Preparing And Cooking The Thanksgiving Feast Safely

Sonora, CA – Many people have already begun preparing and cooking for the Thanksgiving feast, and local health and fire officials want to ensure you have the recipe for success when the family gathers around the table.

This holiday, Calaveras County Public Health targets foodborne illnesses and offers these four simple steps at home to protect families from food poisoning:

• Clean: Wash your hands and the surfaces where you prepare food with soap and water.
• Separate: Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs away from ready-to-eat food that won’t be cooked.
• Cook: Heat food to the right temperature to kill any germs that can make you sick.
• Chill: Refrigerate food right away to prevent germs from growing in your food.

To learn more about food poisoning and prevention, click here.

CAL Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit takes aim at those cooks who may be deep-frying a turkey this year. They note that every year, hot oil accidents spark fires that ruin holidays in seconds.

“A partially frozen bird or a small spill can turn into a major emergency fast. If you’re set on frying, take it outside, far from anything flammable, and stay with it the entire time,” advised CAL Fire TCU.

Following these simple cooking safety tips provided by CAL Fire can help ensure a fire-safe Thanksgiving:

• Always stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period, turn off the stove and oven.
• Regularly check on food that is simmering, baking, or roasting, and use a timer to remind yourself that you’re cooking.
• Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove.
• Keep children 3 feet away from the hot stove and away from hot food and hot liquids.
• Never use water to put out a grease fire. Instead, turn the burner off and slide a lid over the flame. Baking soda can also be used to help extinguish a small grease fire.
• Make sure a fire extinguisher is always close by.
• Ensure you have working smoke alarms installed in your home. Press the test button and if the alarm does not beep, replace the unit immediately.
• When using a turkey fryer, be sure to follow instructions closely. Don’t exceed the recommended oil level and only use the device outdoors. Never place a frozen or partially thawed turkey in hot oil.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Have a clean and organized kitchen. Be sure electric cords are not dangling off the counter and within easy reach of a child.
• Know what to do in the event of a cooking fire—know your exit routes in case of a fire emergency, get everyone outside, and then call 911 to report the fire.