Health Tip: Cooking Your Thanksgiving Turkey Safely

(HealthDay News) — Eating a bad Thanksgiving bird can ruin your holiday in a hurry.

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service suggests how to ensure that your turkey is properly cooked and prepared:

Take in account factors that influence how long your turkey will take to cook, from its size to its storage temperature.
Completely thaw the turkey before cooking.
Roast it at 325 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Use a roasting pan of 2 inches to 2.5 inches deep.
If you stuff the turkey, make sure stuffing is loosely packed inside.
Check the temperature of both the stuffing and the turkey with a food thermometer; temperature should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Make sure the turkey cooks long enough, and allow 20 minutes before carving.