The bone-chilling reason should never rinse your Thanksgiving turkey

When it comes to cooking a turkey, many people wonder -- "to rinse or not to rinse, that is the question." Don't rinse ... that is the answer!

According to the FDA, washing raw meat and poultry "makes it more likely for bacteria to spread to areas around the sink and countertops."

An article by the Association of Public Health Laboratories, published in Food Safety News, suggests rinsing your bird could cause salmonella-contaminated bacteria to hit the air -- spreading as far as three feet.

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And even if you don't have dishes or cutting boards near the sink, the handles and faucets themselves may be getting contaminated.

Nobody needs that! But even without rinsing, it's best to keep everything as far away from the turkey prep splash zone as possible.

Also, nasty bacteria aside, Pop Sugar suggests rinsing it could make your turkey skin steam instead of getting crispy, and getting the turkey just right is stressful enough around the holidays!

What is the best thing to do? Just remove the turkey from the package and blot it dry with paper towels. Your family will thank you for keeping them safe.

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