Secrets of a safe turkey this Christmas

That was the call from health officials and fire chief this week as they bid to avoid the festive feast turning into a disaster.

Staff at NHS Rotherham are urging Christmas cooks to beware of the risks of bacteria when preparing dinner on the big day, with washing the seasonal bird presenting a high-risk of illness-causing bugs.

Kathy Wakefield, Infection Control Lead at NHS Rotherham, said: “Contrary to popular belief, one of the most important things to remember is not to wash your turkey before you cook it. 

“Washing the turkey will cause bacteria to splash around the sink area and can lead to contamination of surrounding work surfaces, including taps. 

“Any bacteria will be killed off during the cooking process.

“If your turkey is frozen, make sure it’s properly defrosted before you cook it.

“If it’s still partially frozen, recommended cooking times won’t be long enough to cook it thoroughly and bacteria that cause food poisoning could survive the cooking process.”

When preparing your turkey it is very important to keep raw poultry away from food that is ready to eat.

This is because if raw poultry, or other raw meat, touches these foods, bacteria will spread and will not be killed by cooking.

Cooks are urged to always wash their hands with warm water and soap, and dry them thoroughly, after touching raw poultry, always clean worktops, chopping boards, dishes and utensils thoroughly after they have touched raw poultry and use separate chopping boards for poultry and other meat.

Meanwhile, families in Rotherham are being reminded to stay fire safe in the kitchen this Christmas.

House fires spike by 25 per cent in the winter months, with cooking being the biggest cause of all blazes—accounting for half of all the incidents South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue attends each December.

The fire service says most kitchen fires are caused by distraction—people leaving cooking unattended—or failure to switch off cooking appliances after use.

Diane Malpass, SYFR’s head of community safety, said: “Everyone's busy, rushing about and more likely to be forgetful at this time of year, but distraction is still the biggest cause of cooking fires.

“So our message to people is simple—never leave cooking unattended.

“Taking into account the cost of insurance claims and the damage to your home, fires can be very costly for homeowners, and I’m sure it’s a cost most people could do without in the run-up to Christmas.”

Festive cooks are urged to avoid chip pans, keep leads and clothes away from the hob, keep an eye on appliances while cooking and ensure they are switched off afterwards.