Skip to main content
Why NOT to Wash Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Why NOT to Wash Your Thanksgiving Turkey

by:  1-min. read
Raw whole turkey defrosting on a kitchen sink. A dish cloth is in close proximity to the defrosting meat, creating a cross contamination and food safety issue. Play Video

While it’s tempting to wash your turkey before cooking it, you could actually do more harm than good! Tune in as our resident food safety expert and NC State Extension specialist, Ben Chapman, shares research-based tips for prepping your prized poultry so everyone stays happy and healthy for the holidays.

Thanksgiving Food Safety | Ask the Experts

View all
a baking dish filled with dressing rests on a table. baking the dressing separate from the poultry reduces the risk of foodborne illness

How Do I Make Stuffing and Dressing Safely?

Want to make stuffing for your holiday meal, but don’t want to make your guests sick? We have food safety tips from an expert. 
mashed potatoes in a serving bowl. can mashed potatoes cause foodborne illness?

Can Mashed Potatoes Make You Sick? Food Safety Tips for Thanksgiving Side Dishes

What can you do to avoid foodborne illness this holiday season? We got advice from a food safety expert. 
a pie rests on a counter by a rolling pin

How Long Is Homemade Pie Safe to Eat? And Other Thanksgiving Dessert Questions

Do I need to keep pumpkin pie in the refrigerator? Your pie questions, answered! 

More From NC State Extension Homegrown

A joro spider waiting in the center of its web.

One Giant Leap: Joro Spiders in North Carolina 
Close shot of gloved hands holding and cutting through cooked pork butt barbecue on a red tabletop.

How to Prepare Perfect Pork Butt Barbecue 
A glass jar with a "barbecue martini" consisting of pork barbecue, baked beans, cole slaw and pickles sits on a white plate while displayed on a red tabletop outdoors.

How to Make a Barbecue Martini