Ways to harm your health on Thanksgiving

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Improperly cooked food

CBS/iStock

A raw bird can ruin your family's dinner. Cooking meat thoroughly kills any lurking bacteria.

For those who froze their turkey, make sure it's thawed before cooking. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends to allow 24 hours of defrosting for every 4 to 5 pounds the turkey weighs. If you forget to thaw, don't panic. Submerge the turkey in cold water (about 30 minutes per pound), changing the water out every 30 minutes.

An unstuffed 12 to 14 pound turkey takes between 3 and 3 3/4 hours at 325 degrees to cook, while a stuffed one may take 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

Make sure you use a thermometer to determine if the bird is done. All turkey meat, including any that remains pink, is safe to eat as soon as all parts reach at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

The USDA has a complete list of cooking times on its website.

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flsunjnky says:: "Dr. Glatter recommends people with these conditions should avoid eating large portions, and should remain upright on a chair or cough for several hours after eating. Not doing so may worsen symptoms."

I had to read this 3 times before I caught the mistake. I suppose the word "cough" should have been couch. Who is going to cough for several hours?

I see a lot of typos and mispelled/misused words in CBS News almost every day. Don't they have anyone to read this stuff before they print it?; reply