Christmas is almost upon us. Enjoying seasonal food is an essential part of Christmas for most people but at this time of year it can be easy to overlook the things we should do to ensure that our food stays safe, particularly if a glass of sherry is involved. Most of us will be preparing more food than usual – on average we eat Christmas dinner with six or seven other people – and in the rush to get it all done, it's easy to neglect the simple but important food hygiene steps to ensure you don't also serve up any nasty ‘gifts’ that could spoil Christmas and New Year for family and friends.
Last year we found that 80% of people still wash their turkeys before cooking, which can splash any germs on the bird more widely around the kitchen. Washing the turkey is not necessary if you ensure that the bird is thoroughly cooked, so that it is piping hot all the way through. This will kill any germs that could cause food poisoning. You can make sure that your bird is safely cooked by checking that there is no pink left in the thickest part of the meat and that any juices run clear.
Although rather less thought usually goes into what we do with the food that’s left once the big meal is over, it's just as important to take care of this food. We were shocked to find that, according to an Agency survey, 20% of the British public – that's one in every five – will risk food poisoning by eating turkey leftovers that are as much as a week old. In some parts of the UK this figure was as high as 30%. Now we all hate to waste food, and quite rightly too, but by eating risky remnants like week-old turkey or other ancient leftovers, you really do run the risk of a bout of food poisoning for the new year.
So to avoid this risk, treat your leftovers carefully. Cool any leftovers as quickly as possible and get them into the fridge, ideally within one to two hours. These leftovers should then be eaten or used in another dish (possibly a turkey curry, who knows?) within two days. Alternatively, if you have lots of turkey or other food left over, divide it into smaller portions and you can keep it in the freezer for up to three months.
See our eatwell website for tips, information and advice about keeping food safe, as well as recipe ideas for making Christmas food healthy too.
Finally, I'd like to wish you all a very Merry – and health-filled – Christmas.