Its undeniable that the turkey is the most important dish on the Thanksgiving menu. But before you ever brine or season a bird, much less roast or fry it, theres one question that absolutely must be answered: Should you clean a turkey before you cook it or not?
If your roasted turkey recipe calls for rinsing the bird, it might be time to find a new recipe! 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.
Rinsing a turkey before cooking is a common practice for many home cooks. However, according to experts, this isn’t always necessary and could even be unsafe. So should you rinse a turkey or not? Let’s take a closer look at what food safety experts recommend.
What the Experts Say
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), rinsing raw poultry such as turkey can actually spread harmful bacteria around your kitchen. The USDA recommends not rinsing your turkey before cooking.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) agrees, stating “Washing raw turkey can spread germs to other foods.” The CDC and other federal agencies have recommended against washing poultry since 2005.
Food safety experts explain that while rinsing may seem like it removes bacteria, it’s impossible to remove it all. Moreover, water splashing from the rinse can spread bacteria up to 3 feet around your sink.
The One Exception: Rinsing After Brining
While experts advise against rinsing in most cases, there is one exception rinsing after brining
Brining, either wet or dry, helps keep the turkey moist and infuses it with flavor. If you brine your turkey, you should rinse it before cooking. This removes excess salt and brine.
However, take precautions when rinsing a brined bird:
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Rinse the turkey in the sink to control water splashing. Remove other items from the sink first.
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Lay down paper towels around the sink to catch drips and splatters.
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Use a gentle stream of cold water, not warm, to rinse the cavity and outside.
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Drain the cavity well and pat the turkey dry before transferring it to a roasting pan.
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Disinfect your sink after rinsing to kill any bacteria spread.
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Wash hands thoroughly after rinsing.
Safest Practices for Raw Turkey
Since experts advise against rinsing in most cases, take your turkey straight from the package to the roasting pan.
You can further reduce bacteria risk with these tips:
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Use separate cutting boards for raw turkey and other foods.
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Never place other foods that won’t be cooked, like vegetables, on surfaces where raw turkey was.
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Wash hands, sinks, and counters after handling raw poultry.
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Cook turkey thoroughly to 165°F internal temperature to kill bacteria.
Should You Rinse the Turkey Cavity?
Nope, don’t rinse the inside cavity either. Simply remove the giblets and neck. For brined birds, rinse the cavity with cold water gently.
Is It Safe to Skip Rinsing?
Yes, completely safe. In fact, skipping rinsing reduces bacteria spread around your kitchen. The heat of cooking kills any bacteria on the turkey effectively.
Rinsing doesn’t remove bacteria much at all. So take your turkey straight to the roasting pan for the safest results.
How to Prepare Turkey for Roasting
Here are some tips for safely preparing your turkey:
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Thaw frozen turkey completely in the fridge 1-2 days before cooking.
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Remove giblets and neck from the cavity.
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Rinse only if wet brined, otherwise don’t rinse.
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Pat turkey dry inside and out with paper towels.
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Rub the skin with oil or butter and season as desired.
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Stuff cavity with aromatics like lemon, herbs or garlic.
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Truss legs together with kitchen string.
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Roast until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
While rinsing your turkey may seem like a good idea, experts agree it can spread bacteria around your kitchen. The ONLY case where rinsing makes sense is after brining, to remove excess salt.
Otherwise, skip rinsing altogether and cook your turkey thoroughly. Follow food safety guidelines like using separate cutting boards and washing hands frequently when handling raw poultry.
With these turkey tips, you can enjoy a delicious and safe holiday bird cooked to crispy, golden perfection.
Should 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.
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
What happens if you don’t rinse a turkey after brining?
But a brined turkey that is not rinsed would be too salty to eat. Brining slows down the growth of bacteria but does not kill it, said Linda Harris, a microbiologist at the University of California, Davis. She and other food scientists have been trying to get Americans to stop rinsing poultry since the late 1990’s.
Should you rinse a turkey before cooking reddit?
Do not rinse poultry – it does not need it, this is a myth, and the process of rinsing it will just spread raw turkey splatter all over your kitchen, which is a risk for causing food poisoning later because you don’t realize, it fosters bacteria, and then you accidentally touch droplets while cutting up fruit or set …
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.
Does rinsing a Turkey help clean it?
“Although some people believe rinsing helps clean the turkey, it actually increases the risk of spreading bacteria, like salmonella, around your kitchen. The splashing of water can contaminate nearby surfaces, utensils, and other foods.” However, many of our chefs like a wet brine, which essentially does rinse the turkey by soaking it.
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.
How do you clean a raw turkey?
Use warm soapy water to wash hands for 20 seconds. Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw turkey and other foods. Be diligent about washing all items that touched the raw bird. If you plan to brine the turkey, a rinse after brining helps remove excess salt. Take care to rinse properly to avoid cross-contamination:
Should you wash a raw turkey before cooking?
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.
Can You rinse a frozen turkey?
* Do not rinse a turkey if it has been frozen. Freezing a turkey can help to kill any bacteria that may be present on the surface of the bird. Rinsing a frozen turkey can actually spread bacteria from the surface of the bird to other surfaces in the kitchen. * Do not rinse a turkey if it has been brined.