November 22, 2014 (San Diego) – So — how long are you planning to thaw that turkey? (24 hours for every five pounds of weight.)

And what's the best way to cook the stuffing? (Separately, of course.)

Thanksgiving is the biggest home-cooking event of the year. You want everything to be perfect—and safe. The last thing anyone wants is uninvited bacteria, party-crashers like salmonella, listeria and E. coli that could make your guests sick.

Never fear--here are five steps from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health to make this your best and safest Thanksgiving meal ever: Plan Ahead, Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.