The Peru Gazette

By Donald McBrayer

Many of us throughout Peru are preparing a huge turkey dinner for our friends and loved ones. Thanksgiving is a time for celebration, not a day to spend in the hospital with food poisoning. So, I want to remind everyone of a few safety tips when preparing Big Bird.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 76 million illnesses were caused last year by mishandled food. These food borne illnesses resulted in 300,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths. So please take note of the following tips.

• It’s important to defrost your frozen turkeys in the refrigerator, not at room temperature, since bacteria grows fast at room temperature. The rule of thumb is this: Thaw 24 hours for each five pounds of weight. A ten-pounder takes two days, a 20-pounder takes four days, etc. Hopefully you’ve already defrosted yours, or it’s gonna be hot-dogs from Stewarts for you this year.

• Whether you cook your turkey in the oven, a deep fryer, or a spick over a camp fire, cook your turkey until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, measured with a meat thermometer inserted deep into the breast meat (don’t trust those little plastic pop-outtie things — they lie).

• Cook and serve the stuffing in a separate pan. Stuffing placed in the cavity of the bird may not cook to a high enough temperature to kill bacteria absorbed from the turkey juices — yick.

• Insist that everyone washes his or her hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water before preparing or nipping at any food. This is critical after handling any uncooked meat and should be done again before sitting down to eat.

• Do not use utensils, platters, or cutting boards used for your turkey preparation for ANYTHING else until they have been thoroughly cleaned with hot soapy water.

• Sanitize your counter tops often with a diluted bleach water spray (using 1 teaspoon of bleach added to 1 quart of water and applied with a spray bottle).

• Do not leave any food out at room temperature for more than two hours after serving.

• After your dinner remove any leftover turkey from the bones and store separate from any other food. We plan to freeze our leftovers. Any unfrozen leftovers should be consumed, tossed, or fed to the pooch within four days.

• If you do treat the pooch to a turkey-snack, remember to never give turkey bones to him/her – they can splinter causing a very dangerous choking hazard.

• And of course don’t overeat – yeah right!!!

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving 🙂