FOR RELEASE THE WEEK OF NOV. 16, 1998
What’s the best way to defrost our Thanksgiving turkey?
There are three safe ways, says University of Idaho extension food safety coordinator Sandy McCurdy:
Thaw it in the refrigerator, allowing 24 hours for each five pounds in a 40 degree Fahrenheit refrigerator–a little longer if your refrigerator has glass shelves or if the turkey is placed in the coldest part.
Or, thaw it in a leakproof package or plastic bag in cold tap water, which should take about 30 minutes per pound. Check the water frequently to make sure it stays cold, and change it every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Examine the bag for leaks: the turkey could become watery and bacteria from the sink could contaminate it. Once thawed, cook the turkey immediately.
Finally, check the manufacturer’s instructions on defrosting a turkey in your microwave oven. Like cold-water thawed turkeys, microwave-thawed poultry should be cooked without delay.
How can I make sure the Thanksgiving turkey is done?
Buy a meat thermometer and use it, advises Sandy McCurdy, University of Idaho extension food safety coordinator. Make sure temperatures reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit inside the thigh of a whole turkey, 170 degrees inside a turkey breast and 165 degrees in the center of the stuffing. Then let the bird stand for 20 minutes before you carve it or remove the stuffing.
Guesstimating cooking time from a turkey’s size isn’t safe, says McCurdy: a stuffed or partially frozen bird requires longer cooking, dark roasting pans cook faster than shiny metals, foil tents can slow cooking, oven cooking bags and roasting pan lids can speed cooking, the oven may heat food unevenly and the oven thermostat may not be working right. The depth and size of the pan can also interfere with heat circulation–as can a turkey or pan too large for the oven.
If you don’t have a meat thermometer, cook the stuffing in a casserole–not inside the turkey, McCurdy says. Pierce the unstuffed turkey with a fork in several places; juices should be clear with no trace of pink.
We keep reading about electric space heaters causing fires. How can we use ours safely?
First, says University of Idaho extension safety specialist Tom Karsky, make sure you set your space heater at least three feet from any combustible materials like curtains, bedspreads and furniture. Second, never toss clothes or other combustibles onto it. Third, plug it directly into the wall, never into an extension cord. Fourth, clean lint buildup from around the fan or empty the lint catchers regularly. Fifth, never use a space heater whose switch is shorting out or sparking. And finally, if your space heater doesn’t have a tip-over switch that automatically shuts off the appliance if pets or kids knock it over, consider getting a newer model that does.
When I see a centipede inside, should I kill it or leave it alone?
A good-sized centipede can inflict a painful bite, but it’s not likely to pose a health risk unless you’re allergic, says University of Idaho extension entomologist Bob Stoltz. If one sashays under your refrigerator or washer, console yourself with the knowledge that centipedes thrive on humidity and won’t survive long in dry indoor heat. To keep centipedes from slipping inside to begin with, seal your door jams and basement windows. And, to avoid their bites outside, be careful when handling boards or anything else that’s been lying on the ground.