Fresh Sheet: Less heat this time around

Turkey lovers have something to celebrate this Thanksgiving.

After years of recommending that turkeys be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 180 degrees (a practice that all but guaranteed breast meat with a texture similar to sawdust), the USDA has lowered its poultry recommendation to 165 degrees.

It’s something cookbook authors, chefs and others have been suggesting for years, but now even those who are sticklers for food safety can feel confident that the bird is done. Same goes for stuffing, USDA experts say.

If the turkey is still frozen … don’t panic. There’s still time to thaw that bird in cold water. To do it, make sure to wrap it tightly so water won’t seep inside and change the water every 30 minutes. Allow 30 minutes per pound – that’s 10 to 12 hours for a 20 to 24 pound turkey.

The USDA also says it is safe to cook a turkey that is frozen. However, it will take at least 50 percent longer than recommended for a fully thawed turkey. (Remember to pull those giblets out during cooking time. )

If you’re trying to get the feast on the table at a certain time, this table could come in handy. This is the USDA’s timetable for turkey roasting in a 325-degree oven:

Unstuffed

8 to 12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours

12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours

14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours

18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2

20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours

Stuffed

8 to 12 pounds: 3 to 3 1/2 hours

12 to 14 pounds: 3 1/2 to 4 hours

14 to 18 pounds: 4 to 4 1/4 hours

18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours

20 to 24 pounds: 4 3/4 to 5 1/4

For more information, go to: www.fsis.usda.gov/.

Oh I wish …

There’s still time to vote for local crooner Jeremiah Ourada, who is a finalist in the Oscar Mayer “Sing the Jingle, Be a Star” contest.

Jeremiah, 14, is one of 20 finalists across the country who sang the Oscar Mayer wiener jingle for a chance to win $5,000 and a slice of the national spotlight.

Jeremiah moved to the area about two months ago and attends West Valley High School. He plays mandolin and guitar with his family in a band called Blue Diamond Highway. He strummed guitar in his Oscar Mayer entry.

If he wins, Jeremiah plans to put the $5,000 prize in a college fund, he says. He’s hoping to study music at Whitworth. He’ll also win a trip and star in a nationally televised Oscar Mayer commercial. There will be five winners.

To vote for Jeremiah, go to singthejingle.com. Voters also get a chance to win one of 66 iPod shuffles.

The deadline for voting is Monday.