Countdown to Turkey Day: Fresh Turkey and Produce Pick UP

Hi!

Deep breath. We are nearing the finish line. Have you seen how much you have accomplished? You have done so much planning, including boundary setting, that even minor family issues won’t ruin your day. You’ve got plans. Doesn’t it feel good?

It’s your last trip to the store. Today is the day if you need to pick up any delicate produce. If you serve a fresh turkey, today is the day for that, too.

If you have a frozen turkey, that is safely thawing, correct?

Have you checked on that by the way? Yes, you still have most of today and all of tomorrow, but if your turkey is very large, is it still rock solid or is it starting to give a little when poked?

If your turkey is still rock solid, it is perfectly safe to use the water bath method to thaw it fully and put it back in the fridge until Thursday. Waking up to a partially frozen turkey on Thanksgiving can significantly set your Thanksgiving timetable back, and no one needs that.

If the container your turkey is sitting in is full of liquid, go ahead and empty that. Then give the container a good quick wash with hot, soapy water, followed by a thorough rinse. Giving bacteria one less playground is always a good thing; even if it’s not optimal conditions for growth, it’s best not to roll out the welcome mat.

If you bought wings or turkey necks to roast and make stock, you can make that today if you would like. It will keep in the refrigerator just fine until Thursday..

Don’t forget that you still need to eat regularly, even with all this planning for Thursday’s Thanksgiving dinner. One big meal does not make up for several days, and you will likely have a long day of cooking ahead. Don’t underestimate the amount of energy that takes. Do not starve or yourself as part of the Countdown to Thanksgiving. That is in no way healthy. Rest, hydrate, eat, and enjoy the process. Tomorrow we have pie to prep.

We’ll see you then.

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