THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS SOME REMINDERS FOR SAFELY COOKING YOUR THANKSGIVING TURKEY.

YOU DON’T WANT THE HOLIDAYS MARRED BY FOODBORNE ILLNESS…SO IT’S BEST TO START WITH SAFELY THAWING OUT YOUR TURKEY SAYS PUBLIC HEALTH SPOKESPERSON MELANEY ARNOLD.

ARNOLD SAYS THE TURKEY SHOULD BE COOKED TO AN INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF 165 DEGREES…AND RECOMMENDS BAKING STUFFING IN A PAN…NOT INSIDE THE BIRD. LEFTOVERS SHOULD BE REFRIGERATED WITHIN TWO HOURS AND EATEN WITH THREE TO FOUR DAYS.

IF YOU DO STUFF YOUR TURKEY…THE STUFFING SHOULD ALSO REACH 165 DEGREES TO HELP PREVENT FOODBORNE ILLNESSES.