Expert warns you must never rinse your turkey before roasting it

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it can only mean one thing... turkey.

Homes across the States will be preheating their ovens in preparation for the meal that people wait all year for.

But, as well as pre-heating your oven, many may ask if you should be washing your turkey before cooking it.

Some people may feel that giving the large bird a quick rinse in the sink before roasting it is a good idea - but it could actually be doing more harm than good.

In fact, it's said it's 'impossible' to wash bacteria off turkey.

In the process of rinsing your turkey, you risk splashing pathogens, such as salmonella, onto other kitchen surfaces, as well as the sink itself.

This then increases the risk of you and your guests becoming ill; and no one wants to be sick over the festive season.

While the germs are killed off in the cooking process, the kitchen surfaces risk being left contaminated (unless you plan on putting those in the oven too).

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states: "Washing raw turkey can spread germs to other food."

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It adds: "Federal agencies have recommended not washing turkey or chicken since 2005."

So the answer, quite plainly, is no.

What should you do instead, I hear you ask?

Good Housekeeping's senior food editor Cathy Lo suggests that you 'pat raw poultry dry with paper towels instead'.

"Also make sure you wash cutting boards, surfaces, and hands to avoid any other cross-contamination," she went on.

In regards to how hot you your turkey should be once it's done to ensure that it's properly cooked, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says it should have a minimum internal temperature of 165°F throughout.

And if it's at this temperature but still a bit pink, then fear not.

The USDA writes on its website: "Turkey can remain pink even after cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F. The meat of smoked turkey is always pink."

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The USDA is full of useful advice ahead of Thanksgiving and, if you're still yet to buy your turkey before tomorrow's festivities, you should know that it's advised that you give around 1 pound of turkey per person.

Also, if you think you've been a bit too last minute purchasing your fresh turkey today, then you'd be wrong.

The USDA actually advises that you only buy your bird a day or two before you plan on cooking it.

Happy cooking!

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