The one thing you should never do to your turkey

A lot of preparation goes into preparing a turkey for Thanksgiving. After you've thawed your bird, it's time to prep and clean it before roasting. If your first instinct is to run the turkey under water, stop yourself immediately!

Washing the turkey will not remove bacteria, and instead can actually spread harmful bacteria around your kitchen.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the correct way to destroy bacteria is by cooking the turkey to a safe internal temperature. Also, after handling a raw turkey, it's important to wash your hands with warm water and soap.

Eliminating cross-contamination is one thing everyone at your table is sure to be thankful for.