One more small advice (20 years of turkey cooking expert here, yup mine is in the oven too now)
When you mix the stuffing (buy premade its faster) ad some raisins and apples, also use virgin oil to baste down the turkey. Wrap the Turkey wings in foil until 1 hour before, lay a piece of foil on top of the breast also.
Yup, don't forget to remove the gibblets.
At the end about half an hour before, put honey on top of the turkey.
Have fun on Turkey Day
Partying since '96 and not going anywhere Anna's Dorm
Here is a technique that my family has used the last couple years that works awesome...
#1 Do not stuff the turkey with dressing....stuff it with vegetables like celery and carrots and onions. Dressing draws the juice out of the turkey meat, while the veggies actually add juice. (Water goes from where it is...to where it is not)
#2 Cook the turkey upside down. The biggest problem with dryness is that the breasts cook faster than the dark meat...so to get the dark meat done, the breasts get dry. To alleviate this, cook the bird with the breasts down...the dark meat gets done along with the breasts and it is all very juicy.
These two methods will dramatically increase your odds of a great turkey.
For oven time, I always fire up the temp. to just over 350 F, put the turkey in the pre-heated oven, leave it for about 30-40 minutes, then reduce the heat to about 300 and let it slow-cook for about 3 or 4 hours depending on how big it is.
Don't forget to put some water in there, enough to cover the bottom of the roast pan for sure.
What's this about taking out the heart, kidney, gizzard, liver, neck etc???? You people are nuts, those are some of the most sought-after parts!
Ever try stuffing the turkey with fresh cranberries?
Originally posted by B_Maverick Here is a technique that my family has used the last couple years that works awesome...
#1 Do not stuff the turkey with dressing....stuff it with vegetables like celery and carrots and onions. Dressing draws the juice out of the turkey meat, while the veggies actually add juice. (Water goes from where it is...to where it is not)
#2 Cook the turkey upside down. The biggest problem with dryness is that the breasts cook faster than the dark meat...so to get the dark meat done, the breasts get dry. To alleviate this, cook the bird with the breasts down...the dark meat gets done along with the breasts and it is all very juicy.
These two methods will dramatically increase your odds of a great turkey.
Something no one has mentioned... wash that thing REAL GOOD!!
And whether you want the guts cooked or not... take them out at least to check them. I've found them wrapped in paper a couple of times. Like butchers wrap stuff.
First timers shouldn't try to cook it stuffed either... you could end up with food poisoning pretty easy they say.
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Originally posted by B_Maverick Here is a technique that my family has used the last couple years that works awesome...
#1 Do not stuff the turkey with dressing....stuff it with vegetables like celery and carrots and onions. Dressing draws the juice out of the turkey meat, while the veggies actually add juice. (Water goes from where it is...to where it is not)
#2 Cook the turkey upside down. The biggest problem with dryness is that the breasts cook faster than the dark meat...so to get the dark meat done, the breasts get dry. To alleviate this, cook the bird with the breasts down...the dark meat gets done along with the breasts and it is all very juicy.
These two methods will dramatically increase your odds of a great turkey.
Most definitely cook the bird breast side down.
But, we've stuffed the turkey and the breast meat is tender....one of these days, I am going to try putting the veggies in, instead of stuffing. I hear it's awesome.
Also, use a paper bag over the turkey, rather than foil. Foil steams and paper breathes, so the turkey browns, instead of burns...it also helps keep the moisture in.
Basting is the key to a moist turkey. Baste every twenty minutes and keep the oven temp at 325 degrees.
1. marinate or brine the turkey in advance.
2. only stuff it with aromatics.
3. basting is evil and only makes cooking time longer.
4. shallow roasting pan is key, high sides mean uneven browing.
5. cooking times per pound are a myth.
6. ignore pop up thermometers.
7. cook to an internal temp with a room for carry over cooking.
8. start in high temp 450-500 then drop to 325 for remainder.
9. foil tent breast with temp drop, prevents breast from drying out.
10. do not open the oven door except to tent it, and to remove it.
11. let it rest when done.
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