(Nexstar) – The calendar has just turned to November, but you may already be counting down the days to Thanksgiving. (This is probably the second latest date this year.) If you’re cooking a turkey this year, the day you buy and impress the bird may be especially important. how quickly do you start melting it,
Thankfully, you have some time first your turkey needs to be thawedBut is it too early to get your turkey?
Food safety experts say it will depend on how your bird is stored.
If you are buying a fresh, not frozen, turkey Minnesota Department of Health Says you should wait about a day or two before cooking it. During that time, the turkey should be kept in the refrigerator, ideally on a tray or pan to contain any juices.
When it comes to a frozen turkey, there’s rarely a wrong time to buy one (as long as you’re on the go). melting timeTurkey can last “indefinitely” in the freezer, according to the health department, but it’s best to cook it within a year.
This also means you can buy a turkey after Thanksgiving and keep it in the freezer until the next Thanksgiving, if you’re really thinking ahead.
When it comes time to molt, it is important to keep your bird at a safe temperature. US Food Safety and Inspection Service Emphasizes. There are three methods considered safe for thawing a turkey, but we’ll get to a less-ideal method: leaving it on your counter for a long period of time.
FSIS explains, “A package of frozen meat or poultry is not at a safe temperature after thawing for more than 2 hours on the counter.” Sure, some parts of the turkey may still be frozen, but the outer layer will likely have entered the “danger zone” – between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit – where foodborne bacteria can grow rapidly.
Instead, FSIS suggestion of Thaw your bird in the refrigerator, cold water, or microwave oven. How big your turkey is will affect How soon do you need to start thawing,
Forgot to melt? Your Thanksgiving Isn’t Totally Ruined: According to FSISFrozen turkeys can still be cooked, they just take at least 50% longer than a thawed bird. But just in case, here are Some restaurant chains said they will remain open for Thanksgiving.
