Myth: I can cook my turkey in the brown paper bag I brought my groceries home in.

Answer: Busted!

The brown paper bags from the grocery store were never intended for use as cooking utensils. The glue, ink, chemicals and other materials used in recycling the grocery bags are very unsanitary and some bags may even contain tiny metal shavings.

To make this method safe, replace the brown bag with an approved turkey-size oven-cooking bag that is available in your grocery store. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s cooking directions when using the oven bag.

University of Illinois Extension offers several methods for cooking a turkey. Additional nutrition and health information can be found on the Missouri Families website.

Contributor: Maude Harris, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, harrismau@missouri.edu, 573.545.3516