Tips for a Safe and Stress-free (Almost) Thanksgiving
- Engage the whole family in feast and event planning. Designate assignments to divvy up the planning, cooking, and organizing chores, and only take on what you are humanly capable of doing in a short amount of time. Remember - it's supposed to be a holiday! Don't over-burden yourself. Ask guests to bring one or two food items to the table, and concentrate on the bird and dessert. You'll be able to sit down with the rest of the family for once.
- Clean your house a little at a time over the week prior to the big day if you're expecting guests. That way, you won't be running frantically between the vacuum cleaner and the oven in the pre-feast hours. Assign rooms to other members of the family, and make them responsible for their part of the tidy-up.
- Make sure to send out invites well in advance so you have an accurate head count. When you do your shopping, don't overspend. Buy only what you need to feed everyone two portions of each dish. If cooking a big meal stresses you out, consider purchasing pre-cooked side dishes, and just focus your energies on the turkey or ham.
- Buy the right size turkey to feed your guests. Too large a bird can take many hours to defrost and cook, increasing the odds of an undercooked turkey mishap, which is not only potentially dangerous but can delay your Thanksgiving feast by hours.
- Carefully read all instructions on your turkey after you purchase it and before the big day. Many larger birds can take days to defrost in the refrigerator (never defrost a bird at room temperature!) and may take many hours to cook after they've been defrosted. Knowing all of this beforehand will help ensure a smooth transition from the freezer, to the fridge, oven, and table.
- If you're expecting young children at your holiday gathering, consider hiring a sitter, or assign an older child babysitting duties for the day. Always keep kids at least 3 feet away from the stove when you're cooking, and be sure to put sharp knives and hot food safety out of reach to avoid accidents.
- Keep pets away from the table and kitchen counters on Thanksgiving. If you're expecting a large crowd, consider leaving the pets with a pet sitter for the day, keeping them in a fenced yard, or using baby gates to confine them to a part of the house where they won't be underfoot. Never leave a child unattended in a room with a pet. Even familiar children can be at risk of a bite when your pet is stressed, and holiday gatherings can be as stressful for your pet as they are for you.
- Cook your turkey to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid the risk of food-borne illness. If you're using stuffing, make it outside the bird, then stuff the cooked bird, or serve it alongside the turkey in a separate dish.
- Go easy on the alcohol, especially if anyone in your family has a drinking problem or doesn't handle alcohol well. Having too much to drink can loosen inhibitions and may inspire bouts of bad judgment that can lead to family squabbles. Don't over-serve the booze, and keep all alcoholic beverages safely out of reach of children.
- Ask about nut allergies before inviting your guests to the feast. If anyone does have an allergy, consider changing your recipes to avoid the risk of causing an allergic reaction in your guest. If you must use nuts, be sure to keep the nutty foods at a safe distance from your allergic guest, perhaps at a separate table, and label or identify the dish clearly before serving.
Resources & Further Reading
Thanksgiving Safety Tips
Thanksgiving Food Safety
