Thanksgiving is so close we can taste it!

First things first, the turkey that has been patiently waiting for you in the freezer needs some attention. Most people thaw their turkey on the kitchen counter, in the oven, or even under hot water in the sink. These are all old habits that could potentially grow bad bacteria or cross contaminate other foods in your kitchen. The safe way to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria is to thaw your turkey in the refrigerator set below 40F. To estimate the time needed to thaw allow 3-4 hours per pound. By putting the bird in the refrigerator a couple days before you cook it, you will ensure that the meat is safe to eat.

Another great idea is to marinate your turkey while it defrosts in the refrigerator. This way you can infuse it with wonderful flavors and help keep it moist when you cook it.

Try one of these unique marinades for something new this Thanksgiving!

Mediterranean Marinade:

• 1 cup of lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• ¼ cup of White wine
• ¼ cup of diced onions
• 1 tsp of garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp of dried rosemary ground up

Asian Marinade:

• 1 cup of white wine (dry)
• ½ cup of soy sauce
• ½ tsp of ground ginger
• ½ cup peanut oil
• ½ tsp of garlic powder
• ½ cup of chopped onions

Place the marinade in a bag with your turkey and let it set for several hours in the refrigerator as it thaws. You can even get a syringe and inject areas of the meat with these flavors once it softens. Be sure to cover and baste your turkey while is cooks to keep it moist! Also, check the meat temperature with a thermometer to see that reaches 165F. Be sure to check in two different areas and where the meat is the thickest, this ensures the meat is properly cooked.

These marinades are a great idea to add some variety to your turkey especially with all the leftovers! What do you usually do with your leftover turkey?