The Christmas season often comes with a big holiday meal to share with friends and family. However without proper care, preparing that food comes with significant risk of getting yourself or others sick.

The number one thing to keep in mind is to cook food thoroughly. Whether turkey, ham, chicken, or another kind of meat, make sure it is cooked to a good internal temperature. That temperature can vary, but typically falls in the range of 140-170 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue to watch the temperature of that food after it has been cooked, and avoid the “danger zone” between 40 degrees and 140 degrees that could allow germs to grow quickly. Put leftovers in the refrigerator within two hours of eating.

An often-overlooked factor in food safety is the wellness of those actually cooking the food. Washington County Environmental Health Director Jason Taylor says to only let people in the kitchen if they are feeling well, “Mainly, if you know someone that’s not feeling well, keep them out of the kitchen. Or if you’re not feeling well, try to avoid cooking. Because that’s the number one way for say, norovirus, or some of the other ones, to affect everyone in the house. So if you think you have the stomach flu that day, just stay out of the kitchen.”

To further prevent the potential of foodborne illness, get in the practice of washing hands after touching any food and clean any cooking surfaces after use.