Please Do Not Wash Your Thanksgiving Turkey This Year (2024)

With Thanksgiving comes tons of tasty recipes, from Turkey Day appetizers and side dishes to delicious desserts. But along with each dish comes a heap of prep work to turn out the best meal of the year. From planning out a Thanksgiving menu and organizing table settings to peeling potatoes and prepping pies, you likely have a long to-do list.

So should cleaning a turkey be on your list of to-dos of Turkey Day festivities? Our experts weighed in on the only time you should be rinsing your turkey. Read on for a little food safety advice and some info on how to prepare the best-ever Thanksgiving turkey.

So, should you wash a turkey?

Short answer: probably not. First comes first, while washing poultry has been an age-old practice in hopes that it removes bacteria, it likely isn't doing the job you think it is. The Centers for Disease Control suggests never washing your poultry before cooking. The reason why: "Washing raw turkey can spread germs to other food. Federal agencies have recommended not washing turkey or chicken since 2005," says the CDC. And per the USDA, washing your turkey, or any other poultry, risks contamination to your sink and the other surfaces you need to prep all of your other Thanksgiving dishes.

Our experts agree: "I never ever rinse my bird. If I did, it would mean my sink has to be completely cleaned and who has time to do that when you are in the thick of Thanksgiving prep?" says Kate Merker, Chief Food Director of the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen. Bottom line: You risk contamination of vegetables, knives, cutting boards and more.

Still wondering if there's ever a time to rinse a turkey?

There may be a time for it, but know that there are a lot of steps to make sure you're keeping other foods, and the rest of your kitchen, safe and bacteria-free. The one time to rinse your turkey: If you've used a wet brine. While our test kitchen experts prefer dry brining our turkeys because it tends to be a less messy process and can result in crispier skin (score!), a wet brine is definitely a popular preparation. And when you wet brine a turkey, it's important to remove excess brine. So here's the best way to wet brine a turkey and rinse it without risking cross-contamination:

• To wet brine your turkey, use a ratio of ½ cup of kosher salt to ¼ cup of sugar to 2 quarts of cold water.
• Make sure you have enough water to completely cover the turkey in a large pot. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 16 hours for a turkey larger than 14 lbs.
• For wet-brined birds, when you're ready to cook the turkey, rinse it with cold water and pat it dry with paper towels.

Now that you've prepped your turkey, it's important to make sure that everything is clean before you start further Thanksgiving Day preparations. If you've rinsed your turkey, or had poultry on your counter, be sure to disinfect your kitchen. The USDA suggests cleaning with a bleach solution for extra safety: "For extra protection, surfaces may be sanitized with a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Be sure to let those areas dry thoroughly."

Some tips to best prep your turkey:

• Use a separate cutting board for any poultry, and wash thoroughly after it's been used before using for any vegetables.
• Wash your hands thoroughly. The CDC recommends washing your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds to remove potential bacteria.
• Never place fresh produce on the same surface where raw poultry has been. This will help prevent bacteria spread and cross-contamination.