read the label. Don’t buy food that is past the “Sell-by,” “Use-By,” or other expiration dates
- Check the packaging. Never choose a turkey with packaging that is torn or leaking. Make sure frozen food is frozen solid and refrigerated food feels cold.
- Separate foods in your grocery cart. Keep raw meat, like a turkey, away from other food to prevent the possibility of cross-contamination. Keep them separated during checkout and in your grocery bags, too.
At Home
Whey you arrive home after shopping for your holiday meal, you will probably have lots of bags to unload. Be sure to unload all of your groceries right away. This time of year, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline gets lot of questions about whether a turkey left in the trunk of the car overnight is safe (it’s not!). As always, as soon as you get the groceries inside, refrigerate or freeze all perishables – including the turkey.
For more information on turkeys, check out these resources on FoodSafety.gov:
If you have any questions about turkeys and Thanksgiving, feel free to contact us at the Hotline (1-888-674-6854 toll-free) or online at AskKaren.gov.
Countdown to Thanksgiving: Plan Ahead
Thanksgiving is closer than you think. If you’re thinking about having a traditional turkey dinner, now is the time to begin planning the big meal. Planning ahead can help ensure that the special meal is successful, safe, and stress-free.
Thanksgiving Planning Checklist
- Select the guests: Decide how many people will be eating, plan your menu, and gather your recipes.
- Clear the fridge: Start using foods that are taking up space in your refrigerator and freezer to make sure you have plenty of room for your turkey, ham, or roast and other dishes.
- Start shopping now: Check your pantry to see what you already have and make a shopping list of needed ingredients. Shopping early for pantry items will reduce stress later.
- Get the thermometers ready: Buy a food thermometer if you don't already have one. A cooked whole turkey is safe at a minimum internal temperature of 165 F throughout the bird and stuffing. If you're thawing the turkey in the refrigerator, we also recommend using a refrigerator thermometer to make sure the temperature is no higher than 40 F.
Answers to Your Turkey Questions
Here are some of the top turkey questions that we answer at the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline:
Q. I have a turkey in the freezer from last year. Can I still use it?
A. Yes, go ahead and use it! Because food poisoning bacteria cannot grow in the freezer, so your frozen turkey will be safe to eat. A turkey will keep its top quality a full year in the freezer.
Q. What size bird should I buy?
A. Estimate one pound of turkey for each person. That’s enough for ample portions and leftovers. If you’re having a large party, don’t worry: larger turkeys (over 16 pounds) have more meat per pound. A larger turkey will feed two people per pound.
Q. How far in advance can I buy a fresh turkey?
A. If you want to buy a fresh turkey, wait until the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Some grocery stores will let you ‘reserve’ a fresh turkey.
Q. How long does it take to thaw a frozen turkey?
The safest way to thaw a turkey is to put it in the refrigerator at a safe temperature (40 F) during thawing. Allow one day for each 5 lbs of weight to thaw the turkey, plus an extra day or two. A twenty pound turkey will take about 4 days to thaw. After it has thawed, it is safe for another two days.
For more information on turkeys, check out these resources on FoodSafety.gov:
If you have any questions about turkeys and Thanksgiving, feel free to contact us at the Hotline (1-888-674-6854 toll-free) or online at AskKaren.gov.
How Dad Got Sick: A New Booklet and Video for Kids
As a parent, I try to do everything possible to keep my children safe from foodborne bacteria. Kids are surrounded by food all the time, and it's important that they learn food safety basics. However, busy schedules filled with sport practices, music lessons, and other after-school activities limit the time available for kids to learn about fighting bacteria. Parents can use all the help we can get!
That’s why I'm excited about a new (and fun!) booklet and video from the USDA that teach kids about basic steps to food safety – and what happens when you don’t follow those steps.
The booklet and video, Let Me Tell You How Dad Got Sick, feature a boy sharing the story of how his dad experienced foodborne illness. By reading the booklet or watching the video (or doing both), children learn how perishable food becomes unsafe when it’s left out too long. They also learn why it's so important to wash their hands properly with warm water and soap before handling food.
As a bilingual specialist at USDA, I’m also excited that the booklet is available in both Spanish and English, and that the video is available in Spanish with English captioning.
The booklet and video make it easy or children to learn the four simple steps to "Be Food Safe":
- Clean. Wash hands, utensils, and cutting boards before and after contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs.
- Separate. Keep raw meat and poultry apart from foods that won't be cooked.
- Cook. Use a food thermometer to make sure your food reaches a safe internal temperature.
- Chill. Refrigerate leftovers and takeout foods within two hours.
Both the booklet and the video are great teaching tools for kids. Teaching children to "Be Food Safe" creates good habits in the kitchen that they will follow as they grow up.
- Booklet in English: Let Me Tell You How Dad Got Sick!
- Booklet in Spanish: ¡Déjame Contarte Cómo Papá Se Enfermó!
- Video: ¡Déjame Contarte Cómo Papá Se Enfermó! (in Spanish with English captions)
For more food safety information for kids, check out these resources:
- Food Safety Education for Kids and Teens (USDA)
- Curriculum for Kids and Kid’s Pages (FightBAC!)
