2020 Thanksgiving Tips
After a trying year, it would be good to relax and reconnect
with our families over the holidays. We must remain vigilant to ensure the
safety of ourselves and those we love. Here are some tips to safely navigate
the season from Thanksgiving to a happy New Year.
Thanksgiving Travel Tips
This year is different. The CDC
encourages people to stay home and celebrate with only the people who live in
the immediate household. For some, that’s not possible. Please also see Virtual
Holidays below.
Whether flying or driving, plan extra
time and precautions. Bring plenty of protection such as disposable masks,
gloves and sanitizing wipes.
If flying, the TSA states, bring a
mask, enroll in TSA PreCheck and know what food can be taken onto the aircraft.
Travelers will be asked to lower their mask momentarily to prove their
identity. Travelers are allowed up to 12 ounces of hand sanitizer per person.
It must be removed from carry-on baggage during screenings.
Research state-by-state quarantine
rules and travel restrictions for all transit locations when driving. Get this
information via CNN’s website.
Safe Food Handling
Bacteria can multiply easily and rapidly
on food. The FDA suggests four steps:
clean, separate, cook and chill.
Wash hands, surfaces and utensils for
at least 20 seconds with appropriate soap and rinse completely both before and
after handling food. Keep raw meat away from raw vegetables and don’t let them
contact the same storage platters or cutting boards. Cook to a safe temperature
to kill harmful bacteria. Ensure leftovers are chilled within two hours of the
meal in a refrigerator at 40° F or lower. Eat or discard refrigerated food after
3 to 4 days.
Safer In-Person Dinner Parties
Small family gatherings are only as
safe as the past two weeks of ALL attendees. Ask attendees to keep public
contact to a bare minimum prior the gathering.
Don’t invite unfamiliar people. Check
the infection rate of attendees’ hometowns before they leave
their homes. Ask them to be tested for Covid-19 prior to traveling if the area
exposure is too high.
When hosting a dinner party for the
family, disinfect all seating and cooking areas before guests arrive. Keep the
gathering small, move it outside if possible, encourage social distancing, keep
the duration to a minimum time and wear masks when not eating.
Encourage guests to bring food for
their own families and avoid potluck-style meals. Wear protective face covers
and gloves while preparing food. Wash hands frequently. Limit people around
food preparations. Have touch-free trash cans. Have guests use disinfected or
single-use disposable personal utensils. Wash dishes immediately after the gathering.
Plan Virtual Dinner Parties
This year’s pandemic and the flu
season make it difficult to safely visit family members with underlying
conditions or weakened immune systems. Travel is also difficult considering
state-by-state quarantine guidelines. Consider attending or hosting a virtual
holiday dinner party.
FaceTime is standard on iPhones. A
variety of video chat applications that accomplish the same goal can be
downloaded. Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp both have video chat options. Zoom,
Google Meet, Skype and more have free alternatives to manage larger groups.
Fry Turkey Safely
Set fryer on hard, level surface at
least 10 feet away from any buildings with no overhead items like branches or
shades. Determine the correct amount of frying oil by measuring the largest
bird displacement with water first. It can take 3 to 4 days to thoroughly thaw
the turkey in the refrigerator. Never attempt to fry a frozen turkey.
Remove giblets, neck and excess fat.
Dry all moisture from the bird to avoid spattering. Make incisions in the skin
to allow the oil to drain quickly. Preheat oil, turn off flame, place turkey in
basket and slowly lower it into oil to avoid splashes. Ignite the flame again
and cook about 3-4 minutes per pound until the internal temperature is 165°F
for 15 seconds. Once done, turn off flame, slowly remove basket from pot and
set on a rack to drain.
Mark M. Hancock
REALTOR, GRI, MRP, New Build certified
214-862-7212 (call or text)
markhancockrealty@gmail.com
DFWmark.com
No comments:
Post a Comment