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.
It’s a question that arises every year before Thanksgiving and Christmas should you wash the raw turkey before cooking it? Many home cooks instinctively give their bird a rinse before it goes into the oven After all, washing seems like an intuitive way to clean and sanitize the turkey However, according to experts like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), rinsing raw poultry is not only unnecessary but can even be downright dangerous if not done properly.
The Case Against Washing
The USDA’s official guidance is to avoid washing raw turkeys or chickens before cooking Their experts argue that while rinsing may get rid of some surface dirt or bacteria, it cannot remove all contaminants lurking inside and underneath the skin. Moreover, washing may actually help spread bacteria like Salmonella to other foods, surfaces, and utensils in your kitchen through splashing and cross-contamination
- Salmonella: 26 occurrences
- Campylobacter: 7 occurrences
- Antibiotic-resistant bacteria: 2 occurrences
- Other harmful bacteria like Listeria or E. coli: 9 occurrences
These harmful bugs cannot reliably be removed by rinsing alone. The only way to reliably kill bacteria is through proper cooking. The USDA recommends cooking turkeys to an internal temperature of 165°F as measured by a meat thermometer. At this temperature, any lingering pathogens will be destroyed.
For optimal safety, the government agency says to take the raw turkey straight from the package to the roasting pan without washing. After handling it, be diligent about washing your hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds.
When Washing May Be OK
According to food safety experts, the only scenario when rinsing a turkey could be warranted is if it was brined or otherwise treated before cooking. A salt and water brine, for example, helps keep the turkey moist and well-seasoned but can leave the skin overly salty.
In this case, a quick rinse under a gentle stream of cold water can help remove some surface salt. Make sure to thoroughly wash and disinfect any surfaces the raw turkey contacted afterwards. Never wash the turkey in the sink where other kitchen work is done, as bacteria could spread in the basin.
The USDA says to avoid soaking the whole turkey in water, as this can spread contaminants. Just hold it under running water briefly. Pat the skin dry with paper towels before roasting.
Even when rinsing a brined or marinated bird, food safety comes first. As The Kitchn writes, “Give [the turkey] a quick rinse if needed, but above all else handle it carefully and wash your hands, sink, and anything else it touches.”
How to Safely Handle and Prep Raw Turkey
If you won’t be washing the raw turkey, how can you make sure it’s safe to eat? Follow these tips from the USDA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on safe raw poultry prep:
- Keep it chilled: Store the turkey in a sealed package towards the back of the fridge where temperatures are coldest. Use within 1-2 days.
- Avoid cross-contamination: Designate a cutting board just for raw meats. Never prepare veggies, fruits, or other foods on this board without washing.
- Wash hands and surfaces thoroughly: After handling raw turkey, wash hands, utensils, sink, and countertops with hot soapy water. Consider using a disinfectant.
- Cook thoroughly: Use a food thermometer to verify the thickest part of the breast and innermost part of the thigh reach 165°F. Let rest before carving.
- Refrigerate leftovers quickly: Divide turkey into shallow containers for fast chilling. Reheat thoroughly later.
Follow these simple guidelines and you can skip rinsing while still serving up a delicious and safe holiday turkey. Remember the two most important things are thorough cooking and good hygiene.
The Takeaway: Don’t Wash Your Turkey!
Here’s a quick summary of key points on whether or not to rinse raw poultry:
- Washing turkey does not remove all harmful bacteria – only proper cooking kills bugs.
- Rinsing the bird can spread pathogens to surfaces and utensils, increasing food poisoning risk.
- The only reason to ever wash turkey is if it was brined first, to remove excess salt. Even then, use caution.
- Safely prep an unwashed turkey by keeping it chilled, avoiding cross-contamination, washing hands/surfaces, and cooking to 165°F.
So go ahead and skip the rinse to keep your holiday meal safe. Now grab your meat thermometer and get ready to roast or fry up the perfect turkey!
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Do You Wash the Inside of a Turkey Before Cooking It?
Nope! Just like with the outside of a turkey, theres no need to rinse the cavity. All you need to worry about is removing the neck and giblets. Now, if youre working with a brined bird, you will need to rinse the inside. Ree Drummond likes to rinse the inside and outside of her turkey under a running faucet with cold water for several minutes. Then, shell fill up a big pot with cold water, submerge the rinsed turkey, and allow the bird to soak for about 15 minutes. This flushes away some of the saltiness. Its best to soak the turkey in a pot rather than your sink to control the spread of germs.
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.
Why you shouldn’t wash your turkey before cooking it
FAQ
Are you supposed to wash turkey before cooking?
No, raw chicken and turkey should not be washed before cooking. Washing poultry can spread bacteria, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, to other surfaces in your kitchen through splashing water.
How do you prep a turkey before cooking?
Rub turkey inside and out with kosher salt; place in a large stockpot and cover with cold water. Cover and refrigerate to allow turkey to soak in brine solution for 12 hours, or overnight. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Thoroughly rinse the turkey; discard the brine mixture.
Should I wash ground turkey before cooking?
- Cross-contamination risk: Washing meat can splash bacteria onto your sink, utensils, and other surfaces in your kitchen.
- Ineffective bacteria removal: Rinsing cannot completely remove all bacteria from raw poultry.
- Proper cooking is key: The best way to ensure safety is to cook ground turkey to the recommended internal temperature.
Should you wash a frozen turkey?
It then transfers to other foods. Heat kills bacteria – Cooking the turkey to 165°F destroys bacteria. Washing is unnecessary and risky. Partial thawing raises risk – Washing a partially frozen turkey allows bacteria to spread to sinks and surfaces. The USDA, CDC, and food safety experts agree: do not rinse raw poultry.
Should you wash a raw turkey?
Many home cooks think washing a raw turkey removes bacteria and makes it safer to eat. Intuitively a quick rinse seems harmless. But food safety experts at the USDA caution against this practice. Not only is washing ineffective against salmonella and other pathogens it can spread germs around your kitchen.
Should you rinse raw turkey before roasting?
The USDA, CDC, and food safety experts agree: do not rinse raw poultry. The wisest approach is taking the turkey straight from the package to the roasting pan. There is one exception – if you brined the turkey first, it needs a quick rinse. The salt and seasoning should be removed before roasting.
Should you wash a brined Turkey before roasting?
The wisest approach is taking the turkey straight from the package to the roasting pan. There is one exception – if you brined the turkey first, it needs a quick rinse. The salt and seasoning should be removed before roasting. Even when washing a brined bird, take steps to minimize bacteria spread: