Does cooking kill the bacteria from an improperly defrosted turkey?

Answer 1

Cooking to the correct temperature for the correct amount of time will kill the bacteria present in an improperly defrosted turkey. The turkey must be cooked to a temperature of at least 165 degrees to kill the bacteria present in the Turkey. Bacteria can be present on the surface of the meat, in the meat itself and can be injected into the meat if the Turkey is injected or if the meat is cut. The tube of the syringe used to inject the brine/flavor mix will pick up bacteria on the surface and a knife edge can (and likely will) carry the bacteria into the meat. Note that bacteria are generally all killed once the temperature exceeds 141 degrees for at least one minute. When the Turkey is cooked the temperature varies from one part of the Turkey to another. That is why the USDA and virtually all respected sites recommend thorough cooking. HOWEVER, some strains of bacterial produce Toxins that can cause illness. These Toxins in some cases are "heat stable" and can still make you very sick. A number of commentators have also noted that human beings have existed for a much longer time than refrigeration and we have survived. Nobody however suggests that it is a good idea to practice unsafe food handling and cooking procedures. Improperly thawed turkey is just that. Improperly thawed.