Kitchen Hand Washing During Thanksgiving Prep

For a lot of families, Thanksgiving is the biggest cooking day of the year. Between the turkey, the stuffing and the pies, you'll be back at the kitchen sink again and again. Here's when to wash your hands while you cook, how to do it right, and how to keep your hands comfortable through all of it.

When to wash your hands while cooking

The USDA recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before, during and after handling food. On Thanksgiving, that means:

• Before you start cooking.
• Before and after handling raw turkey.
• After touching other raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs, like when you crack eggs for the pie filling.
• After touching anything raw turkey or its juices touched, such as the packaging, the roasting pan or the cutting board.
• Before you carve, plate and serve.

How to wash your hands the right way

The USDA breaks it into five simple steps:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap and apply soap.
2. Lather by rubbing your hands together. Get the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
3. Scrub for at least 20 seconds. Humming "Happy Birthday" twice is about right.
4. Rinse well under clean, running water.
5. Dry with a clean towel.

The step most home cooks skip

Most of us think we wash our hands enough. In a USDA test-kitchen study, cooks didn't even try to wash their hands 83% of the time when they should have, like right after handling raw meat. A pump of soap within arm's reach of your prep space makes it a lot easier to remember.

Wash your hands, not your turkey

Federal food safety guidance has recommended against washing raw turkey or chicken since 2005. Rinsing the bird can splash its juices onto your sink, counters, towels and other food. Cooking the turkey to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer, is what makes it safe to eat.

A few more kitchen habits the CDC and USDA recommend:

• Use a separate cutting board for raw turkey.
• Never put cooked food or fresh produce on a plate or board that held raw turkey.
• Wash cutting boards, utensils, dishes and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing raw turkey and before you start the next dish.

Keep your hands comfortable through all that washing

Washing your hands dozens of times in one day can leave them feeling dry and tight, especially in cold November weather. A few things help:

• Choose a gentle soap. Our foaming hand soaps are sulfate-free and paraben-free, made with honey, aloe, and coconut, olive and hemp seed oils that help hands feel soft after washing.
• Pat, don't rub. Pat your hands dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing them.
• Moisturize when the cooking's done. Apply a rich hand cream after the dishes and again before bed. Our guide to rough hand care has a simple routine.

Set up your sink for the holiday

Keep a 16 oz foaming soap pump right at the kitchen sink and a 64 oz refill underneath. One refill fills the pump four times, so you won't run out halfway through the dishes. If you've never refilled a foaming pump, here's how to refill a foaming hand soap bottle in about a minute.

A few kitchen favorites:

• Tea Tree: a crisp, herbal reset between tasks
• Lemongrass
• Sweet Orange
• Grapefruit Lemongrass

Heading to someone else's house for dinner? The Foaming Hand Soap Gift Set bundles three scents and makes an easy hostess gift.

Shop foaming hand soap →

Frequently asked questions

How long should I wash my hands when cooking?
At least 20 seconds with soap and water, before, during and after handling food. That's the guidance from both the USDA and the CDC.

Should I wash my turkey before cooking it?
No. Federal food safety guidance has advised against it since 2005, because rinsing can spread raw turkey juices around your kitchen. Cooking it to 165°F is what makes it safe.

Does the water need to be hot?
No. The USDA says clean, running water that's warm or cold works. Lathering and scrubbing for 20 seconds is what matters.

How do I keep my hands from drying out from all the hand washing?
Use a gentle, sulfate-free soap, pat your hands dry instead of rubbing, and apply a rich hand cream after the cooking is done and before bed.

Sources: USDA Thanksgiving food safety guidance; CDC turkey food safety tips.