West Virginia (CNN)- Thanksgiving is this week.
While making the meal delicious depends entirely on the cook, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to help make sure what you eat is safe.
The USDA is encouraging inexperienced cooks and experts to practice food safety this holiday season.
When you’re shopping for your turkey the USDA recommends picking it up at the end of your grocery shopping to keep it cold as long as possible.
It also says you should check that the packaging isn’t torn to prevent the spread of bacteria.
If you’re planning to cook a turkey — remember it can be safely thawed in the refrigerator or cold water.
When serving food to groups remember the two-hour rule.
This goes for perishable foods that have sat out at room temperature for more than two hours.
The USDA says that food becomes unsafe due to bacterial growth and must be discarded.
If you have food safety questions ahead of planning your feast, contact the USDA meat and poultry hotline at 1-888-674-6854.
