Ensure a safe and delicious holiday feast: How to use a food thermometer to prevent foodborne illness

Different foods have different target temperatures to eliminate pathogens, so use a reliable food safety chart and a digital food thermometer when cooking each dish, and whenever you reheat leftovers. (Shutterstock)

Most holiday festivities include preparing and eating food. Addressing uninvited guests (pathogens) that lurk in the background is crucial amid the joy and celebration.

As food safety researchers, we study how to protect people from infections caused by foodborne pathogens. While you likely know to wash your hands and keep your raw meats separate from other foods, there’s another essential thing to do to avoid spending your holiday in the bathroom: probe your food.