Every Thanksgiving, millions of home cooks become kitchen scientists, experimenting with thawing, basting and timing the perfect bird.

Friends and family share treasured secrets or tips for creating the ideal Thanksgiving meal; however, not every “secret” passed down at the dinner table is true — or safe.

Myth No. 1: It’s safe to thaw your turkey on the counter overnight.

False. Here’s the truth: A turkey left at room temperature for more than two hours enters the “danger zone” (40-140 degrees Fahrenheit) where bacteria proliferate, even if the center of the bird remains frozen.

Thaw the turkey in the refrigerator, allowing 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of turkey, or use the cold-water method by submerging the bird in cold water in a leak-proof plastic bag, changing the water ever

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