'Tis the Season to be extra careful about Food Safety

One of the keys to making your turkey safe for Thanksgiving is to properly thaw a frozen turkey. The rule of thumb is that it takes 24 hours of defrosting time in the refrigerator for every 5 pounds of turkey. That means that it will take a 20 pound bird 4 days to completely thaw. So if you plan to cook it and eat it on Thursday, the turkey should go into the refrigerator for defrosting on Sunday.

Consumers with food safety question often don't know where to turn for reliable answers. Now, thanks to a new partnership between The Kroger Company and the Center for Innovative Food Technology(CIFT), consumers are being encouraged to contact Ohio State University Extension's Food Safety Hotline at 1-800-752-2751 (toll-free in Ohio), available between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Also available is the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline. Much information can be found at their website http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/usda_meat_&_poultry_hotline/index.asp or call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at: 1-800-MPHotline (1-800-674-6854) or send email to: hphotline.fsis@usda.gov

Also a long standing reliable source of information about cooking turkey, as well as food safety is the Butterball Turkey Talk Line®. Again a lot of information can be found in their 'frequently asked questions' at http://www.butterball.com/tips-how-tos/turkey-experts/overview . Or give them a call at 1-800-BUTTERBALL throughout November and December.

Here's wishing you and your family a food safe Thanksgiving!