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How to safely cook your turkey this Thanksgiving, and how long you can eat Thanksgiving leftovers
If you’re looking forward to a delicious — and safe — Thanksgiving dinner with loved ones, it’s important to follow proper precautions when cooking.
“A Thanksgiving meal, particularly involving a turkey, requires careful attention to food safety to prevent contamination and foodborne illness,” food safety expert Darin Detwiler, a professor at Northeastern University, told CBS News. “A raw turkey can introduce harmful bacteria into your kitchen, including salmonella and campylobacter … These bacteria can spread through juices from the turkey onto countertops, utensils and other foods, leading to cross-contamination.”
Every year, foodborne illness causes 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths nationwide, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Luckily, there are “simple steps we can all take at home that will help reduce the risk of foodborne illness,” the USDA notes on its website.
Here’s what to know to perfect your bird for the big day.
What internal temperature should you cook turkey to?
No matter how you’re cooking your turkey — roasting, deep frying, smoking or something else — the minimum internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit for safety, according to the USDA.
Hitting this temperature helps ensure any bacteria like E. coli, listeria or salmonella is killed off before you feast.
Where in the turkey should you put your thermometer to measure internal temperature?
The innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast are the best places to check the internal temperature of a turkey with a food thermometer, according to the USDA.
You should measure the temperature even if your turkey has a “pop-up” temperature indicator, the agency recommends.
“Take care to ensure the thermometer does not touch any bones while measuring the temperature, as this will give an inaccurate reading,” its website notes.
How to tell your turkey is done if you don’t have a meat thermometer
“Using a food thermometer is the only reliable way to verify that the turkey has reached this safe temperature,” said Detwiler. “Visual cues, such as color or texture, are not sufficient to determine doneness because undercooked poultry can appear cooked in some cases.”
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services provides a Turkey Thawing Calculator and Turkey Cooking Calculator on its website help home chefs gauge how long their turkey needs to cook.
But, a lot of variables can affect the roasting time of a whole turkey, including whether or not it’s stuffed, if the oven temperature is accurate, what the roasting pan is made from and more, the service notes.
To ensure any harmful bacteria in your food has been killed before you eat it, use a food thermometer to verify its temperature.
“Ensuring the turkey reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit protects against foodborne illness and keeps your meal safe for all guests, particularly vulnerable populations like children, elderly individuals, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals,” Detwiler said.
How long are Thanksgiving leftovers safe to eat?
Leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours of serving to prevent food poisoning, according to the U.S. Food Safety website.
“Cooked turkey and dishes made with turkey, such as a casserole, can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or can be frozen to store longer,” the website notes, adding all leftovers should be reheated to at least 165 degrees before serving.
If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will remain “of best quality for up to two to six months,” according to the USDA.
“Avoid reheating leftovers more than once to reduce foodborne illness risk,” Detwiler said.
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The Trump transition team said Wednesday that several of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet and administration picks were targeted in overnight attacks that ranged from “swatting” incidents to bomb threats.
Trump transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that law enforcement and other authorities responded quickly to the reported threats to ensure the safety of the targeted people in Trump’s orbit. “Swatting” is the action of falsely calling emergency services in an effort to send armed police officers to a specific address or target in a threatening way.
“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Leavitt said in a statement. “These attacks ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting.’ In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire transition team are grateful for their swift action.”
Leavitt didn’t offer specifics about who was targeted or where, but Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, was among the targets, her office said, with a bomb threat to her New York home.
“This morning, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, her husband, and their three year old son were driving home to Saratoga County from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence,” Stefanik’s office said in a statement Wednesday morning. “New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism. We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7. We want to share our best wishes to the Upstate NY community for a happy and safe Thanksgiving. We are especially grateful to our law enforcement officers and military families who are on duty over the holiday season.”
The home of Howard Lutnick, Trump’s pick to be secretary of commerce who is a transition adviser, was also threatened, according to the New York Police Department. NYPD said a 911 call came in reporting a terrorist bomb threat at his home.
The FBI said in a statement that it’s aware of “numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees” and is working with law enforcement partners.
“We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement,” the agency said.
The White House, Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The incidents come months after Trump himself was the target of two attempted assassinations —one in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, that left him wounded and another on Sept. 15, when a man was arrested with a gun 500-700 yards away from Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. And on Tuesday, the Justice Department said an Arizona man was arrested on Nov. 21 for allegedly making threats against Trump and his family.
Since Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, he has announced most of his picks for top posts in his administration as he prepares to return to the White House. Some of the selections have been the subject of scrutiny, facing questions about their viability in the Senate’s confirmation process. One pick, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew himself from consideration last week.
Robert Legare and
contributed to this report.
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With today’s credit card rates sitting at over 23%, it’s easy for any credit card debt you’re carrying to cause financial distress. As the compound interest charges accrue, the balance on your credit card grows, and over time, it can be increasingly difficult to pay off what you owe. Luckily, there are debt relief lifelines, like debt consolidation programs, that you can use to try and combat your high-interest credit card debt before it becomes impossible to pay off.
A debt consolidation program functions similarly to regular debt consolidation by rolling multiple credit card debts into a single loan, typically with a lower interest rate. This makes your monthly payments more manageable and potentially saves you thousands in interest charges over time. The big difference is that with a debt consolidation program, you’re working with a debt relief company to acquire the loan through one of its third-party lenders, which tend to have more flexibility in terms of their lending criteria.
Not everyone qualifies for these programs, though. Specific eligibility criteria must still be met, and understanding these requirements is the first step in determining whether this debt relief solution could work for your situation.
Find out more about your debt relief options here.
Who qualifies for a credit card debt consolidation program?
To qualify for a credit card debt consolidation program, you’ll typically need to meet certain financial and credit-related benchmarks. These requirements vary depending on the debt relief service and its lending partners, but some of the more common requirements include:
A minimum amount of unsecured debt
Most debt consolidation programs require applicants to have a minimum amount of unsecured debt, often between $7,500 to $10,000. This ensures that the program is worth the administrative effort and that consolidating debt makes financial sense for the borrower.
Take steps to get rid of your expensive credit card debt today.
A lower debt-to-income ratio
While debt consolidation programs are designed for individuals with financial challenges, your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio still plays a significant role in the approval process. Many programs accept higher DTIs than traditional lenders, but a ratio above 50% may signal excessive financial strain, making approval more difficult.
A decent credit score
A fair or decent credit score is often needed to qualify for these programs, though the lenders that debt relief companies work with are typically more flexible than traditional banks. Each debt relief company has its own minimum score requirements, but in general, a score in the mid-600s or higher improves your chances of approval. Borrowers with significantly lower scores may need to explore alternative debt relief options.
A steady income
A stable income is crucial for qualifying for a debt consolidation program. Lenders need assurance that you can commit to regular monthly payments throughout the term of the loan. As a result, you’ll likely need to verify your income by providing recent pay stubs, tax returns or bank statements.
High-rate credit card debt
While not necessarily a stringent requirement, debt consolidation programs are most effective for those carrying high-rate credit card debt. Consolidating these debts into a single loan with a lower interest rate can save thousands of dollars in interest charges over time.
What to do if you don’t qualify for a debt consolidation program
If you’re unable to meet the requirements for a credit card debt consolidation program, don’t panic — there are other strategies to tackle your financial challenges. Here are some alternatives to consider:
Debt management plans
A debt management plan, typically offered by credit counseling agencies, can be an excellent alternative. These plans involve negotiating lower interest rates with creditors and creating a structured repayment plan. Unlike consolidation loans, these plans don’t require a high credit score to qualify.
Debt settlement
Debt settlement (also known as debt forgiveness) involves negotiating with your creditors to reduce the total amount owed, generally in exchange for a lump-sum payment. This option can significantly lower your debt, but it may also negatively impact your credit score in the short term and may not be suitable for all situations.
Work directly with your creditors
You can also reach out to your creditors to explore any alternative payment arrangements that are available to you. For example, many credit card companies offer hardship programs that can temporarily reduce your interest rates or adjust payment terms, providing you some relief while you get your finances back on track.
Focus on budgeting and repayment strategies
If a formal debt relief program isn’t right for you, creating a budget and prioritizing repayment can also help you make progress. For example, using the debt snowball (paying off smaller balances first) or the debt avalanche (focusing on high-interest debts) methods can provide a structured approach to tackling your obligations.
The bottom line
Qualifying for a credit card debt consolidation program typically requires meeting specific criteria related to debt amount, income stability and creditworthiness. These programs can provide invaluable support for those looking to simplify their financial lives and reduce the cost of high-interest debts. However, if you don’t qualify, there are still numerous paths to achieving financial freedom. Whether through alternative debt relief solutions or a disciplined repayment strategy, taking proactive steps today can pave the way for a more secure financial future.