Do NOT Wash Your Turkey Before Cooking It

I'm totally guilty of making this mistake each Thanksgiving.

According to the USDA, we need to stop washing the turkey before cooking it. They say rinsing the bird will not get rid of bacteria - in fact, it might actually spread the harmful germs. As people wash their turkey, water splashes onto countertops or other surfaces and spreads the bacteria which creates a real possibility for cross contamination.

Fergus Clydesdale, the director of the food science department at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, told The New York Times.“The risk of cross-contamination through washing poultry is far greater than shoving it in the oven without washing it, which makes the risk almost zero.”

The absolute best way to get rid of bacteria is to cook your turkey to the proper temp.

Don't forget to wash your hands after handling the bird!