From Target and Aldi's budget bundles to Sam's Club's pre-cooked meals, explore various stores offering delicious and affordable Thanksgiving feasts.
Thanksgiving is meant to gather your loved ones around the dinner table, but poor food handling can leave your loved ones gathered in the bathroom instead.
The Centers for Disease Control said clostridium perfringens is the second most common bacterial cause of food poisoning, and outbreaks occur most often in November and December. Many of the outbreaks are linked to foods commonly served during the holidays, the CDC said.
Here are some frequently asked questions about food preparation and storage for a safe Thanksgiving experience.
How to defrost a turkey
Here are two ways to safely thaw a turkey, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
Should I wash my turkey?
It's not recommended to wash your turkey as washing it can spread germs to other food and contaminate other things, such as your kitchen countertops, said the CDC. If you plan on washing raw turkey, the CDC advises you to immediately clean and thoroughly sanitize your sink and the surrounding area.
Turkey temperature when done: 165 degrees
Your food thermometer must reach a minimum of 165 degrees in three places for your turkey to be safe to consume, said the USDA. Those three places are the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh and the innermost part of the wing. Also, if you're stuffing your turkey, the stuffing's center must also reach 165 degrees.
How long are Thanksgiving leftovers good for?
Food safety doesn't end when your cooking is complete. Your leftovers either need to be refrigerated within two hours of serving or kept hot enough (140 degrees or above) or cold enough (below 40 degrees) for safe consumption, said the USDA. Warming trays, slow cookers and bowls of ice are all options to keep your dishes at the appropriate temperatures so that you don't have to toss any food away.
Your Thanksgiving leftovers are safe to eat for up to four days when stored in your fridge, according to the USDA.
What is the temperature of cooked chicken?
Are you cooking other meats on Thanksgiving? Here are the temperatures they should reach for safe consumption, according to FoodSafety.gov: