One of the most important aspects of preparing Thanksgiving recipes is thawing time for frozen meats. Some people don't realize most cooking tips for a turkey recommend 24 hours of refrigerator thaw time per five pounds of turkey. It's best to thaw a turkey in the fridge overnight while preparing other Thanksgiving recipes; you should keep the turkey at 40 degrees until it is time to cook. This is necessary to prevent the growth of bacteria, which can cause foodborne illnesses.

Once the turkey is thawed, cook it right away -- don't allow the turkey to sit outside the fridge at room temperature for long. The same reasons apply, you don't want any bacteria to develop while you wait for the oven to heat up. Pre-heat your oven while the turkey is still in the refrigerator for best results. You can prepare other Thanksgiving dishes while you wait for the oven to reach the right temperature. Always double check the turkey cavity to remove the giblet bag before you start baking.

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