If your roasted turkey begins by thoroughly rinsing the bird, its time to take a second look. It turns out, giving your turkey a pre-oven bath can do far more harm than good. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), its impossible to remove all the bacteria from a raw turkey by rinsing it, and trying to do so can splash and spread harmful bacteria all across your kitchen! Theres only one time that you should ever rinse your bird. Read on to find out more, and the safest way to do it.
As Thanksgiving approaches, many home cooks have started planning their holiday meals. A beautifully roasted turkey often takes center stage at the Thanksgiving table. But when it comes to preparing the bird, one question always seems to arise – should you rinse a raw turkey before cooking it?
The answer might surprise you. According to food safety experts at the USDA, washing or rinsing a raw turkey is not recommended as it can increase your risk of foodborne illness. The only exception is if you have brined the turkey.
Why You Shouldn’t Rinse a Turkey
Washing raw poultry in the sink can cause bacteria to spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and surfaces Here’s why
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It’s impossible to remove all bacteria by rinsing. Cooking the turkey to the proper internal temperature is what kills any harmful bacteria present.
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Splashing can occur during washing, causing bacteria to spread up to 3 feet from the sink Juices that splash during rinsing can transfer bacteria onto your countertops, dishes, and other surfaces.
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Even if you avoid major splashing, bacteria from the turkey can still spread by touching other items in the kitchen between washing and cooking.
According to the USDA, 26% of people who washed raw poultry transferred bacteria from that poultry to their salad lettuce because of cross-contamination.
Safest Way to Handle Raw Turkey
Instead of washing, experts offer this advice for safe raw turkey handling:
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Take the turkey directly from the package to the roasting pan. You decrease your risk of spreading harmful bacteria by limiting handling of the raw bird.
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Use a meat thermometer to ensure the turkey reaches 165°F internal temp. Proper cooking will kill any harmful bacteria present on or in the turkey.
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Wash hands and surfaces after handling raw turkey, before working with any other ingredients. Use warm soapy water to wash hands for 20 seconds.
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Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw turkey and other foods. Be diligent about washing all items that touched the raw bird.
The Exception: Brined Turkey
If you plan to brine the turkey, a rinse after brining helps remove excess salt. Take care to rinse properly to avoid cross-contamination:
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Clear the sink area of any other items, cover surrounding surfaces with paper towels.
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Rinse the turkey cavity and outside with cool water. Allow water to drain thoroughly.
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After rinsing, disinfect the sink and wipe down any surfaces that may have been contaminated. Wash hands immediately.
How do you clean a turkey before cooking it?
Well… you dont! Just like with other meat, the USDA recommends skipping washing your turkey before you cook it. It doesnt matter if youre roasting, frying, or smoking your turkey, theres no need to give it a rinse unless youve brined it (more on that below). Cooking the turkey kills any bacteria, but washing a turkey before you cook it opens the door to dangerous cross contamination. Instead, take your turkey straight from the package to the roaster. The only “cleaning” you need to worry about is removing the neck and giblets from the cavity (to save for giblet gravy, of course!) and patting the turkey dry with a paper towel to achieve crispy skin.
When should you rinse a turkey?
The only time you should ever rinse your bird is if youve brined it first. This is to remove some of the salt from the turkey. Youll want to do a little prep first, though, to minimize the spread of bacteria. “When rinsing brine off of a turkey, be sure to remove all other food or objects from the sink, layer the area with paper towels, and allow a slow stream of water to avoid splashing,” according to the USDA recommendation. Be sure to rinse the outside and the inside cavity of the bird with cool water and hold the bird up to drain the water from the cavity before transferring it to a roasting pan. Then, toss the paper towels in the trashcan and thoroughly disinfect your sink and surrounding countertop. Finally wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap.
Should You Rinse Raw Turkey/Chicken Before Cooking or Not? A Doctor Explains
FAQ
Do you rinse the turkey before cooking?
How do you wash the inside of a turkey?
Do you rinse a turkey after salting?
Should I rinse my Turkey After brining?
The only time you should rinse your turkey is after brining and before cooking. Tiess recommends bringing your turkey in a bringing bag, like these from Amazon. Here is our guide to brining a turkey, and below are Tiess’s steps to rinse your bird post-brine: Clean your sink well and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Should you rinse a Turkey before cooking?
The only time you should ever rinse your bird is if you’ve brined it first. This is to remove some of the salt from the turkey. You’ll want to do a little prep first, though, to minimize the spread of bacteria.
Should you wash a raw turkey?
You should never wash a raw turkey, unless you have brined it and are rinsing it of brine before cooking. Otherwise it’s a no-no. “Old recipes and family cooking traditions may tempt you to keep this practice going, but it can make you and your family sick,” according to the CDC.
Is rinsing Turkey a good idea?
Some cooks may mistakenly think that rinsing poultry can help rid it of bacteria and make it safe for cooking and consumption. This is unnecessary and can actually increase the chances of your family getting sick if other food comes in contact with moisture from the raw turkey.