City shares safety tips for happy and safe holiday

By Nicole Scott

The City of St. Joseph is preparing residents for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday by sharing some safety tips to keep in mind. 

The city shared several tips through social media for residents:

• Safely thaw the turkey in the refrigerator, the microwave or in a sink full of cold water and change the water every half hour
• Do not thaw a turkey by leaving it in room temperature, this can allow germs to form quickly
• Keep meat, seafood and eggs away from ready-to-eat foods and keep juices from cross-contaminating other foods
• Frequently wash hands with soap and water prior to touching food products
• If you’re planning to use a deep fryer, use it outdoors – away from all structures and flammable materials. Make sure the turkey is fully thawed prior to placing it in the deep fryer
• Always keep your eyes on what is cooking, stay in that area
• Keep small children and pets from cooking areas to prevent all accidents and injuries
• Refrigerate all leftovers directly after the meal or within two hours to stop bacteria from growing on the food

For more tips visit the United States Department of Agriculture website at www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/11/19/dont-forget-your-thanksgiving-food-safety-steps.