With the holiday season underway, the Iowa Department of Public Health is reminding Iowans to take precautions to avoid foodborne illness. It is important to take care when preparing and storing a turkey for Thanksgiving. Thawing turkeys need to be kept at a safe temperature to avoid having bacteria multiply. There are three safe ways to thaw a frozen turkey.

One is in the refrigerator set at 40 degrees or below – place the turkey in a container and allow about 24 hours for each four to five pounds.

Another way to thaw is in cold water, which takes about 30 minutes per pound of turkey. Make sure the turkey is in a leak-proof plastic bag and submerge it in cold tap water. The water should be changed every half hour until the turkey is thawed.

he final safe way to thaw a turkey is in the microwave. When thawing a turkey in a microwave follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Also, be sure to store any leftovers appropriately to avoid foodborne illness. For more information click here.