•November 23, 2016•

First things first, TAKE THE TURKEY OUT! It may already be time to take the turkey out of the freezer so that it will be thawed in time for Thanksgiving. Allow approximately 24 hours for each four to five pounds of turkey when thawed in the refrigerator. A 20 to 24 pound turkey could take five to six days to thaw. Never thaw a turkey at room temperature.

“Every year, one in six Americans gets sick by consuming contaminated foods or beverages, or what is commonly referred to as food poisoning,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “By adhering to what we call ‘the big four – clean, separate, cook, and chill,’ you can avoid becoming ill and ruining your holidays.”

1. Clean - wash hands, cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and countertops before and after preparing each food item.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.