To ensure Kennet resident's have a healthy and safe Christmas and New Year, the Council have come up with a few tips that will help to prevent accidents and food borne illnesses during the festive period.
Use a ladder and not a chair or stool to put up your decorations.
Keep your Christmas cards and decorations away from fires and heat sources.
Keep small children away from holly berries.
Ensure that all your Christmas lights are properly wired and do not overload your circuit.
Pull all plugs out when you go to bed.
A log fire adds to the Festive feeling, but please keep them guarded .
Look for the British Standard Kite Mark when buying toys and make sure there are no loose parts e.g. eyes or spikes and splinters.
Follow the guidance below for thawing and cooking your turkey.
How do I defrost my turkey? Defrost your raw meat in a cool place, preferably covered on the bottom shelf of the fridge. Make sure poultry is thoroughly defrosted before cooking, if its partially frozen it will not cook thoroughly within the recommended cooking time.
How long will it take to defrost my turkey? As a guideline a 15lb turkey will take 24 - 28 hours to defrost.
Do I need to wash my turkey before cooking? There is no need to wash a turkey before cooking it. This practice can lead to work surfaces and other food being cross-contaminated with bacteria.
Do I need to allow extra cooking time if I have stuffed the turkey? Yes when cooking your turkey remember to add the weight of stuffing etc. when calculating the correct cooking time (at least 20 mins. per lb plus 20 mins.).
How do I know when my turkey is cooked? Check the turkey is cooked thoroughly by inserting a skewer into the thigh to see that the juices run clear.
Can I reheat the leftover turkey? Yes you can but ensure it is piping hot all the way through and do not re-heat more than once.
NEVER try to thaw a bird quickly using direct heat, always cool any left-over meat quickly and store in the refrigerator until needed and keep raw food away from cooked food. ALWAYS wash your hands before handling food and particularly between handling raw and cooked food. Wash all your utensils and work surfaces thoroughly after use.
