SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — It’s almost Thanksgiving, and that means it’s time to avoid making a big mistake with your holiday dinner: Forgetting to take the turkey out of the freezer early enough. Here’s how much time you need to let your turkey thaw.
Not only does your turkey need to thaw, but it also needs to thaw safely so that the whole family can enjoy the holiday without any pesky food-borne illnesses. According to the USDA, there are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave.
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At the grocery store, you will buy a frozen turkey, and you should keep it in the freezer until it’s time to thaw for Thanksgiving. The USDA says that if you leave a package of meat or poultry out thawing on the counter for more than 2 hours, it is no longer safe.
You want to avoid the outer layer of the food reaching temperatures between 40- and 140-degrees Fahrenheit. That is what the USDA calls the “danger zone,” when foodborne bacteria multiply quickly…